Prompt Salinty answer please!

[micstarz]

I am going out to start my saltwater 10gal today...and I want to acclimate two mollies right now with table salt. How many tablespoons of salt per gallon do I need to get the correct salinity?

I don't care if they die because I just want to use them for cycling...if they die I'll get a damsel or something.

 

[cassharper]

We need to clear a few things up so we can get you on the right track.

1) You don't set up a salt water aquarium with table salt. You use a marine salt blend that contains the trace elements found in seawater.

I use SeaChem's Marine Salt

2) Mollies are fish too, please stop disregarding their life in favor of "cooler" fish.

Go to ace hardware and get some ammonia. Pure household cleaning ammonia with no detergents added. Then go get a test kit. Keep your tank at 2ppm with no water changes until you see nitrites, then nitrates form. When nitrates start forming with no nitrites, do a water change to remove the ammonia (until it is at 0), then you can start adding a small load. If it seems confusing, it's ok; it always is at first. Look up some articles on the nitrogen cycle and it will explain it.

 

[puffcrusader696]

just get some sea salt mix at petco or something. and mollies can live in saltwater. Ive seen people use them to cycle and put them back in fresh or just kept them in salt... probably the most versitile fish in that respect

 

[moespeaking]

you need to buy a hydrometer to measure the salt correctly. for sea water shoot for between 1.020 and 1.025.
you dont care if they die but remember ammonia is much more toxic in a saltwater tank than it is in a freshwater. you should start with live sand and live rock to avoid a huge ammonia spike. have the saltwater mixed to the right salinity and temperature before adding the live sand and rock. wait a day or two for it to clear then add a damsel or molly.

 

[puffcrusader696]

^^ yes...

 

[micstarz]

Ok. I'm mixing Grotech salt right now. I have a hydrometer now, but it doesn't work because the needle isn't seasoned.

 

[jworth]

there may be bubbles on the needle. just flick it a few times. salinity instructions will be on the bag of salt.

 

[snyder810]

i'm sorry to say but it sounds as if you may be destined to fail. a 10gal isn't really a good tank for your first salt tank, remember the more water volume the more room for error.

 

[jworth]

i'm sorry to say but it sounds as if you may be destined to fail. a 10gal isn't really a good tank for your first salt tank, remember the more water volume the more room for error.

I didnt want to sound negative, but he said it... you can pull it off, but you obviously need to do MUCH more research first. good luck.

 

[tylerperkins]

i'm sorry to say but it sounds as if you may be destined to fail. a 10gal isn't really a good tank for your first salt tank, remember the more water volume the more room for error.

well your a little off but I see whare your going when it comes to salt bigger is better the nano and pico tanks are the ones that you need to know what your doing to have them work right. When you have more water with salt you have more rock and sand to act as your filter whare as a nono you have limited filtration and less water movement


also OP you need to read every thread on the salt boards before you even think you know what your doing............