First time. Saltwater.

[Dylan5359]

Hi. First time with saltwater. Don't want to jump into coral just yet. But I am setting up a ten gallon dwarf seahorse tank. I've been doing a lot of reading and learned I need a heater, filter , hydrometer (I think that's what it's called), the salt for the aquarium, live sand, dead rock (i don't want any hitchhikers!) , and what else? I've had freshwater tanks for a long time. Any type of protein I need to put in the tank before I add the dwarves? Thanks so much guys.

 

[mr_X]

you need a refractometer, not a hydrometer. you will need to cycle the tank which takes about a month or so, or you will be flushing those horses down the toilet very soon. the cycle will involve an ammonia source. people seem to like to use a raw shrimp from the supermarket.
you will also need some fake sea fans/gorgonians for the horses to hold on to.

 

[Dylan5359]

How exactly do you cycle it?

 

[Gti_Leo]

you just turn the powerheads and filters on and let the water sit. the live rock will eventually re-liven up and do its job with biological filtration as well as your filter cartrages will begin to establish its own biological filtration and bacteria growth

 

[bix]

Tips and tricks for your fastest fishless cycle!