Ok, I did it ... I've undertaken the next big step in setting up my tank!
Went to Home Depot and got some play sand ... washed it out really good (until it rinsed clear) and put it in the tank. Filled the tank with water and added a bit of dechlorinator to it to help settle it. Mixed the salt mix into the water and stirred it up so 99% of it disolved and turned on the powerhead to let things mix and aerate a bit. Set up the tank heater (it's a hang on because I was too chicken to try those submersible ones) and it's working fine. Took Sp. Grav. reading with a new deep 6 hydrometer and adjusted the salt until I got a reading of 1.021/ 1.022 (it's kind of in the middle of the 2 numbers).
That was the first part of my day today ... then it was on to the next store for some LIVE rock and a couple fake decorations (they look nice). I also talked to the guy in charge of the Marine department of the store and he told me at this point I could add a couple little crabs and/or snails so I bought a few of each to help get things going hopefully.
Well, that's it for the time being ... now that I've spent another huge lot of cash I'll have to wait a couple weeks for the tank to cycle and maybe get some more LIVE rock then hopefully I'll be ready for some fish by the end of June. What do you think?
Oh yeah, I have pH and Nitrite test stips coming soon (ordered over the net) and was wondering ... besides "pH up" and "pH down" ... what other chemicals and/or tests do I need to get. I've seen a little stick on ammonia detector which I plan to get next week to help with checking that. What else should I get for my system?
Thanks all!