**NEWB**help...started with 10g tank

[oonycxwilloo]

hey guys..i kno all of you are all experts so please lend a helping hand...ok .....this is how it started...yesterday i have set up my 10g tank....i put about 3 inches of live sand...(guy at the fish store recomended) and then my lovely girlfrend gave me two small live rocks(1 with mushrooms on it) well i was kinda rushin into things and i know this hoobby takes alot of patiences...so....like the jerk i am i was rushin into things and wanting to buy live creatures to put in there already and me and my girlfrend got into an arguement...sooo please help....she had giving me this coral look alike thing with tentacles and i have a pump/filter in there and a small filter,heater and light for freshwater fishes... but today i moved it on to a 30g tank and the fish store guy told me i can put 3 damsels in there so i did....but they stay at the corner all bunched up...well i have purchased a book on marine tanks..and i kno patiences is a must

ok...questionsss......

1) why are the damsels like that?

2)do i need a protein skimmer since the 30 gallon tank has a big powerful filter already including the small 1 from the 10 g tank

3)when can i start putting stuff in there...

4)how many lb of live rocks do i need in a 30 gallon tank...

5)when do i know if the water is completely "cycled"

6)how long do i have to change the water..

7)when am i suppose to check the water for nitrite,nitrate,ph and all of that...and how much will the equiptment cost...

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

i live in nyc in queens...any body that is selling live rocks for cheap per pound live rocks?? or do you know anywhere around here that i can purchase for less? because the fish store around here charges 3.99 a pound and the rocks there are heavy ....

and if i need one....protein skimmer...any for sale???

well i just want the live rocks first... well please help me EXPERTS...

 

[goda]

you messed up bad.. real bad. you listened to the fish store retard ^^ ( most of us did that as well lol)
anyways. what i would do is return the fish . ( if they dont accept returns talk to the manager and tell him you were given bad advice.. raise hell just get the money back for the coral and fish.. )i hate when fish stores tell you to add fish the first day. it wrong htey know its wrong they just want the commision ( and if your fish die... you gotta buy more right)

anyyyywayys
what book did you get? "marine aquarium problom solver" is trash. i know lfs's like to recomend it for somereason

now on to the rock
what ever looks good and remember your not ready to add fish or anything untill ALL LIVE ROCK IS IN TANK. and cycled rock has die off and makes a cycle
also what type of filter you got? you say its good but i doubt its good by reef standards ( hand on backs = trash)
you change the water once ever two weeks ( 10 percent of it)
you have to remember TOp off the tank with fresh water ( pure water. ro/di) and you change water with saltwater. ( salt stays in the tank from evap but not from a water change)
your tank is cycled whe you have 0 ammonia 0 nitrite
test kits are about 10 bucks each and usualy last a few months.
( make sure to follor instructions.... test your own water dont let teh store do it. they will do it wrong usualy.)
make sure you have a hydrometer or refractometer. to check specific gravity ( should be at 1.023 - 1.026)

last but noyt least. dont buy a seaclone skimmer.

 

[oonycxwilloo]

well...it was the manger who sold me the fish...but the coral my girlfrend gave it to me...by the way thanks for the advices... but wwhat do you mean by the cycled rock dies off...how can i tell or how do i do that...errr....and do i need a protein skimmer? igot a book and its called marine aquarium...from petland....and wat is the refreactometer for??? i have a hydro meter already and how many pounds of rock should i throw in for a 30 g tank