Correct me If im wrong.

[yae4volcom]

I just filled my 12 gallon eclipse with water and IO.
Anyway, I put the heater on 79 and plugged in the power-head.
I have not added any sand or rock but it is comming in the mail soon. I was wondering, how the heck do you use a salt-o-meter. I couldnt tell how much salt I had put in because it was a 55 gallon bag. A big floopy bag and i accidently pured a lot in.....When I was trying the salt-meter it was going up to .23-.25 and then it would drop......

 

[nm reef]

Most hobbyists use either a hydrometer or a refractometer to measure Specific gravity or salinity. The range varys from 1.019 to 1.025 depending on the individual hobbyist. I'd suggest you get you specific gravity stable before any additions are made. Not sure what you mean by "salt-o-meter" but I'd invest in a hydrometer at the very least and insure your specific gravity is stable and in the range you desire.
Good luck with your 12 gal eclipse...very kewl little systems.

 

[dreeves]

And what ever salinity you decide on...stick with it.

 

[yae4volcom]

Ok so it is a hydro-meter but I just couldnt think of the name at the time. Anyway its a coral-life Deep Six. I just cant decide if Im doing it right. The water slowyl goes over the edge and then the pointer goes up and then right back down a second later. I also put in the eclipse filter to clear up some of the dust in the tank. I am not using the bio-wheel and am just using the pad for a little...............
The rock is comming soon so have any tips
Oh yea and my piece of crap heater broke 2 seconds I put it in the water......made me mad

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by YAE4Volcom
Oh yea and my piece of **** heater broke 2 seconds I put it in the water......made me mad
Always allow your heater to adjust to the water temp. for about 20 min. before plugging it in.

 

[michaeltx]

with the hydrometer fill it up to the lines or overflow point. make sure there are NO air bubbles in it or on the arm sit it on a level area and let it level out. if there are any air bubbles it will effect the reading of it.
as the heater karajay hit it nicely if the heater temp and the water temp are drastically different it will shatter alittle leveling off time will keep that from happening. and NEVER take the heater out without unplugging it first hit will get hot enough to burn carpet or anything else it touches. FWIW
so far sounds good though.
what are your plans for the tank after its setup and going
Mike

 

[yae4volcom]

Owell I guess I'll get a new heater
Anyway about the plans......
17 pounds of cured figi are comming in soon and I have some sand on the way too. Once those are in I'll just have to sit and wait for a while but it will be worth it.
Then I plan to order my first live-stock from this website.
As my first fish I am set on a True Perculia clown.
I also am thinking on like 5-10 snails (which kind)
A hawwaian feather duster or two.
a peppermint shrimp
some other kind of shrimp
and maybe something else that looks cool (any suggestions)
a crab or two (any suggestions)
some kind of starfish.....
As a second fish I'm iether going with a bangaii cardinal or a purple fire-fish or maybe a 6 line wrasse.
I upgraded the lights to a 32 watt so maybe I can add some corals a little later to add some color.
Any suggestions would be really cool....
T

 

[michaeltx]

As my first fish I am set on a True Perculia clown.
I also am thinking on like 5-10 snails (which kind)
I like a variety of snails each have there own tasks that they will perform so a mix will keep things more algaes and such under control than just one type. that small of a tank I would stay away from the conchs though they get to big for a smaller tank.
A hawwaian feather duster or two.
a peppermint shrimp
some other kind of shrimp
Youll have to watch what type of shrimp you get some will not tolerate others in a small area. you might try a pair of cleaners instead of the peppermint shrimp once you get into corals if you get any polyps the peppermints can eat them so thats something to take into consideration
and maybe something else that looks cool (any suggestions)
off hand I cant think of anything for some reason LOL its been a long day ;-Þ
a crab or two (any suggestions)
I would personally stay away from crabs anything with claws can cause some serious damage to fish and in a smaller tank there isnt the room for them to get away. the only ones that I might consider if you have to have some is small blue legged reef hermits
some kind of starfish.....
starfish are going to be tricky at best for a couple of reasons 1) the need super stable water so make sure you can provide that before considering one 2) is that most of them get way to big for the size tank you are setting up brittles can get huge and preditory the linkias need a ton of rock for foods I personally cant think of any starfish that would go good in a tank that size
Good luck on the tank sounds like your on a good start just a few details to research before you buy.
Mike