Brand new to saltwater need some info for first time setup.

[theholdenz]

I bought the wife a red sea 130 34 gallon cube, we have no idea on what is needed for setup. It has everything needed in the back dump to include the skimmer built in. For a tank this size how much sand and live rock does she need?

I got a bucket with about 20 lbs of live sand in it, water line above the sand level, but it has been sitting in a corner inside for a few weeks now. Is it safe to use still?

She wants about a dozen corals and a couple gobies with a starfish.

How much live rock do we need? Ww have about 20lbs of dry live rock, guessing dead that has the purple coloring to it but can not get it cleaned off.

Where is the cheapest place to get the saltwater, anymore sand we need, and live rock near Richardson, garland, Plano area?

Any and all experienced input valued greatly.

 

[DFW]

I think that you are going to have to do a lot of reading, and then decide how you want to set up, and run your tank. No one else can operate your system but you. And there are dozens of ways, and many variations of how to do things in this hobby. Read, and decide what you want to do, and how you want to do it.

Hobbyists here sell things like sand, rock, etc.,. How much that you determine to use might be based on what you decide to keep in that tank. That purple coloring is calcified algae called coralline, and is likely dead now. But if it were not, it would be a good thing.