Setting up used 20g salt water tank

[miamim3]

Hi everyone,
I just got a used 20g tank that the previous owner used for salt water fishes. Along with the tank i also got a bottle of "B-Ionic" calcium buffer system" both component 1 (alkalinity) and component 2 (calcium), Biomatrix 12 polyester and 12 carbon replacement filter media for the backpack filter that also came with the tank (but seems to have salt build up at the bottle of the filter which i am not sure how to remove and do not want to damage it), and i also received a "Powerhead for undergravel filters 402" new.

I dont know where to start. I rinsed the tank with tap water once i removed as much sand possible. I want to clean the filter but I am not sure how. I know i need to run the tank for a couple of days before buying salt water fishes for it, which is fine. I know i also need to invest in a heater for the tank and lights for the tank.

I am completely new to this. So my questions are..
How can I clean the backpack filter?
Can i run the backpack filter with regular tap water in the tank just to see if it works fine?
What other steps should i do to prepare the tank for future use?

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Aquiles.

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab309/miamim3/untitled1.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab309/miamim3/untitled2.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab309/miamim3/untitled.jpg

[MGDMIRAGE]

Looks good, it looks like a 30 gallon oceanic cube though not a 20 gallon. The HOB filter just take it apart and clean it with an toothbrush, if it has a lot of coralline or other gunk just soak it in white vinegar water for a few hours and then clean it. You'll need to get about 20-30lbs of live rock to start your tank with and you will want it to cycle it a good 2 or three weeks at least before adding any fish. Invest in a good Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate test kit once all of those go down to 0 you are good to go for adding life to your tank.

Most importantly find some information on cycling a saltwater aquarium online and read it a few times.

You won't want to use tap water for a saltwater tank because it contains too many contaminates for a saltwater aquarium. You instead will want to use Reverse Osmosis water that can be obtained from most grocery stores.

The best advice i can give you is to not rush into saltwater, do some serious reading so you don't go blindly into the hobby and end up having many failures.

Look up such things such as RO/DI, Specific Gravity, Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium, Cyanobacteria.

The lighting you will need depends on whether or not you want your tank to be a reef tank or a fish only with live rock setup.

A 100Watt heater should be perfectly fine.

[Rbishop]

Welcome to AC!

Start a thread in our General Marine forum...

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27

Copying the information above....more of our Sakty members will see it and be able to help.

[miamim3]

MGDMIRAGE,
i appreciate all ur helpful information. Can i message you if i ever have any other questions?
Aquiles