Fish tank set up

Question
QUESTION: we bought a used 55 gallon fish tank it used to be salt water but were making it into freshwater. it was clean when we got it but we cleaned it really well an it came with a filter but the guy kept calling it a skilter? we cleaned it as well as we could but there is still some salt residue. well we put in the sand and filled up the tank and put in some dechlorinator we put in the skilter to see if it worked it does no idea what filters to get for it but we were told if there was salt residue from the skilter it could kill our fish? no fish in it yet and where do we go from here??

ANSWER: Ericka,
You do not need to use the skilter, and most fish, unless they are scaleless do fine with some salt in there water. If you want mollies, for example, they are brackish fish and need a little salt in their water. It depends on what type of fish you get. If you want cold water fish, like goldfish, then you want a filter that is bigger than the tank. Just make sure the tank is fully cycled before you add any fish. If you need help with the cycling, let me know.

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QUESTION: yes what is the best way to cycle the tank i've never really done it before and what should the ph be

Answer
Ericka,
The Ph  will depend on what fish you put in the tank. They following is how I cycle the tank.

To Cycle a Tank
Make sure the tank has been rinsed out with very hot water. You will also rinse the gravel, heater, if the tank is tropical, filter and any decoration that will be in the tank. Next you will set the tank up. Put in the gravel, heater, filter, and decorations. Turn the filter on and set the heater and leave the tank for about a week. You will see the water cloud, that is normal. During the second week, the first of 2 bacteria blooms will set in. The first is the bad stuff that can kill any fish in the tank. At this time, you will start to "seed" the tank. You will start adding fish food to the fishless tank. When the food starts to rot, it will release the needed ammonia. During the third week, you will start to get the second bacteria bloom. This is the one that the filter and gravel need to keep the fish healthy. At this time you will stop feeding the tank. After about a week, you can start testing the water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. The first two will be high. That is normal. You can start doing water changes at this time to help bring down the ammonia and nitrites. After a week of water testing, the final step starts. You will test your water everyday. IF you get a zero reading on ammonia and nitrites and the nitrates are no higher than 20ppm for 5 days in a row, the tank is cycled. BUT, and anytime during these 5 days you get a reading higher than zero on the ammonia and nitrites, you will do a water change and the 5 day count starts all over. The cycle process can take 6 weeks, and sometimes longer. When the 5 day in a row testing brings the zeros all 5 days, the tank has been cycled and you can start adding fish.

When adding the fish, you do not want to stock it right away. Only add 2 or 3 fish at a time. Wait 2 weeks before adding more. We do this so that we don't over load the filter. Once you add fish, you will test your water weekly. If all is good, you will do a 25% water change. If you get a reading of ammonia and/or nitrites, the water change percent will depend on the readings, but never do more than a 50% change at one time.