rich- i think its important to understand how water movement works in the ocean to better able us to replicate it in our tanks so thanx galleon. im also debating whether to buy a seaswirl as the benefit needs to justify the cost. im currently using a wavemaster pro to simulate chaotic movement...
i live 10 min away from it and yes it is worth it. make sure u walk through the gift shop and on the other side is the shark/ray petting tank. make sure to listen to how uneducated the people are that work there. i purposely ask them stuff just to see the stupid looks on their faces!! all in...
the tank wont cycle without the rock. mix up ur salt water making sure its disolved. most of us wait 24 hrs and add ur rock. test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. when the first two reach 0, the tank is cycled. then u can work on getting rid of the nitrates
i had the same thing happen with a couple of acro frags i have. both were burned pretty bad. after a week or so, i couldnt even tell it had happened. just leave em but watch for any further damage.