can't seem to get SSH to work

[John Aldrich]

I had SSH partly working up until I started messing with the firewall. It would 
time out trying to SSH into my linux box, but now it immediately rejects it. 
I've manually configured the non-standard port I'm using to be allowed in the 
firewall and now instead of just timing out, it rejects it, which is the 
OPPOSITE of what it's supposed to do. :(

What do I need to do in order to open a port for SSH (non-standard port, btw.)