Salt Water Fish Tank Set Up

I am an avid fan of the lovely tropical swimming champions, epitomes of grace and beauty, the tropical fish. These are none other than salt water fishes. Fishes are known to calm anxious nerves and lower blood pressure with their beautiful and serene swimming actions. If you are thinking of setting up a world of underwater paradise, then this article will help you know more on how to start a salt water fish tank.

How to Setup a Salt Water Fish Tank
You need to take great pains for achieving a great salt water fish tank set up. The resulting pleasure will surely be worth the effort you put in for the salt water fish tank set up. Before we begin with how to start a salt water fish tank, let me tell you what you'll need for a salt water fish set up. Know more about salt water aquariums.

Things Required for Salt Water Fish Tank Set Up

• Glass tank - 10 to 75 gallons
• External dry/wet filter with skimmer
• Sand
• Rocks
• Sea Salt
• Live plants
• Fish
• Heater
• Proper lighting
• Hydrometer
  
• Power heads for additional flow, if Corals are kept in the tank

How to Choose Fish for a Salt Water Tank
The most important point in knowing how to set up a salt water fish tank, is choosing the right fish. After all, these fishes are the ones you wish to see swimming in your fish tank. You should look for fishes that are healthy and are active swimmers. You should be careful in selecting the fish, as most saltwater fishes do not come with a guarantee. So you wouldn't want to spend a bundle on fish that are sick and may die in a day or two. The clown fish and the damsels are good choices. You can even choose angelfish, anglers, batfish, chromis, file fish, parrot fish, scorpion fish, seahorses, tile fish, trigger fish, wrasses, etc. You have a wide variety of gorgeous species to get to know more about.

Instructions for Salt Water Fish Tank Set Up

• Clean the tank using 1 teaspoon of pure bleach for 5 gallons of water. Wash the rocks, plastic plants, decorations and sand as well.
• Now place sand in the tank with at least 2 inch depth. Following the manufactures instructions and set up the filtration system.
• Place the plants in the tank and anchor them into the sand. Take a large bucket of dechlorinated water and use a hydrometer to add salt to the water. An hydrometer helps you read the amount of salt dissolved in water. The specific gravity should be between 1.020 and 1.023.
• Fill the tank with this salt water, just till it reaches an inch below the top end.
• Aesthetically place the rocks and other decorations on the sand.
• Switch on the filter and add the heater and thermometer to the tank. The temperature best suited for tropical fish is between 75 and 80 degrees.
• Let the set up remain as it is for at least 72 hours. Regulate the temperature to the correct settings and cycle the water to set up the biological cycle in motion. This is very essential for the a newly set salt water fish tank, as it lacks bacteria.
• Introduce your fishes to the tank after ensuring that the temperature and chemical levels are within the set limit.
• Enjoy the elegant display of colors, styles and swimming patterns of your fish.

This information on how to set up salt water fish tank will definitely prove valuable to you, when you try a salt water fish tank set up. I have used them personally, to set up a salt water fish tank in my home. Fishes are supposed to bring good luck according to some Eastern cultures. So bring home a 'Nemo' and invite good luck in the form of these captivating, silent pets. Also know more about how to set up a fish tank.