Starting a Saltwater Aquarium

Setting up a saltwater aquarium might seem like quite an arduous task, but with the right equipment and know how, it can be done. Before we discuss how to start a saltwater aquarium, let us know what a saltwater aquarium is. A saltwater aquarium is basically an aquarium that houses sea fish or saltwater fish. This gives you greater flexibility in keeping any kind of sea fish you want and also you can observe marine life in the comfort of your home. Here we are going to discuss how to setup a saltwater aquarium.

How to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium

The first step in starting a saltwater aquarium is that you need to collect all the necessary supplies. Gathering the right supplies is essential, as otherwise your fish might die. So what do you need to setup a saltwater aquarium? Well, here is a list of all the things for a saltwater aquarium setup.

• A tank
• Sump and water pump
• Filtration system (Power Filter)
• Hydrometer
• Power Heads
• Protein skimmer
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Test Kit
• Aragonite Substrate

Many amateur hobbyist think that it is alright to skip some of these supplies. But you need to get all the supplies in order to have a saltwater aquarium in which all the fish will thrive.

Setting Up Saltwater Equipment

Once you have got the supplies, it is time to setup the tank. First wash the fish tank thoroughly to get rid of any dirt and debris. Make sure that you do not use any detergent, whether liquid or powder to wash the tank as any residue left will harm the fish. Larger the tank better it is. So choose a large tank. When the tank is dry, fix colorful background on the back side of the tank with double scotch tape. You can also choose to paint the tank in a color such as deep blue or sea green. Install the sump pump in the aquarium as well as the protein skimmer. Next, install the heater and the filtration system. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer's instruction carefully while setting these equipment. Any mistake now might lead to the equipment not working and your fish will die.

After you are done setting up all the equipment inside the tank, make a saltwater mix by dissolving the salt mix in water. Stir the saltwater and check the specific gravity of water with a hydrometer. When you have a specific gravity between 1.021 and 1.024 you can use this water in your tank. Now that you have your saltwater ready, you need to cure the live rock. To do this, place the live rock inside the aquarium and concentrate the powerheads over it. After a few days scrub the rock and clear all the debris that has settled in it. Pour out the water from the aquarium. Next, line the tank with a layer of sand and turn off the power while doing so. Add the clean live rock inside the tank and then add the substrate. If sand gets in to the just cured live rock, just use the powerheads to blow off the sand.

Allow the tank to remain undisturbed for a few days. The live rock will produce bacteria in the tank, that will absorb all the ammonia content present in the tank. This is a very important process and it will take around 10 - 12 days. Check the ammonia and nitrite level in the water with the test kit . When the levels come down to 0, you can safely place the saltwater fish inside the saltwater aquarium.

As you can see, setting up a saltwater aquarium is a time-consuming process. But the benefits that you reap in the form of watching sea fish grow, is very rewarding. Now that you know how to setup a saltwater aquarium, you can set it up at your home.