Saltwater Aquarium Setup

Marine fish and invertebrate animals, such as starfish and sea anemones, originate from the stable environment of a coral reef. These creatures are unable to adapt to the changing conditions that are typical of many aquarium environments. You therefore needs to ensure that the water chemistry in your aquarium remains optimal and that the lighting you choose is of the correct intensity and spectrum. Many reef invertebrates are dependent on light in order to produce nutrients through photosynthesis. Many reef fish species are also territorial and can not be housed together.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium stand
  • Styrofoam
  • Aquarium
  • Spirit level
  • Chlorine neutralizer
  • Aquarium heater
  • Power head
  • Synthetic sea salt
  • Aragonite substrate
  • 10-gallon bucket
  • Long-handled aquarium net
  • Long-handled plastic aquarium tong
  • Canister filter
  • Internal protein skimmer
  • Assorted pieces of rock
  • Bottle of beneficial bacteria
  • Assorted test kits, including pH, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite N02 and nitrate NO3
  • Fish and invertebrates
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the aquarium stand on a level section of floor and lay a piece of precut Styrofoam onto it.

    • 2

      Position the aquarium on the stand. Use a spirit level to ensure that the aquarium is sitting correctly.

    • 3

      Use a garden hose and fill the aquarium. Turn off the tap when the water level is 2 inches from the rim of the aquarium.

    • 4

      Pour the prescribed amount of chlorine neutralizer into the water and stir vigorously for a minute.

    • 5

      Place an aquarium heater into the aquarium. Adjust the thermostat to 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 6

      Place a bracket with rubber suction cups onto a power head and attach this pump to the back pane of the aquarium. The power head will be in the water. Plug into a wall power source and switch on.

    • 7

      Allow the water to circulate and begin to heat up for an hour.

    • 8

      Pour the synthetic sea salt slowly into the aquarium. Pour the salt near the exhaust nozzle of the power head, so that it can be immediately dispersed throughout the aquarium.

    • 9

      Test the specific gravity with a hydrometer. Add salt until you reach a reading of 1.025.

    • 10

      Clean the aragonite substrate by placing it into a bucket and running water from a garden hose over it. Place small amounts of the clean aragonite into a long-handled aquarium net and lower the net into the aquarium. Use a long-handled plastic aquarium tong to take hold of the net and tip the substrate onto the aquarium bottom.

    • 11

      Place the canister filter below the aquarium and connect it to the aquarium with the intake and outlet tubes. Plug into a wall power source and switch on.

    • 12

      Position the internal protein skimmer against the back pane of the aquarium, using the rubber suction cups on the skimmer's attachment bracket. Plug into a wall power source and switch on.

    • 13

      Pour in the required amount of bottled beneficial bacteria to seed the biological filter material.

    • 14

      Place your various pieces of rock into the aquarium and form a cave by laying one flat piece horizontally over the top of two fist-shaped rocks.

    • 15

      Test water parameters, using the appropriate test kits for pH, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite (N02) and nitrate (NO3)

    • 16

      Wait for the ammonia and nitrite readings to drop to zero.

    • 17

      Add a hermit crab and two small fish.

    • 18

      Add one or two fish and invertebrate animal each week. Do not overstock your aquarium. Four to five fish and a few invertebrates are sufficient for a 60-gallon aquarium.

    • 19

      Study the compatibility charts of saltwater fish on websites such as Fish, Liveaquaria and RateMyFishtank before purchasing your fish.