How to Cycle a Salt Water Tank

Saltwater fish are among the most beautiful. They are vibrant, colorful and lively. The good news is that you don't have to be a seasoned scuba diver to enjoy these beautiful creatures as you can bring them into your home and enjoy them from the comfort of your living room. Saltwater fish can be kept in an aquarium as long as the tank has been properly set up and cycled.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Aquarium sand
  • Saltwater Mix
  • Saltwater hydrometer or, even better, a refractometer for measuring salt concentration of water
  • Aquarium filter
  • Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon
  • Heater
  • Protein skimmer
  • Saltwater test kit(s) to test water parameter
  • Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Power strip
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Instructions

  1. How to Cycle a Salt Water Tank

    • 1

      Purchase your equipment. There are a few key pieces of equipment that you will need in order to get your saltwater tank up and running. Keep in mind a few key tips: the larger the tank you purchase, the less maintenance you will have to perform. You will also need to purchase a quality protein skimmer, heater, and a merchanical filter. These items are what keep your tank sparkling clean and healthy. Fish food, fish waste and organic debris all contribute to unhealthy water conditions. Cycling a tank is impossible without them as filtration and water movement are what keep the water balanced.

    • 2

      Set up the tank. Wash the tank with water only. This will prevent any residual detergent from harming the future residents. Install the heater, skimmer and other hardware as per the manufacturer's instructions, but don't start anything running as of yet. Tank placement is a big consideration. Place the tank in an area where it will not be affected by excessive amounts of light or temperature variances as this will disturb and potentially kill the fish.

      It is important to note that water movement is one of the most important processes of the entire aquarium set up. Moving water will ensure proper aeration and that salt mixtures remain consistent. Filter floss is also a great place for beneficial bacterial beds to set up residence, allowing for biological control of nitrites and ammonia. Set up the mechanical filter so that it is placed centrally in the tank. This allows for the greatest exposure to the most water.

    • 3

      Mix the saltwater. This process will require a few steps. In a large 5 gallon bucket, add fresh water, condition with a chlorine and chloramines remover. Then add salt mix to the water per the package directions. The ideal mix will yield a salt concentration of 1.021. When you have reached this concentration, begin adding the water to the tank.

    • 4

      Turn on the tank and begin to cycle. You will need to let the tank run for several days before you begin testing the water for suitability. After you have waited patiently for the water to stabilize, its time to add the sand. Mix about 2 gallons of fresh saltwater in the bucket, and then add the sand. Also, make sure to remove a few gallons of water from the tank to make room for the sand addition.

    • 5

      Cycle the tank. This is probably the most important step of the entire process, and one that usually gets rushed or overlooked, placing your fish investment in jeopardy. After the sand is added, the tank will need to run, without any fish in it until you get the following test results: temperature 75 degrees, salt concentration 1.021, pH 8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20 ppm or less. This process may take up to eight weeks to accomplish. Be patient and stay with it. Your fish will thank you.