How to Start a Saltwater Aquarium

Decide on what size and style of tank you want. In the saltwater aquarium world, bigger is better and I don’t just mean aesthetics-wise. A larger tank is less apt to have a 'water properties' error kill off your fish. Imagine you have a pond that is full of something like algae. Now imagine that algae in an outdoor fountain. It might be easier to clean that outdoor fountain but it’ll cause problems a lot sooner than it would in the pond since there’s more space and water. A larger tank is more chemically stable than a smaller one. A good size to start with is a 55-gallon tank or even a 75-gallon tank.

Choose if you want glass or acrylic. Glass tanks are less expensive and do not scratch as easily but an acrylic tank can look nicer and insulates better. That is your choice since both are acceptable and will work for what you are trying to achieve.

Find a location in your home to get the most pleasure out of your tank, but also an area that allows you room to maintain the tank. Make sure if your tank is against a wall that you allow room for your equipment on the back once you set things up. Always clean out your tank before you use it. Don’t use any chemicals except for a tiny amount of bleach and always rinse multiple times to make sure any residue is removed.

Find a suitable filter for your tank. There are many choices from canister filters to sand filters and more. There are different types of filtration needs as well such as biological, chemical and mechanical. Obviously your canister filter might serve your mechanical filter needs but what about biological filters? One such item that is useful and looks good is live rock. Live rock is a natural biological filter and its name tells us exactly what it is--live rock. This means there are tiny living organisms on your rock that will continue to grow and thrive. Some live rocks even have larger organisms on or in it, such as crabs and coral.

Mix the saltwater according to the instructions on the type of salt you purchased. Once you have the tank full of the saltwater, you should not add any fish or inverts to it until the water has cycled. This usually takes about a week. You might be anxious to see your tank all set up, but it’s safer to wait so that you don’t lose your fish or inverts once the tank cycles on its own.

Make a decision on what type of fish or invertebrates you would like to own. You should always consult your fish store personnel or online store to see what fish or invertebrates get along peacefully with each other. You don’t want to spend a lot on a certain shrimp only to find out that one of the fish you bought happens to think it’s food for themselves. Always consult first, buy later. A fish might look pretty but it might be a fish that eats everything else you purchased as well.