How to Set Up a Small Salt Water Fish Tank

Salt water marine life are no less difficult to keep than their fresh water cousins, they just have different requirements. If you are willing to put in a little effort and learn about the special needs of salt water fish, you will find the end results highly rewarding. Salt water fish come in a vast and colorful of array of choices, giving you hundreds of options for creating your ideal marine world.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 or 55 gallon fish tank
  • Tank hood
  • Tank stand
  • Substrate (gravel or sand)
  • Rocks
  • Aquarium heater
  • Fluorescent light
  • Mechanical filter
  • 5 gallon bucket
  • Ready made salt mixture
  • Dechlorinated water
  • Hydrometer
  • Net
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Instructions

  1. Install Your Tank

    • 1

      Prepare your supplies by completely cleaning the tank and all other items that will be used in the tank. Do not use soap but instead wash thoroughly with hot water.

    • 2

      Set your tank up in the location of your choice. Ensure that the stand is level and sturdy and that it is placed in an area where it will not be subject to direct sunlight. Check to make sure there is an electrical outlet nearby.

    • 3

      Place your substrate on the bottom of the tank, then add any rocks or other paraphernalia you will be using to give the aquarium a more natural look.

    Fill Your Tank

    • 4

      Fill your five-gallon bucket with clean, dechlorinated water and add the salt mixture using the directions on the package to achieve the approximated correct salinity.

    • 5

      Check the saline level of the water by using your hydrometer, a device used to detect saltwater levels. You will need a saline level between 1.021 and 1.024.

    • 6

      Add either water or salt to correct the saline level to within the proper parameters.

    • 7

      Pour the salinated water into the tank carefully to ensure you do not disturb your rock formations.

    • 8

      Install your heater, filter and light fixture and replace the hood over your aquarium. Allow your aquarium to settle and achieve proper heat levels (72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit), which will take somewhere between 48 to 72 hours. This is called cycling and is a necessary step in aquarium setup.

    Adding Your Fish

    • 9

      Place a couple of your fish and the salinated water they came with into your five-gallon bucket and add a cup of aquarium water every 10 minutes for one hour.

    • 10

      Place your fish into the aquarium using your net and leave them to acclimate while you condition any other fish you will be adding to the aquarium. Do not feed your fish for 24 hours.

    • 11

      Continue this process for adding fish to the aquarium until all your fish are contained in the tank.