How to Start a Saltwater Reef Aquarium

Creating your own saltwater aquarium will bring the mystical features of the sea directly into your home, and it can turn into an exciting hobby for those patient enough to complete it. From start to adding fish to your tank, the entire process can take a few weeks to stabilize the tank environment prior to adding your fish. Once you have the right lighting, heating elements and your tank is prepared, the fun begins by adding the whimsical and tropical sea life to your new saltwater reef aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass fish tank set
  • Freshwater
  • Cleaning sponge
  • Tank sand
  • Premixed saltwater
  • Tank lights
  • Filter
  • Tank heater
  • Thermometer
  • Salinity testing kit
  • Aquascape materials, including cured live rock
  • Testing kits, including pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, alkaline and gravity
  • Tank fish and organisms
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Instructions

    • 1
      Selecting the right space for your tank is essential when starting an aquarium.

      Select your location. First you need to decide where your reef tank will go. An aquarium should never be placed directly in front of windows, entranceways or any position where the sun shines directly on the tank. You will also need a large enough location in your home that you can maneuver around the tank for cleaning and maintaining. Electrical connections will need to have outlets that are within reach and where cords can be tucked away in the base of the fish tank stand.

    • 2

      Select your tank and stand. Larger tanks can be better for beginners since they provide a stable environment in comparison to smaller tanks. A larger tank can also prevent the hassle of having to upgrade sizes later. Tanks come in more shapes than just rectangular. Unusual shapes can be less sturdy than a traditional rectangle and it can be difficult to find a matching stand. Select a rectangular glass tank that will provide enough area for fish, but fit in your desired location. Then select a stand that will support your fish tanks weight and size.

    • 3

      Clean your aquarium. Take freshwater and a sponge to your tank's interior, but never use chemical cleansers. Clean off all residue before moving to the next steps.

    • 4

      Add sand to the bottom of the tank -- between 2 and 4 inches -- and then saltwater. Premixed saltwater can be purchased ready-to-use at your local pet or fish store. Fill your tank 1/3 of the way full with saltwater.

    • 5

      Install lighting, a heater and filters, according to package instructions. Tank lights, heaters and filters for saltwater aquariums can be purchased at your local pet store. Undergravel filters work from the bottom of your tank and are an inexpensive option for tanks with low fish counts. Wet/Dry filters are exposed to the air and water in the tank and are meant for fish-only tanks. Power filters hang on the back of your tank and are the easiest filters to use for saltwater tanks. Purchase standard fluorescent or incandescent tank lighting to provide the most natural light. An aquarium heater should be for saltwater environments and maintain a temperature of 75 to 79 F. Allow this equipment to run in the tank for 24 hours.

    • 6

      Check for leaks, measure temperatures and test the salinity of the water. Use a salinity testing kit from your local pet store and test the water to ensure that your salinity has not changed from 0.06meq/L -- or milliequivalents of salinity per liter of water. Water temperature should be at 75 to 80 F.

    • 7

      Purchase aquascape materials. An aquascape is the decorations that you will place in the tank and can be purchased at your pet store or local fish store. Ensure that live rock is included in your aquascape. Live rock will help your new fish adjust to their new habitat and can turn into a filter for your tank. Purchase live rock that has already been cured to avoid harmful ammonia being released into the tank water.

    • 8

      Allow the tank to cycle. Cycling will bring together necessary bacteria to sustain your fish life. A typical cycle period will take 3 to 6 weeks. Your tank should have the following levels before it is considered cycled: Gravity, 1.025; alkalinity, 2.1 to 2.5meq/L; ammonia/nitrite/nitrates/phosphates, 0ppm (or zero parts concentrate per million liquid); salinity, 0.06meq/L. These readings are important to promote growth of your coral and stabilize the environment for your fish.

    • 9

      Select your saltwater fish. Start with one or two aquarium pieces at a time. These can be fish, coral or invertebrates. Allow your tank to adjust to the new animals and organisms, and test the water after a week to ensure ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate are still at 0ppm before adding more sea life. Add one to two fish or organisms at a time, again, until you reach your desired amount of fish. Your tank should not have any more fish than 1 inch of fish per gallon of water for smaller fish and 1 inch of fish per 3 gallons of water for fish over 8 inches in length.