Things You'll Need
- Saltwater tank test Kit
Instructions
Set your tank up with the proper saltwater, filtration and fish. You will want to buy less expensive fish in case you lose them in the cycling process. Damsels are affordable and while you might hate to lose them, this can happen in the progression. You can also cycle your tank without fish so that you don’t lose any in the cycling process.
Purchase a water test kit from your local fish store or online store. It can take 2 to 6 weeks for a tank to fully cycle, but you can test the levels and water parameters periodically with your test kit. Follow the instructions on the test kit you have purchased to test your water.
Make sure your readings are in the following range, which are ideal conditions:Temperature: 75°F - 80°F (24°C - 27°C) Specific gravity: 1.020 - 1.024 pH: 8.0 - 8.4 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 20 ppm or less Carbonate hardness: 7-10 dKH
Reduce stress to your fish during cycling by doing partial water changes to lessen the ammonia to a safer level. Once your levels are safe your tank has gone through the initial cycle and it is safe to add more fish and invertebrates.