Things You'll Need
- 30 gallon tank (or larger)
- Aquarium stand
- Filter system
- Fresh water
- Dechlorinator
- Aquarium salt mix
- Reef sand or substrate
- Hydrometer
- Heater
- Live rock
- Water testing kit
- Ammonia/chloramine remover
- Halide light hood
Instructions
Aquarium Set Up
Assemble the aquarium with stand and install the filtration system. Fill aquarium with fresh water from the tap and add a dechlorinator. Add salt by following the instructions on the sea salt mix package. While adding salt, use a hydrometer to determine when the salinity content is correct. Add reef sand or substrate. Next, install the heater and set to desired temperature. The system should be allowed to run for a few days to ensure proper equipment function and consistent water temperature.
Maintaining a proper salt content in your marine aquarium requires a weekly, 25 percent water change. This is done by removing 25 percent of the water in the tank and replacing it with fresh water. Use your hydrometer to ensure proper salt parameters.
Construct and design your "foundation," or reef, using live rock. Live rock is an aragonite-based (mineral) rock harvested from ocean reefs. In addition to housing beneficial bacteria and microorganisms, live rock helps maintain healthy water specifications. Add one and a half pounds of live rock per gallon of water in your aquarium and stack it loosely for essential water circulation.
Actively "curing" the live rock is necessary before adding sea stars or sea cucumbers. Curing means allowing the live rock to acclimate and begin flourishing in its surroundings. Be sure the live rock is the right side up. This can be assessed by noting which side of the rock is most colorful. During the curing process, try to leave the aquarium dark to inhibit algae growth. This curing process takes four to five weeks and during this time you must continue your weekly water changes.
Test the ammonia and nitrate levels in the aquarium using a marine aquarium water testing kit. These levels need be at zero and if not an ammonia/chloramine remover should be added. At this time, set up and install your halide-lighting system. Your aquarium should be lit 10-12 hours per day and many aquarists use a common household timer to achieve proper lighting requirements.
While lighting is essential for your marine environment, it also encourages an algae bloom. Many marine aquarists combat algae by adding creatures that feed on this ocean flora, while others prefer to remove it manually. The most popular algae reduction method is the addition of a protein skimmer. Protein skimmers resemble a filtration system, but are specifically designed to reduce the matter the algae feeds on, discouraging its growth.
Add sea stars and sea cucumbers. It is essential to do this slowly, adding one live aquaria (living organism) at a time. When you purchase aquaria it comes with instructions that includes an acclimation time. Allow one aquaria addition to acclimate before adding another. Sea cucumbers and sea stars are best kept in an "invertebrate only" marine aquarium. Many fish feed on, and act aggressively toward, these aquaria species. The biggest risks associated with keeping sea stars and sea cucumbers comes from them getting entangled in the filtration system. Special care must be taken and experts advise surrounding the submerged suction and overflow portion of your filtration system with impenetrable netting.
Feed sea stars daily. Sea stars feed mostly on a commercially-made meat source and should be fed small amounts daily by dropping food bits onto the sand bed. Vitamins and supplements should also be given. Sea cucumbers feed by mopping the surface of the sand bed and digesting particles of micro-algae, bacteria and phytoplankton.