How to Start a Saltwater Fish Tank at Home

Saltwater fish include clown fish, blue tangs and butterfly fish that are popular because of their vibrant colors and exotic appearances. Despite their beauty and appeal, saltwater fish require a lot of maintenance, care and attention to thrive in a tank environment. For this reason, starting a saltwater fish aquarium in your home for the first time is a huge responsibility and requires some study before trying to accomplish the task.

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase all of the required materials from a reputable pet store in your area a few days before purchasing any saltwater fish. You will want to ensure that your tank and filtration systems work properly. Also, chlorinate and salt the water before purchasing any fish. Wait a few days after chlorinating your tank and adding the salt to ensure that your filtration system works properly.

    • 2

      Incorporate environmental decorations to your tank, such as a layer of sand, rock and saltwater plants. This will help ensure that your saltwater fish feel safe and comfortable in their new environment. Don't fill your new saltwater tank with too much clutter, as this can cause stress for your fish.

    • 3

      Obtain saltwater fish that work well together in environments. Do not choose fish types that are prone to fighting, as this can cause stress, injury and death in your fish tank. Live Aquaria suggests some different types of marine fish for beginners that you should choose from if this is your first saltwater aquarium. Clown fish, cardinal fish and butterfly fish are all recommended for first time saltwater tank owners.

    • 4

      Acclimate your fish to their new tank slowly and carefully. Remember that the bag they are transported in will likely contain much cooler water than the water in your newly built saltwater tank. Slowly change the temperature of the fish to the same temperature of the tank by adding in water slowly. You should also make sure that your fish's PH levels stay between 8.2 and 8.4 to avoid stress, illness and even death.