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How to Set Up a Salt-Water Tank

The endeavor to set up a saltwater fish tank requires careful planning. There are many types of marine ecosystems, just as there are many types of marine creatures. The beginning aquarist typically establishes a fish-only tank because fish-only tanks have less rigid requirements in regard to light and temperature compared to reef aquariums. With the growing popularity of saltwater aquariums, tank systems are now on the market that provide the proper lighting, temperature control and filtration needed for specific marine community applications.

Things You'll Need

Saltwater aquarium system
Aquarium stand
Reverse osmosis water
Dechlorinator
Sea salt mixture
Hydrometer
Live sand
Live rock, optional
Decorative items, optional
Plants, optional
Biological additive
Saltwater fish

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a saltwater fish aquarium system designed for a fish-only tank or for a reef tank, depending upon your desired type of saltwater aquarium. Set up the tank according to instructions.
- 2
  Place your aquarium in a location away from windows. Sunlight will encourage the growth of algae and make it more difficult to keep your saltwater tank clean.
- 3
  Check the system for leaks by filling the tank with tap water and checking all connections. Follow system instructions to correct any leaks you discover. Empty the tank.
- 4
  Clean the tank by wiping with a clean, wet cloth. Dry the tank inside and out.
- 5
  
  The salinity of your tank water should match the salinity of natural sea water specific to your type of tank: fish-only or reef.
  
  Prepare sea water. Select a bucket or barrel with a capacity that exceeds the capacity of your saltwater tank. Add enough reverse-osmosis or de-ionized water to fill your aquarium. Add a declorinator, according to bottle instructions. Add sea salt mixture per instructions. Mix thoroughly.
- 6
  Test your sea water with a hydrometer. Fill the hydrometer to the water line with your sea water. The floating needle points to the specific gravity of your water on the scale on the side of the hydrometer. The desired specific gravity of salt water is 1.020 to 1.025. Make adjustments as necessary, adding more salt mixture or more water, as indicated by the hydrometer.
- 7
  Add live sand to your tank. Use approximately one pound of sand for every gallon of water. Live sand is important to the ecosystem of your saltwater tank because live sand contains organisms that help to filter the water and keep the tank at the proper pH by removing nitrite-producing particles. According to Sherry Gardner of Fish Fish Fish, a supplier of saltwater aquarium supplies, "Live sand may be mixed half and half with regular [aragonite] sand to save money. All the sand will become live sand within six to nine months."
- 8
  Fill your tank half full of your salt water mixture. Add live rocks, plants and decorative items. Add more water until the water reaches the intake level of the overflow tank.
- 9
  Set all the tanks operations into motion: Plug in electrically-operated equipment; start the overflow pump and the filtration system; install the heater and lighting according to instructions.
- 10
  Pour into the tank a biological additive, following manufacturer's directions. Cycle the tank by running all systems for a minimum of 24 hours and then test for proper temperature and salinity. Water temperature should remain between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 11
  
  Damsel fish have aggressive natures so many hiding places are needed to keep quarrels to a minimum.
  
  Introduce fish into your new saltwater tank. Many aquarists put damsel fish in the tank for the first few weeks to help the tank mature before adding other, less hardy, types of saltwater fishes. The introduction of damsel fish will help the tank grow beneficial bacteria, necessary to protect marine life.

Animals & Science