| This is a step-by-step guide on setting up a basic saltwater fish aquarium. Follow these guidelines, and soon you’ll be enjoying one of the world’s most popular and fascinating hobbies! |  |
| THINGS YOU’LL NEED: | |
| • Aquarium kit • Aquarium light • Substrate, such as sand or crushed coral • Canister filter • Power-head • Heater • Live rock or artificial coral • Thermometer & hydrometer • Protein skimmer • Sea salt mix • Water conditioner • 5-gallon bucket |
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| STEP 1: Rinse the aquarium and artificial coral with water only. Soap residue is harmful to tropical fish. | |
| STEP 2: Set up your aquarium and stand, optimally near an electrical outlet and away from windows – sunlight promotes algae growth. | |
| STEP 3: Install the canister filter and protein skimmer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, since models vary in their installation. | |
| STEP 4: Add the substrate. Figure one pound of gravel per gallon that the aquarium holds. | |
| STEP 5: Fill the 5-gallon bucket, with non-chlorinated water. Tap water contains chemicals that aren’t good for marine fish, so add a water conditioner. Add some sea salt mix and gauge the salt level on a hydrometer, making sure that you keep a gravity level between 1.020 and 1.023. | |
| STEP 6: Pour the pre-mixed saltwater into your aquarium, eventually leaving about an inch at the top. Place the live rock or artificial coral inside your aquarium. | |
| STEP 7: Turn on the canister filter and protein skimmer, and then make sure the water is moving. | |
| STEP 8: Install the heater, thermometer, and power-head. Most marine fish do best at 75-80 degrees. A heater helps keep your water temperature consistent. Turn on the power-head so that the water can gain movement. Place the aquarium light on top of your aquarium. | |
| STEP 9: Let everything run for 72 hours. A just-set-up aquarium lacks the bacteria that it needs to form a steady biological cycle. If your aquarium is cycling properly, that water should develop a temporary white cloudiness. | |
| STEP 10: After checking the water temperature, add a few starter fish – hearty, inexpensive, small fish, such as damels and clownfish. | |
| STEP 11: Add marine fish. Only add one or two fish at a time, which gives the filtration system time to take on the increased biological load. | |
| When you bring the fish home, let the bag float in the tank for about 15 minutes so that the fish can become acclimated to your water temperature. After five minutes of floating the bag, add some of the aquarium water to the bag so that the fish can become acclimated to the pH level in your aquarium. | |
| As you can see, the steps for how to set up a fish tank are not complex. Have fun, and enjoy your fish! | |
How to Set Up a Saltwater Aquarium
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