Starting a saltwater aquarium

starting a saltwater aquarium is a task that can be fun and
rewarding, or devastating. It all depends on if you put it
together well where it provides a good ecosystem for your
saltwater fish to survive in.

When setting up a saltwater aquarium you need to make a decision
regarding how large aquarium tank you are going to get. For a
beginner, a larger tank may be better. The reason is the more
means a chemically more stable aquarium. Many experienced
aquarists suggest 55 gallons / 200L or larger for a beginner
when it comes to saltwater aquariums. .

You will also have to choice between Glass and Acrylic aquarium
tanks when preparing Setting up a saltwater aquarium. Glass
aquariums will stay clearer over the years, though they do not
insulate the tank as well, and are more breakable. Acrylic may
scratch, but is stronger and insulates better (may require a
smaller heater). Glass aquariums are usually the cheaper choice.
.

You should begin by deciding on the location where you will be
setting up a saltwater aquarium at in your home. This is
important for whether your saltwater aquarium setup will be
successful or not. You do not want a location where there is too
much heat changes during the day, or a location where the
aquarium is subjected to large amounts of sunlight. This will
not provide an environment that is constant in temperature for
your fish, and might lead to too much algae (due to direct
sunlight and its ultraviolet rays). You should also make sure
that you place the aquarium so that it isn’t in the way in your
everyday life. .

When setting up a saltwater aquarium you want to consider that
the tank might not be easy to move once the aquarium is full.
Saltwater weighs about 8.5lbs per gallon and to that weight you
can add gravel decorations etc. So be sure that it’s where you
really want it before you start Setting up your saltwater
aquarium. .

Make sure the aquarium tank, aquarium stand, and other above
aquarium equipment fit in the space you have chosen. Leave a gap
behind for access to clean behind the aquarium and maintain the
aquarium equipment. Setting up a saltwater aquarium is after all
only the beginning. You will have to care for the aquarium once
it is up and running too. .

It is best to clean the tank thoroughly before use. Do not use
cleaners, solvents, and the like as they may leave residues that
can harm your fish. Tiny amounts of Pure Bleach may be used,
such as one capful for 10 gallons of water, and make sure to
rinse it very well afterwards. .

Now you will need to decide what sort of population you want in
your saltwater aquarium before setting it up. This might be Fish
Only, Fish with Live Rock, or maybe a full Reef System. Fish
only might be the easiest alternative if this is your first
saltwater aquarium. It might however be relatively easy to
upgrade to a full reef system later if you do a good and well
planed job while setting up your saltwater aquarium tank.
Setting up a saltwater aquarium offers many options. .

Choosing an aquarium filter.

There are more then one type of filtration needed in a
saltwater aquarium. These are biological, mechanical, and
chemical filtration. .

Biological filtration removes ammonia, ammonium, nitrite, and
nitrates (some) created by fish’s biological processes and other
activity in the aquarium. The process involves conversion of
ammonia/ammonium to harmful nitrite. Then the nitrite converts
to harmless nitrate. Live Rock which can support bacteria and
Protein Skimmers are among top biological filtration systems. .

Chemical Filtration is another important aspect of Setting up
saltwater aquarium. They will remove various chemicals that are
dissolved in the water. Visually, these remove the discoloration
of the water that might occur without filtration. .

Mechanical Filtration is also important for removal of matter
such as excess uneaten food, fish waste, and other debris that
might land in the tank. .

Mixing saltwater .

Follow the instructions with the salt mix that you have chosen.
Also, only add freshwater after the water is made. The water
evaporates, while the salt does not which means that the
salinity of in the aquarium fluctuates. You should therefore use
a hydrometer to keep track of gravity(salinity), and add salt to
bring up the salinity when needed. Remember; do not add salt
when replacing evaporated water. .

The first thing you should do when you have setup your aquarium
and filled it with water is cycling the water. Let the
filtration system run a week or longer before adding fish and
there after introduce a few hardy fish. Damsels are one good
choice for beginners. .

Add fish to the aquarium at the rate of maybe 2 a week at most
and preferable in pairs. You should not add more than 1 fish per
10 gallons, and remember that the amount of water will not be
the full size of the tank, as other things in the tank
(including your fish) take up space that are not available to
the fish. Introduce new fish to your aquarium very carefully to
avoid causing the fish unnecessary stress. .

Good luck