- The first thing a hobbyist wanting to set up a saltwater aquarium will do is decide what kind of saltwater aquarium to create. Aquariums can be reef, just fish, or both. In addition, you may want to include invertebrates. You will need to choose a suitable location which can handle the weight of the aquarium. You will also need to decide the size of the tank. Once these decisions have been made, you will purchase either a glass or acrylic aquarium as well as a filtration system. You will also purchase a salt mix and a container in which to mix the salt water. The size of container will depend on the size of the tank. You'll need a submersible pump and a submersible heater to keep the saltwater warm while it's being mixed. Lastly, you'll want either a deionization machine or deionized water from a fish store.
- First you'll need to fill up the container with deionized water and add the heater, submersible pump and salt mix. The saltwater will need to "age" 48 hours before being added to the tank. In the meantime, if you're planning to have a sand substrate in the aquarium, add that to the tank. Set up all the plumbing connections for the tank (filter, thermometer and heater) and add the salt water.
- Before introducing fish to the aquarium, the aquarium must develop the bacteria necessary to keep the fish alive. Therefore you'll need to "cycle" the tank. To cycle the tank, add live rock to the tank. The live rock comes from the ocean and will help create the necessary environment for the aquarium. The live rock is added to the aquarium and over two to four weeks the rock will cure and cycle the tank. While the tank is cycling the hobbyist will run a filter and frequently change the water. You'll know when the tank has cycled by using a test kit found at fish stores which tests the ammonia levels in the water. When the tank is cycled, begin to add fish to the tank. Add a few fish at a time, always checking the ammonia and nitrate levels before adding more fish.
