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Step 1
Choose the type of aquatic life to put in your tank: either fish only or a fish and reef mix. Go with a fish-only tank if the fish you want are aggressive (because they tend to eat the reef) or only get along with certain other breeds of fish. Also choose fish that prefer the same water conditions and temperatures. Reefs like soft corals and anemone are good for a first aquarium.
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Step 2
Select the tank. Get at least a 75 gallon tank for a fish and reef aquarium or a 25 gallon tank for fish only. The tank should hold sufficient sand and rock on the bottom and provide room for the fish to grow.
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Step 3
Buy a solid wood stand for the tank. Metal stands cannot be used with saltwater aquariums.
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Step 4
Pick out live rocks. Buy at least two pieces to start. Live rocks are one of the most important saltwater aquarium supplies because they support life forms that help regulate the bacteria and algae in the tank. Without the rocks, your fish will die early. Shelf rock can be stacked to form caves, adding both aesthetic beauty to the tank and a better environment for the fish.
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Step 5
Install enough live sand to form a two to three inch deep layer. Live sand, like live rock, contains bacteria to help regulate the tank and reduce the frequency of water changing. Avoid cheap sand because it can carry diseases. To save money, mix some dry sand with live sand.
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Step 6
Get the most important of the saltwater aquarium supplies, the saltwater itself. Purchase prepared saltwater or buy a bag of salt and mix your own. With purchased saltwater you can expect the chemical balance to be appropriate and all undesirable minerals to be removed. If mixing your own water, use a hydrometer to check the PH levels.
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Step 7
Purchase on a filter. The tank needs at least a biological filter, but you can also get a three-in-one filter that performs biological, mechanical and chemical filtering. Each filter method removes excess waste in a different way and combining the three will result in a cleaner tank and less-frequent water changes. Verify that the filter is adequate for the size of your tank.
