How to Care For a Salt Water Fish Tank

Fish are great pets. They are relatively easy to care for, don’t require a lot of room, don’t make a lot of noise and are fairly inexpensive. You can get plain ol' goldfish or mollies to fill your tank but if you love the bright colors and selections of fancier fish, you may want to consider a salt water tank system. Salt water tanks do require a bit more care, but the results are beautiful, long-living fish that you can enjoy. Here are some basic tips for setting up a salt water fish tank.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large tank
• Filter system
• Protein skimmer
• Aragonite sand
• Live rocks
• Accessories

1. Take time to select the right fish tank. With goldfish, you can use just about anything and they will thrive, but this is not the case for salt water fish. Select a tank that is purposed especially for your salt water fish. The size of the tank is also important. Most salt water fish are much larger than fresh water fish, so you will need a larger tank. A 10-gallon aquarium will probably not be the right choice.

2. The most important part of your salt water tank will be the filtration system. Look for a system that is made for a salt water tank.

3. Many pet stores will sell the tank and the accessories you need in one package. If you are starting with nothing, this might be a good option.

4. Look for a protein skimmer, good lighting for your tank, aragonite sand, and some type of live rock. You may also need a UV sterilizer. A good heater is key because it keeps the temperature stable. In addition, look at the salt mix made for fish tanks, water test kits and a hydrometer.

5. After you get home with your tank and accessories, read the manufacturer's suggestions for caring for your tank. This is critical to maintaining a healthy aquarium.

6. Set the tank up and let it run before adding your fish. Running all the equipment will help you determine whether there are any problems so you can correct those issues, if necessary. After you have made sure your tank is "fish ready," buy your salt water fish from your local pet store or by other means.

Tips & Warnings

• It is easy to go overboard buying all kinds of accessories, but you will probably spend more money than you need to at first. Buy only what is really necessary, and as you get better at caring for and maintaining your tank, you can begin to add other accessories.
• Do not mix fresh water and salt water accessories. This could be fatal to your salt water fish.