Things You'll Need:
- tank (your choice on the size)
- glass hood
- light(s)
- canister filter(s)
- heater
- live sand
- tank decorations
- hydrometer (measures salt level) (instant ocean)
- thermometer (stick on)
- aquarium salt (coral life/instant ocean)
- carnivore food (formula 1)
- herbivore food (formula 2)
- master test kit (tells if your tanks cycled)
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Step 1
First off, where is the aquarium going to go? It should be in a place where you and your family can enjoy it, but make sure that's not in direct sunlight. The more sunlight that hits your fish tank, the more algae that grows on the sides. I suggest a shadier spot. I would also make sure you're floor will support your fish tank. Sometimes you might actually need to put braces in the basement to support the weight. Check my resources for more information concerning weight!
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Step 2
Bigger is better. Sometimes not cheaper, but in the long run it could actually save you some money! I would say nothing less than a 60 gallon if you're going Saltwater tank. It's a lot harder to notice when something goes wrong with a smaller aquarium, unlike the bigger aquariums. I would also suggest a glass hood. The plastic ones don't seem to keep from being salt-free. Fish are known to jump out of tanks very often, and end in tragedy, so I would try getting the right fitting top (to avoid a $50 fish loss).
1. High powered lights are essential with a saltwater tank. Your hard and soft corals as well as invertebrates rely on them; and they also help keep your live rock healthy. To find a good lighting system, it could cost you a good $300, but it's well worth it in the long run. The better the light system, the healthier and more vibrant your coral will be! Certain coral and plants require more/less light than others. If you don't have a good light, the top of the tank might not even be good enough for them to survive. Freshwater lights are not good enough for saltwater tanks. Saltwater requires two 65watt bulbs, whereas freshwater only requires one.
2.You also want to make sure your heater works at best. These fish come from a tropical environment. Heaters do best on the bottom or in the middle of you tank. The temperature should be 75F - 80F.
3.Never use just any old table salt. Buy synthetic sea salt, to assure your fish are getting the best possible treatment. All you have to do is mix half a cup of salt per gallon of water. It's easiest and cheaper to buy salt separately and mix together! -
Step 3
For starting off, I would suggest just buying soft corals and invertebrates. They are the easiest to care for. Than after you get the hang of it, you can purchase hard corals. Make sure you match your coral/rocks with your fish also. Some fish like to bury themselves, but have soft bellies, which are easily damaged. Try sticking with soft corals with soft belly fish, and so on.
Coral need lots of water movement, so more than one canister filer might be essential for the maximum water movement in your tank! This will be around $200. Protein skimmers add extra filtration and water flow as well. -
Step 4
You need to make sure you give your tank time to go though its cycle before putting fish in the tank. Cycles take around 4-6 weeks. Live rock helps speedup this process. After 4 days you can put in Damsels, which are considered beginner fish.
Once cycle is complete I'd say some great starter fish are; clown fish, fire fish, orchid dotty back, royal gram ma, blenny, pseudochromis, yellow/blue tang, etc. These fish seem to keep to themselves and need no special foods. -
Step 5
I think my best advice is to DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Saltwater aquariums require a lot of attention and money. The beauty is worth it in the end if you do things right!
