| Saltwater Aquarium Setup: Essential Gear | | | | figurines or statues. |
| You will need: | | | | Step 2: Install the filter |
| - Aquarium Tank | | | | Proper installation of the filter is essential to your |
| - Substrate (the bottom of the aquarium, such as sand | | | | saltwater aquarium setup as it will keep your aquarium |
| or crushed coral) | | | | clean and clear of waste. You can choose from a |
| - Saltwater (water needed for the type of coral and | | | | wide variety of filters, using a combination of biological, |
| fish you are maintaining) | | | | chemical and mechanical filters. |
| - Saltwater test kit (to monitor the nitrogen cycle that | | | | Step 3: Pack in substrate and plants |
| occurs in the aquarium ecosystem) | | | | Once the substrate has been sufficiently cleaned, pack |
| - Hydrometer and thermometer (specifically for | | | | it down along the bottom of the tank using enough |
| saltwater) | | | | water, about 1 pound of substrate for every gallon of |
| - Filter and filter replacements (to cleanse the water | | | | water. Then, put in your aquarium plants, using the |
| from biological and chemical waste) | | | | substrate to anchor them firmly. |
| - Power-head (to provide movement for the water) | | | | Step 4: Fill the tank and ready the tank water |
| - Water heater (to keep water at a particular | | | | In a large bucket filled with non-chlorinated water, add |
| temperature) | | | | some salt and gauge the salt level on a hydrometer, |
| - Protein-skimmer (to prevent the growth of algae) | | | | making sure you keep a gravity level between 1.020 |
| - Scrubber (for cleaning algae off aquarium walls and | | | | and 1.023. Fill up your aquarium with this saltwater, and |
| rocks) | | | | turn on the filtration system. |
| - Fish food (specifically for saltwater fish) | | | | Step 5: Get water to the right conditions |
| - Aquarium vacuum (to clean particles from the water | | | | Getting the right water condition is vital to your |
| and substrate) | | | | saltwater aquarium setup. Using a thermometer and |
| - Quarantine tank (for use when needed to acclimate | | | | heater, condition the water to reach the right |
| new fish or segregate fish with disease) | | | | temperature. You will need about 72 hours for this. |
| - Sea salt mix | | | | Then, cycle the water, allowing it to form the |
| - Fish net | | | | necessary bacteria that the aquarium ecosystem |
| - Rubber gloves | | | | lacks. Install the power-head so that the water can |
| - One or two 5-gallon buckets, cleaned and used solely | | | | gain movement. |
| for aquarium water | | | | Step 6: Add the fish |
| Step 1: Clean everything | | | | When the chemistry of the water is correct and the |
| It's important to first clean everything. Use a teaspoon | | | | temperature is between 75 and 80 degrees, add your |
| of pure bleach in 5 gallons of water for this purpose, | | | | fish. |
| using as much as 10 gallons for the entire cleaning | | | | Step 7: Maintain the aquarium |
| procedure of the tank. Use a non-abrasive cleaner to | | | | Maintain the power-head at a steady level and make |
| scrub the sides of the tank, ensuring that no scratches | | | | sure it is not too big for the size of your tank. Use a |
| form on the surface. For cleaning the substrate, use | | | | protein-skimmer to regularly cleanse the tank of debris |
| several changes of clean water. Do the same for any | | | | and aid the water in the nitrogen cycle. |
| accessories you may wish to put in the tanks, such as | | | | |