How to Set Up a Salt Water Fish Tank

Salt water fish tanks are preferred by many enthusiasts because you can add more exotic and tropical fish then you would find in a freshwater tank. Be sure that you want a salt water tank ahead of time because it requires a lot of maintenance.

Instructions:

Things You'll Need:

Fish tank

Dish soap

Salt

Stand

Hydrometer

Fish tank heater

Filter

Gravel

Salt water test kit

Salt water mix

Bucket

Tetra AquaSafe

Plants and decorations

Step 1:

Paint a background or buy a fish tank background from your local pet store. If you choose to paint your own background you must wait for the paint to dry to continue.

Step 2:

Clean your fish tank thoroughly. Dish soap and water is fine to use. Rinse it out a second time to make sure no residue is left in the tank which could kill the fish.

Step 3:

Set your tank on a sturdy stand away from heaters or doorways. Make sure the room you use for your salt water fish tank has a consistent temperature with no drafts or bursts of heat.

Step 4:

Add your filter to the tank. If you are not sure what type of filter to buy you can use the quiz below. After you answer five simple questions, the site will tell you what exact filter you need.

Step 5:

Cover the bottom of the fish tank with gravel. The bigger your tank, the more gravel you will need. The general rule of thumb is to add one pound of gravel for each gallon of water you add to the tank. If you have a ten gallon tank that you fill with nine gallons of water, then you want to add nine pounds of gravel.

Step 6:

Add some plants and decorations to your fish tank. You want to make sure that if you use any real plants that they are made to live in a salt water environment.

Step 7:

Fill a bucket with some water. Add Tetra AquaSafe which is a product that gets rid of the chlorine in the water and makes it safe for fish. Then add the salt water mix. Mix thoroughly and then test with your hydrometer. If the salt levels are good you can add the water to the fish tank when the water reaches room temperature.

Step 8:

Add the heater to the tank and get the temperature to at least 75 degrees.

Step 9:

Turn your filter on and wait for your tank to cycle at least once. This takes thirty days to happen so you will need to be patient. You will know the tank is cycled when both the Ammonia and Nitrite levels are at zero.

Step 10:

Add some salt water fish to your tank. These can be clownfish, pufferfish, seahorse, trigger fish, angelfish, and seabass just to name a few. The important thing is to only add one to two fish at a time. You can add the fish after the cycle has become complete. Just gently let them go in the tank. Wait a week or two before adding more fish. This is to keep the Ammonia levels down so that your fish don't die.

Tips & Warnings

*Read up on which types of fish you plan on using in your tank. Some salt water fish stay pretty small, but some can grow quite large. Knowing which types of fish you want ahead of time will help you pick out the right sized tank.

*You can use a live rock which will reduce the use of the filter.

*Make sure that your tank and salt water are ready for the fish before you put the fish in. It is important that you don't rush this most important step or your fish will die.

*Keeping a salt water fish tank can be expensive. Make sure you research the costs before you begin this project.