How to Set Up a Saltwater Marine Aquarium

Saltwater aquariums tend to have a mystique about them that can be off-putting to aquarium hobbiests who are more familiar with setting up freshwater aquariums. In reality, setting up a marine aquarium isn't much different from setting up a tropical aquarium, you just have to pay a little closer attention to the water quality and the environment in which your fish or corals will be living.

Basics of Marine Aquariums

It is possible to set up a saltwater aquarium or a marine aquarium that is smaller than 30 gallons, but many professionals advise against this as it limits the creatures you can keep in your aquarium. These smaller aquariums are called "nano aquariums." Consider that in the ocean, fish and corals have lots of room to grow and live. In an aquarium, this space is limited by the confines of the aquarium. This increases many creatures' sense of territoriality and can lead to scuffles between what would otherwise be peaceful fishes.

Begin setting up your marine aquarium by purchasing and positioning your desired size of aquarium. It should be in an out-of-the-way place in your home or apartment where there is no danger of being knocked over or subjected to direct sunlight throughout the day.

Add the substrate to the marine aquarium before adding water. It's best to use what is called "living sand" rather than traditional aquarium sand. This living sand has necessary microbes and beneficial bacteria already present in the sand that help to prepare the water for the inclusion of fish and corals.

Fill the tank with tap water, and then use an aquarium tap water conditioner to neutralize the harmful chemicals in the water such as chlorine. Next, add a saltwater mixture into the aquarium. As a beginner, it is extremely important to use a synthetic sea salt mixture specially formulated for use in aquariums. Using ocean water might seem to be a good idea, but there are millions of harmful microbes and bacteria in ocean water, as well as pollutants close to shore, that will easily and quickly kill the fish and corals that you add to the tank.

It takes about five days for the cloudiness to clear up in the water after you've added the salt additive. Next, you're going to add what is called "living rock" to the aquarium. Living rock, like live sand, isn't a live organism, but is infused with hundreds of millions of beneficial bacteria and microbes that will help acclimate your marine aquarium.

Final preparations for the Marine Aquarium

Add a heater to the tank and begin testing the water. It is important to have the temperature remain steady at approximately 72 degrees throughout the year. Additionally, have a saltwater specific gravity scale handy. This tool reads how much salt is in the aquarium. Ideally, if you followed the instructions on the salt mixture, you should see a specific gravity of between 1.020 to 1.023. Any more or less requires the addition or removal and replacement of some of the aquarium water.

Adding marine animals to your saltwater aquarium

Once the water has been properly readied, you can feel free to add your marine animals to the tank. Make sure, though, that you pay close attention to the specific needs of each of the creatures that you add so that they are sure to have all their health needs met. This will ensure that you have not only a healthy, but a beautiful marine aquarium.

Sources:
Wet Web Media: Marine Set-up: www.wetwebmedia.com