Setting up a Saltwater Fish Tank

Saltwater fish tank means it needs the ocean environment. In the ocean, the condition of the water does not change much, for example, the salinity and pH rarely swing by a significant enough amount to affect life in the ocean. Thus, the living conditions for saltwater fish are generally constantly leading to the Ocean's stable water chemistry. Saltwater fishes are only able to survive in a strict range of water conditions. 

Equipment to Setup Saltwater Aquarium

  • Filtration.
  • Lighting.
  • Water test kit.
  • Salt.
  • Wavemaker.
  • Protein skimmer.

How to prepare the Saltwater Aquarium

  • Prepare the aquarium
    • To make Saltwater for fish, mix 0.5 cups of reef salt into each gallon of water.
  • Install the sump equipment
    • Full your sump to 50% full with the return pump running.
    • Disconnect the power to the pump and let the water back drain into the sump.
    • Measure how much the water level in your sump rises.
    • Set the normal operating water level to 6-7 below the top of your sump.
  • Put in the aquarium equipment
    • Tank.
    • Powerheads.
    • Return Pump.
    • Lighting.
    • Protein skimmers.
  • Run a wet Test of the system.
    • Check and tighten all the hose connections.
    • Fill the aquarium (and sump, if you are using one) with fresh water.
    • Wipe the exterior of the tank and the entire area dry.
    • One at a time, plug each pump into the power strip.
    • Check each plumbing connection for leaks.
  • Add substrate and sea salts
    • Choosing the right substrate for your aquarium before installing it is important, if for no other reason than it is difficult to remove once the tank is up and running. Determine the best sea salts for your particular aquarium. There are so many substrates and sea salts available in the market and on Amazon.
  • Situate the rock and Aquascaping.
    • Arrange the rocks in a way to create little nooks and crannies that fish, in particular, can go into, and even some holes they can swim through. The classic way to do this is to simply place three or four large, flat rocks on the bottom of the tank and then place one Large slab on top of them like a table.
  • Install aquarium lighting system.
    • Fluorescent lights are the standard aquarium light and are cheap to purchase and operate. They are good for fish tanks only and starting up reef tanks, and easily available on Amazon.
  • Add livestock and cycle the tank.
    • Once your tank has finished cycling, you can start adding fish. Make sure your tank is completely cycled before moving on to this step. Otherwise, you could lose fish and nobody on average, it takes 10-14 days for a tank cycle to reach a point where you can safely add fish.

Can a beginner have a Saltwater Tank?

Yes, beginners have a saltwater tank, as it is easy to find a basic saltwater aquarium that is really no more difficult than a freshwater aquarium. The only difference is your adding some synthetic sea salt into the water to make it saltwater. The Ideal size saltwater tank for a beginner is 20-30 gallons (76-114 liters). Saltwater tanks in this size range are commonly available, inexpensive, and require less maintenance than larger-size tanks.

How much does it Cost to Set up a Saltwater Aquarium?

$500 to $1000 for a brand-new saltwater aquarium. Saltwater aquariums in particular can be more expensive. They generally require additional equipment, additional work during water changes, and also require special lighting.