Setting Up A New Saltwater Aquarium
Try to get a tank slightly larger than you need in order to accommodate any new fish you plan on adding to it. Then, if you decide to bring new fish into the aquarium, the room is already there and available without needing to upgrade in size. After you have your water, fill the tank to about one third full and check the gravity (amount of dissolved salts in the water) which should read about 1. Once it's filled, you can set up the rest of your aquarium accessories like the lighting , heaters, filters and pumps (depending on the size and placement of your aquarium) which you should let run for about a day while you measure water... Once you have your aquarium tank, choose a place for it away from natural light sources (that will cause algae to grow in your tank). When you have finished introducing rocks and other accessories to your tank, you can begin cycling by adding a source of ammonia to your tank. Just make sure to regularly clean, test and maintain your tank and equipment to ensure the safety and happiness of your new fish. You don't want an overcrowded tank or one that is too small and you definitely don't want your fish fighting or even eating each other. You can also cure your rock while setting up your tank before you introduce your fish to the environment. The safest way to add the fish is to place them only one or two at a time to the tank. Once you have the water and equipment of your tank prepared, you should be ready to introduce the underwater landscaping. If not, you risk polluting your tank with deadly ammonia which can, at best, make your fish very sick and at worst, kill them. Note that while nitrite isn't toxic to your fish, it can have a negative impact on the tank as a whole and can be easily recognized by watching for an outbreak of algae. Once set up, make sure to clean out your aquarium with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any potential residue left on the inside of the tank before you begin to fill the bottom with your sand, gravel or other substrate. Eventually the rate at which the bacteria breaks down the nitrite will overtake the rate it is created and your tank's system will achieve a good balance of both nitrate and bacteria. This gives the tank's bacteria nitrogen cycle system time to adjust to the new ammonia production strain. Any live rock you purchase must be cured before adding it to your tank.