Aqua Escape

Saltwater fish aquarium: water comes first

Saltwater for marine fish is created by adding synthetic sea salt to tap water.  A hydrometer is used to measure the salt content in your marine aquarium.  Your salt content should measure around 1.023 (+/- .002).  The more salt you add to the aquarium the higher the reading on the hydrometer.  If you have too much salt in the aquarium, take some water out and replace it with de-chlorinated tap water.  Fifty percent water change is recommended every 3 to 4 weeks.
Temperature:

70° to 85° F (21° to 29° C)
pH:

8.2 to 8.3
Habitat/Proper Aquarium Set up:

The saltwater fish aquarium should have coral or aragonite sand to help maintain a high pH.  For most saltwater fish, the aquarium should be decorated with lots of rocks and/or coral heads to provide plenty of caves for the fish to hide.  Plastic plants can be added if so desired.
Food:

Most saltwater fish will eat frozen brine shrimp and dry foods.  For fish that like algae in their diet (Tangs, Angelfish) you can give them Romaine lettuce, or Nori Seaweed.  Larger fish like Groupers, Lionfish, Moray Eels, and Snappers can be offered krill, silversides, large shrimp, small strips of raw fish, clam, and squid.  Live food such as goldfish and ghost shrimp can also be offered to some fish that may be reluctant to eat prepared foods.
Special Note:

When you bring home a new saltwater fish it is highly recommended that you first quarantine them in a small aquarium (10 or 20 gallons) for 3 weeks before you add them to a larger display tank.  The quarantine tank should have copper in the water to kill any common saltwater parasites that may be on the fish.  If you notice any parasites on your new fish you can also give them a freshwater bath for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.  This will often kill many of the parasites that are on the fish.

As a person who loves exotic saltwater fishes, you will see that you will definitely want to start a saltwater aquarium. It is a great investment and you will be able to get a lot of joy taking care of your saltwater fish collections. However, if you don’t know a thing about how to start a saltwater aquarium, here is the step by step process on how you can set it up.

First of all, you have to prepare the things you need. These are:

-Dechlorinated water
-Three buckets
-Hydrometer and testing jar
-Mildewcide or bleach
-Distilled water
-Heater
-Plants
-Decorations
-Tank

To prepare the tank, you have to first check the tank for any leaks. Then, clean the tank with a solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach for every 5 gallons of water. Then, rub the tank dry along with the decorations, plastic plants and the rocks. When rinsing it, never use soap or detergent to clean it. Instead, only use clean water.

The next step is to put in a quarter of an inch sheet of Styrofoam under the tank. This will be bale to facilitate in equally distributing the weight.  , you might want to remember that the tank should be placed near an electric outlet and should be placed away from direct sunlight or drafts.

It is very important that you shouldn’t use any metal gear when you begin a saltwater aquarium as the water will corrode it.

To set up the filtration system, you just need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as models vary in installation. Then, fill the tank with gravel. The basic rule is to put in a pound of gravel for every gallon that the tank holds. After that, put the plastic plants in as well as the rock and decorations.

The next step is filling the tank with saltwater. To do this, you first need to fill a large bucket with dechlorinated water. Then, while using the hydrometer, measure the salinity of the water while adding salt in the water. Your target salinity concentration is between 1.020 and 1.023. When you achieve this salinity level, your next step is to fill the tank with the saltwater and leaving approximately an inch of space at the top.

After that, start the filtration system. Then, add the heater and thermometer. As a general rule, most marine fish will be able to cope better in waters between 75 to 80 degrees. You might want to leave it like this for 72 hours in order to keep the water moving and get the right temperature settings.

When the denseStart-A-Saltwater-Aquariumness of chemical compounds is now in agreement to the indicated limitations you are now ready to add your fish. A power head is   essential in the aquarium as it will keep the water in motion. However, don’t purchase one that is too large that will cause a whirlpool effect.

These are the basic steps to take if you are to start a saltwater fish aquarium. Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to start a saltwater aquarium that will be able to accommodate your pet saltwater fishes.

Pet Fish Care : Beginner Saltwater Aquarium Setup