| Please don't make the mistake of putting | | | | tropical fish and tropical coral mean are |
| together your first salt water aquariums without | | | | accustomed to warm water. Here again while |
| first learning how to set the aquarium up this | | | | your at the shop picking up your supplies, it might |
| could be a good reason to not have happy and | | | | not be a bad idea to pick up an additional heater |
| healthy tropical fish. | | | | as a backup but again this is not required. |
| Let's take a look at the basics of how it's done: | | | | 4.) Now you need to decide what kind of |
| 1.) The first and most obvious thing we need to | | | | aquarium substrate you would like to use to line |
| do is to purchase your aquarium. Tropical | | | | the bottom of your aquarium. You have lots of |
| saltwater aquariums range in sizes big (1000 | | | | options here- from using a layer of live sand or a |
| gallons) to small (20 gallons). I always recommend | | | | layer of crushed coral. This is where you can |
| starting with a 75 gallon salt water aquarium | | | | start to become creative! |
| because it gives you new inhabitants plenty of | | | | 5.) The salt water mix is going to be the next |
| room to grow and play without any restrictions. | | | | thing you need to focus on as well as purchasing |
| When you go to the store to purchase the | | | | a hydrometer. |
| aquarium consider how much work you'll want to | | | | 6.) Saltwater test kits are a MUST when owning |
| invest in your tropical saltwater aquarium once its | | | | any type of aquarium, salt water or fresh water. |
| up and running. The larger the tank the more time | | | | These kits test the levels of ammonia, nitrate, |
| you'll spend cleaning and maintaining the aquarium. | | | | Salinity/specific gravity, carbon dioxide, pH levels, |
| 2.) Once you have purchased the saltwater | | | | alkalinity, Chlorine/chlorine, carbonate water |
| aquarium that you're happy with now it's time to | | | | hardness, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, and the |
| purchase a filter. Make sure when purchasing your | | | | amount of iron in your aquariums water. Purchase |
| filter that it's big and powerful enough to filter | | | | several of these kits and use them often. One |
| your entire tank, and this is going to depend on | | | | way you can save a little money on saltwater |
| the size of the salt water aquariums you have | | | | test kits is by purchasing a master test kit. The |
| chosen. And it might not be a bad idea to | | | | master test kit. |
| purchase an additional filter and filter media. | | | | 7.) Other items that every responsible salt water |
| Purchasing these replacements right away can | | | | aquarium owner always have on hand: spare |
| save you a lot of money if your original filter | | | | quarantine tank in case they have sick fish that |
| abruptly stops working. | | | | need to be separated from the main tank, rubber |
| 3.) Next you will need to purchase the heater, | | | | gloves, scrub brush, two large 5 gallon buckets, |
| make sure this too is capable of warming the | | | | and a fish net. |
| water in your salt water aquarium, remember | | | | |