A saltwater aquarium is the most beautiful aquatic display that you can have. It’s also one of most expensive and time consuming and you should make sure that you’re ready for the commitment before starting one.

Unlike freshwater fish, saltwater fish require stringent water conditions. The aquarium water must mimic sea water as closely as possible for them to survive.

Your first decision should be the type of fish you want to purchase. The size of the tank, the substrate and tank decorations will greatly vary depending on the species of fish.

Learn everything you can about the fish you wish to have before purchasing anything for an aquarium. It would be a waste of money to buy lots of live plants and have your fish eat them all!

Whether you buy your tank new or have a previously used one, the first step is to thoroughly clean the tank. Avoid any types of cleaners if at all possible and just use a new sponge and water to clean the tanks interior.

You aquarium should be placed in an area away from windows, heating and cooling vents and any other source of heat or cooling elements. The water will need to be maintained at a certain temperature and you don’t want outside elements to affect it.

Once you’ve gotten the tank cleaned you can add the substrate. The type that you need will depend on the fish that you have. Gravel is fine for some fish, while others are happier with sand that they can burrow and dig into.

Although you can use tap water if you have to, it’s not a good choice. Reverse Osmosis De-Ionized water is highly recommended and can be purchased at most pet stores and even at most grocery stores. If you do use tap water you will need to add a de-chlorinator to the water.

You can fill the aquarium and then add the salt, but it’s best if you use a clean bucket and mix the saltwater before hand. It’s much easier to mix a small amount than it is to properly mix it in the aquarium.

Some aquarists recommend that you completely decorate the tank before adding the water and some suggest adding the water first. It’s really a personal preference and can be done however is easiest for you.

There are numerous items that you can use to decorate your aquarium to suit your personal style. However, like everything else in the tank, the species of fish must be considered when choosing decorations.

If you’re not going to have fish that eat live rocks and coral, they’re great additions to a marine tank. They will more closely resemble their natural habitat, add beneficial organisms to the water and even help with filtration.

The next step is going to require lots of patience! You’ll need to let your aquarium cycle and it will take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks. Cycling is a process of growing bacteria that is beneficial to saltwater fish!

You can help speed the process by adding biological supplements that will add some of the needed bacteria. You could also purchase a few damsels to help the process along. Damsels waste will aid the bacteria in growing faster and provide something in your tank to enjoy during the wait!

Periodically check the chemical balance in the water until it reaches the proper levels. Then you’ll need to perform a partial water change, remove one third of the water and mix fresh saltwater to add to the tank.

After you’ve checked the chemical levels and temperature, you’re finally ready to start adding your fish. Fish should be added gradually so that the biological filtration system can adjust to new inhabitants.

You should also add the most peaceful fish you plan to purchase first. This will give them time to get accustomed to their new home, before more active and aggressive tank mates are added.

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