Saltwater Aquarium Set-up

This thread will cover some basic set-up ideas for a SW aquarium. Many hobbiest set-up their tanks differently. This is a general guideline.

1. The most important thing to do before starting any aquarium; Research and Read. That being said, too many people buy set-ups on a whim, only later to figure out that they cant house a fish they wanted or they dont have strong enough lights to house their favorite anenomes and corals. This should be a fun first step. Figure out what size tank you need and what livestock you want. Making sure they are all compatible.

2. They next step would be to make a list of all supplies needed. From tank, stand, filtration, lighting, circulation, protein skimmers, water prep., water testing, maintenance, temperature control, hardware, and reference material. This is an important stepping stone for success. Logging everthing you do is a good habit to get into too.

3. Buying all of your equipment and material would be next. By now you know what you want, and what you need in order to house it. All you have to do is buy it all, reference your list if needed.

4. Here's where we start to "tinker" a bit. After everything is bought that you need we can then set-up a test run of the equipment, making sure it is all in working fashion. Before doing anything to your set-up, we will want to make sure you have a level stand to sit your tank on. Sitting an aquarium on an unlevel surface could cause stress to your tank. Possibly causing it to leak and or break. For the test run we will want to fill your aquarium up with freshwater only, right out of the tap if needed or hose. Once water is added you want to make sure everything is working; filters, powerheads, heaters, and also making sure to check the tank for leaks. Let it up and running for a day or so just to make sure everything is good to go. Learn how to tinker and adjust all equipment aswell.

5. Once the set-up passes the test run, we can then start to mix and store some synthetic seawater. Most people designate storage bins for mixing and aging your water. Using a small powerhead and a heater is all you really need, besides water and salt of course. Once your salinity and temp are within acceptable ranges move onto next step.

6. Applying your tanks background before adding in your pre-mixed seawater in best. There are many backgrounds available, and many ways to apply them. Find one that best suits your liking.

7. When ever dealing with water, PLEASE make sure you unplug all electical equipment first. After our water is pre-mixed and our aquarium stand/tank is level, we can start to add in our pre-mixed water. Don't fill the tank to the top, once we add in substrate, rock, and decor we will lose some water volume. (You may have to remove some water if needed later.) Once the water is in, you can turn back on the heater and pumps. Test and adjust salinity as needed. Once temperature and salinity are stable, then you may move onto the next step.

8. Adding in substrate would be next in our set-up. I would remove heaters and unplug filters and pumsp for this part. Rinse all substrate before adding it in. (DO NOT rinse Live Sand. Add directly into aquarium.) Gently add in the substrate at a rate of at least 1 pound per gallon. Turn back on eqiupment and let everything settle for a couple of days. Tank may be cloudy.

9. Adding our Rock and Decor will be the next step here. If your using fake decor, rinse and then add. When adding in rock or decor make sure it is secure and pushed deep into the sand, possibly touching the bottom of the tank. Over time sand will erode with cleaning and you dont want to just set the decor on the top. Towers may topple and break your glass or acrylic panels. We want a good "foundation" so to speak, and then build upon that.

If you are using Live Rock or base rock, it is best to stock at least 1 pound per gallon. Making caves, cliffs, and pass throughs are best and natural for livestock. Its all up to you how you rearrange it all. Look at some other tanks and get some ideas.

10. Once all decor is to your liking, you may turn back on all of your equipment; heaters, filters, pumps, lighting, and timers.

11. Let everthing settle in for a day or two, new set-ups are always cloudy. After letting some time pass(maybe a week), you will want to start testing your water. Testing for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and Alkalinity are the basics. When pH, Temperature, and salinity are stable, you may proceed to the next step.

12. The final step in setting up your new aquarium is establishing your bacteria colonies. Adding a source of Ammonia will jump start your tank into cycling. Test and record the Nitrogen Cycle, until there is no detectable Ammonia and Nitrites. This will generally take 4-8 weeks to complete. During this time it is recommended to start up any protein skimmers at this time. They generally need a few weeks to break in.

13. Once your Ammonia and Nitrites readings are at zero you may then begin to add livestock slowly. Make sure there is time between new livestock so your tank can adjust to the new bio load. A Quarantine Tank is also recommended to house incoming livestock.