| STEP ONE, THE AQUARIUM ITSELF | | | | water itself. Take it from my experience; use |
| Most of my customers purchase aquariums that are | | | | Reverse Osmosis Water with a TDS (total dissolved |
| way too small and end up upgrading in the near | | | | solids) close as possible to zero. To start you can |
| future anyway. The minimum size for a saltwater | | | | purchase this at any water store in 5 gallon jugs or |
| aquarium should be at least 55 gallons. Not only will | | | | you can purchase a reverse osmosis system for |
| you be able to keep most fish and corals in this tank, | | | | under $200. If you are serious about keeping |
| your parameters (salinity, ph, etc) will tend not to | | | | saltwater aquariums you need this to help eliminate |
| fluctuate as much in a larger tank. | | | | various algae's and bacteria's that can bloom in your |
| Purchase your aquarium and a suitable stand. I | | | | tank and kill all of your corals. This is the reason that |
| recommend getting one at your local aquarium store | | | | most hobbyists throw in the towel. I could go into |
| that is designed for the aquarium. Don't forget, a 55 | | | | more detail about this but just Google red slime or |
| gallon aquarium weighs over 550lbs without any rock | | | | hair algae and do a little reading. Install your |
| or sand in it so don't put it on an old table. Now that | | | | powerheads and heater and start filling up your |
| you have your tank and stand place it on a level | | | | aquarium. Once it is full add your salt. It is usually |
| surface in your home away from any windows | | | | about ΒΌ cup per gallon but check the manufactures |
| where direct sunlight can influence the temperature. | | | | recommendation. Get your salinity up to about 1.024 |
| Ensure the tank is sitting level on the stand. This is | | | | or 1.025. |
| especially crucial with larger tanks as you don't want | | | | STEP FOUR, THE WAITING GAME |
| any pressure points that can split your tanks seams. | | | | At this point your tank is cycling. You are waiting for |
| STEP TWO, ROCK, SAND AND LIGHTING | | | | little bacteria that you cannot see to magically appear |
| Purchase a quality reef sand such as Carib Sea Ocean | | | | out of nowhere and start consuming the ammonia. |
| Direct Live Sand and ensure there is at least 2-3 | | | | This can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks and your |
| inches of substrate at the bottom of your tank. This | | | | light is not required. A trick I have learned is to add a |
| will help remove nitrates in the near future. We will | | | | 5-10lb piece of Live Rock to speed up the cycle. This |
| get into nitrates later on but for now just make sure | | | | will introduce some bacteria and life to your tank. In a |
| you purchase enough sand. As far as lighting there | | | | nutshell what happens is the bacteria eat the |
| are a variety of options out there. T5 High Outputs | | | | ammonia and produce nitrites (another type of |
| are a good option to keep your electric bill | | | | ammonia), yet another bacteria turns the nitrites into |
| reasonable. You should do a little research to find out | | | | nitrates which are pretty much left in your tank to |
| what you will suite your needs. You will need about | | | | accumulate. Skimming and water changes will keep |
| 2-3 20 lb bags for every 50 Gallons to achieve this. | | | | nitrates under control. You can start skimming any |
| Now for the rock, you can use what is called live | | | | time now. It's not critical at this point but it's a good |
| rock or you can use dry reef rock that is readily | | | | time to fire up your skimmer. I have always used |
| available online. What many aquarists don't know is | | | | Coralife Super Skimmers. |
| you do not need to use live rock to start. You can | | | | They are easy to setup and maintain and do a great |
| purchase dry reef rock for about $2.75 - $5 per lb | | | | job of removing organic waste. They also give you |
| versus paying about $7-15 per pound for live rock. | | | | an option to setup in a sump (another article, another |
| They will both give you the same end result and dry | | | | time) or hang on the back of your tank. They are |
| rock gains about 10-30% more weight once it's wet | | | | not pretty but the rock work can hide most of it. All |
| so it's a better value. Purchase about one lb for | | | | you have to do now is add top off water to make |
| every gallon of water you have so for a 55 Gallon | | | | up for the water that has evaporated. Do not add |
| aquarium purchase 50-55 lbs of rock. Position your | | | | saltwater to make up for the missing water or your |
| rocks securely as desired and proceed to the next | | | | salinity will rise. Salt does not evaporate into the air. |
| step, the water. | | | | That is why we top off with fresh water. When |
| STEP THREE, WATER, POWERHEADS AND | | | | your ammonia test shows zero you will need to do a |
| HEATERS | | | | 20 percent water change and check it again in a day |
| Now you need to purchase salt (I recommend | | | | or so. If it tests zero you can start by adding a fish. |
| Instant Ocean for its consistency), Powerheads | | | | Take it very slow at this point or your tank will |
| (Koralia or Aquarium Systems Maxi Jets are a good | | | | re-cycle killing everything. Add about one fish or coral |
| choice). The flow you require is a simple formula; at | | | | once a week and take it slow. We did not test for |
| least 10 x the size of you're aquarium so for example | | | | nitrites or nitrates because they really don't matter at |
| a 55 Gallon Aquarium needs at least 550 GPH (gallons | | | | this point. |
| per hour) of flow. Now you need to purchase a | | | | STEP 5, MAINTAINING YOUR TANK |
| heater, both Jager and Visi Therm are a decent | | | | So your tank is setup and you have a couple of fish |
| choice. They recommend what size is required (in | | | | and a coral or two. At this point you should be doing |
| watts) on their packaging and websites. Purchase a | | | | at least a 5 percent water change every week to |
| large enough heater because temperature | | | | keep the nitrates down and nuisance algae at bay. It |
| consistency is important for your livestock. Last but | | | | will also replenish the calcium, magnesium and trace |
| not least purchase a Refractometer for around 50 | | | | elements that your corals need to survive. Purchase |
| dollars online. Measuring salinity with a plastic | | | | a good magnet cleaner to scrub the front of your |
| hydrometer is just not accurate and will cause you | | | | glass. If you do end up getting some algae run some |
| grief. | | | | GFO (granular ferric oxide) in a media bag in a filter |
| Ok, now that you have purchased your powerheads, | | | | to remove the phosphates from your water. This will |
| heater and salt it's time to fill up the tank with water. | | | | keep it from spreading and in combination with |
| One of the most commonly overlooked items is the | | | | manual removal you can keep it under control. |