| Establishing the Basic Needs of the Tank | | | | **Making Your Own Saltwater** |
| Everyone has admired the large saltwater aquariums | | | | Ocean water is the natural habitat of all saltwater |
| that can be found in the offices of most dentists, | | | | marine animals and, consequently, the best water |
| physicians, cosmetologists and marine enthusiasts but | | | | source for any saltwater aquarium. If ocean water is |
| have believed them to be far too much work to | | | | not available, however, and the owner of a saltwater |
| bring into their own homes. Fortunately, this is not | | | | aquarium does not wish to purchase a pre-made |
| the case. While the process of establishing a | | | | saltwater solution it is possible to make saltwater. It |
| saltwater aquarium can be a costly one, in terms of | | | | is important to use a sea salt mixture that is free of |
| manual labor there is a very simple method which | | | | impurities rather than table salt when creating |
| almost guarantees success. | | | | saltwater in order to reproduce the natural |
| Step 1: Assemble and prepare the equipment. During | | | | environment as accurately as possible. These mixes |
| packaging and production the aquarium and all of its | | | | can be purchased from any store that specializes in |
| corresponding parts have almost certainly been | | | | the sale of tropical fish. |
| exposed to various pollutants, such as dust and | | | | Step 3: Landscape your aquarium. Organic substances |
| chemicals, which will be very harmful to the fish if it is | | | | are not only more aesthetically pleasing than their |
| allowed free reign in the aquarium. Prior to use every | | | | plastic counterparts, they provide a more pleasing |
| piece of the aquarium should be washed with hot, | | | | environment for the fish as well. Keeping in mind that |
| fresh water and cleansed with a soft piece of cloth | | | | fish generally use what humans consider to be |
| to prevent scratching. | | | | decorations as shelter when in the wild it is important |
| Step 2: Place all of the components in the tank | | | | to consider the types of fish which will be inhabiting |
| WITHOUT adding any of the decorative features. | | | | the tank prior to choosing its decoration. |
| Then fill the tank to the fill line (which may or may | | | | Step 4: Start the 30 day cycling process, during |
| not be already marked on the aquarium-2 to 3 inches | | | | which the ammonia should be tested regularly. This |
| from the top is generally adequate to prevent major | | | | can be done with or without fish in the tank. |
| spillover when the tank is cleaned or the fish fed) | | | | Following these simple steps will allow the amateur |
| with saltwater (if you have chosen to make your | | | | marine enthusiast to place aside their fears and enjoy |
| own saltwater solution read below for instructions). | | | | the benefits of a happy, healthy aquarium in the |
| Turn the tank on and allow it to run for 24 hours to | | | | privacy of their own home. |
| ensure that all components are fully functional. | | | | |