Setting Up Your Own Salt Water Aquarium - 2 Simple Steps

1. The Basic Tank Requirement
Salt water aquariums are larger than normal and can house large sea fish, limited only by the space you can provide. It is true that it could cost quite a few bucks to get started, but then when you think of what you can save on manual labor in the long run; it may just be within your reach. Imagine having one of those giant ones in your own home, and imagine the fact that it is in fact within your reach.

A. Equipment - Any aquarium is dirty when it arrives. While this may sound alarming, let us understand that any packing material uses some sort of chemical or the other to keep out the bugs. This may be harmful to your fish, so make sure you clean the tank out well before you install it. Do remember to clean it with something soft, or you risk getting scratch marks all over the glass.

B. Get all your gear into the tank except for the decorative ones. You can now fill the fish tank with salt water up to the line which is usually marked two or three inches below the rim of the tank. If you do not have access to salt water, we later explain how you can make some. Now, you let the tank run for a day to ensure everything is working ok.

2. Salt Water
When you are going to get salt water fish into your aquarium, do keep in mind that they belong in the sea and are thus used to a certain amount of salt in their water. You could purchase salt water, or you could get some if you aren't far from a beach. In the absence of both these options you could make your salt water at home. Rather than simply use table salt which contains impurities, you should purchase salt water solution mixes at the pet stores. Any shop that sells tropical fish should have some of these.

When you have salt water in your aquarium, you can house all kinds of sea weed and other species of life that are used to the salt water. Real plants are definitely more pleasing to the eye than plastic, and your fish may even feed on some of the organisms that rest on the plant leaves.

Important - At least once a month you need to monitor the ammonia level in your salt water. Too high a level can prove fatal for your prized fishes.

When you use these simple steps we have mentioned to prepare and maintain your salt water aquarium, your tank will be beautiful for years and years to come, and your fish will always remain healthy. Take the time to get the basics right before you buy the more expensive varieties of fish.

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