| For many people thinking about setting up an | | | | provided you follow the manufacture |
| aquarium, the immediate thought is to avoid | | | | recommended cleaning cycle. |
| saltwater tanks because they are to complicated. | | | | Next let's discuss the tanks lighting. What good is |
| Saltwater or marine aquariums once setup can be | | | | it to have beautiful, vibrant saltwater fish if you |
| as complex or as simple as you want them to be. | | | | can't see them? Before you go out and buy an |
| You don't have to have a tank full of corals and | | | | expensive light fixture there are a couple of things |
| delicate invertebrates to enjoy the vibrant colors | | | | to consider. Look at the location of the tank in |
| found in saltwater tanks. Whether you are new | | | | your home and consider how much natural sun |
| to the aquarium hobby or have kept tropical fish | | | | light your tank will receive during the day. A tank |
| in the past, anyone can have a saltwater tank. To | | | | that receives good natural lighting through out the |
| be successful does not mean you just throw | | | | day may not need to be artificially lit until the |
| some water into a tank and head to the local pet | | | | evening hours. Consider next the needs of the |
| store however; some preparation and thought do | | | | tanks inhabitants. Most fish do not require high |
| need to go into setting up your tank. | | | | intensity lighting to be happy and healthy. A lighting |
| Without getting too complex, the basic equipment | | | | fixture utilizing compact florescent tubes should be |
| you will need in addition to a tank will include a | | | | adequate. Since this article deals with a simple fish |
| good quality filter, a heater and lighting. Saltwater | | | | only marine tank, specialty lighting for corals and |
| tanks will also require that you purchase a | | | | invertebrates is not needed. |
| hydrometer to measure salt levels in the water. I | | | | Once you have setup your tank and filled it with |
| don't want to give you the impression that this is | | | | water, it's time to add the salt. Your local pet |
| an all-inclusive list; this is just the basics to get you | | | | store will most likely carry a couple of different |
| up and running. Most local pet stores sell aquarium | | | | brands of salt mix for your tank. Most |
| starter kits that include all the basic equipment. | | | | commercially available mixes contain the same |
| Some larger pet stores will even have kits setup | | | | components and will work just fine. Slowly add |
| specifically for saltwater fish. | | | | the salt to your tank until the reading on your |
| When selecting which equipment to purchase | | | | hydrometer shows a specific gravity in the range |
| there are a couple things to keep in mind. The | | | | of 1.020 to 1.023. You can typically begin to add |
| most important item you purchase is not the tank | | | | fish in a couple of days but it is a good practice |
| or the lights it is the filter. The filter is the heart | | | | to allow the tank to "cycle" for the next two |
| of your tank. A poor or inadequate filter will | | | | weeks prior to adding fish. Before adding any fish |
| quickly lead to the demise of your tank | | | | it is a good idea to recheck the specific gravity of |
| inhabitants. There are a number or different types | | | | the water and make sure your water |
| of filters on the market from canisters and | | | | temperature is comfortable for the fish your |
| wet-dry to the cheaper "waterfall" types that | | | | planning to add. When adding fish to a new tank it |
| hang on the back of the tank. For a fish only | | | | is a good practice to start with heartier fish |
| tank, any of these will work. I recommend getting | | | | species like Damsels. Damsels are cheaper and |
| a filter that is sized for a tank slightly bigger than | | | | can adapt to harsher water conditions typical in a |
| the one you are setting up. By up-sizing the filter, | | | | new tank. After a couple of weeks, you can |
| you are not maxing out its performance and it will | | | | begin to add more fish. |
| easily handle the biological load of the tank | | | | |