Steps For Starting A Saltwater Aquarium
When starting a saltwater aquarium there are ten basic steps the owner should follow. Keeping this in mind while guarantee that the aquarium is setup properly, that the right supplies are available and that it is kept in attractive running order and safe for the aquatic life within.The steps, in order, are preparing the saltwater aquarium, testing its system, starting the saltwater aquarium system, preparing any live rock that is going to be included, aquascaping the tank, letting the aquarium tank cycle, getting the aquarium ready for the addition of new livestock, making any necessary adjustments, adding any new aquarium livestock, and taking good care of the aquarium.
It only makes sense, of course, that starting a saltwater aquarium would begin with preparing the aquarium. To prepare it, the owner would need to use fresh water to clean the tank, wit the help of a sponge or soft cloth. If a background is desired this is applied next. Now the stand is put into place and leveled, taking care that there is plenty of clearance for equipment and electrical connections. The tank should have an under pad that not only levels the aquarium but also cushions the bottom. Preparation and installation of all saltwater aquarium items is the next step in starting a saltwater aquarium.
Although testing the aquarium system is an optional step in starting a saltwater aquarium it is far easier to correct any problems in the running of the tank prior to loading the livestock and other items into it. To test it the first thing the owner would do is to load in the solution of saltwater or mix it right inside the tank. When mixing the solution some white residue might settle to the tank bottom. This should be removed. Once this is accomplished, the tank should be left to run for 24 hours, during which the owner would check for any leads, determine the correct temperature, make any salinity balance changes as needed and make sure that all the aquarium equipment is running property. It won’t be possible to see if the protein skimmer is doing its job as there will be no waste, but it is still possible to check for the production of bubbles.
The next step in starting a saltwater aquarium depends on whether the tank will be aquascaped or will include live rock. Either step should be done now. The decision of creating a quarantine tank needs to be made now. Many aquarium enthusiasts bypass the quarantine tank but other experts recommend it. The reason for the recommendation is so that any sick or contaminated fish will be discovered prior to introducing them to the entire aquarium environment. Fish should be quarantined for two weeks and observed often before they are added to the aquarium.
Organisms reside on live rock, especially rock that is uncured. These organisms can lead to excess organic matter accumulation in the aquarium. This will also result in a build up of damaging ammonia. One crucial step, therefore, in starting a saltwater aquarium that is going to contain live rock is to cure the rock prior to putting it into the aquarium.