A saltwater aquarium can be a beautiful addition to your home. With its clear blue water, vibrant colors, and bright lights, aquariums definitely add a stunning look to any living or bedroom. Not many people, however, know the amount of attention and work that goes into maintaining a healthy aquarium. 

If it’s your first time owning an aquarium, you may not know how to properly set it up and care for it. From picking out the right aquarium to preparing it for your saltwater fish, here are a couple of ways you can set up a beginner level saltwater aquarium.

1. Select a beginner level aquarium

Choose an aquarium and aquarium stand based on your own personal preferences and style. If you’re starting out, we recommend picking an aquarium that is a fish-only tank or fish-only with live rock. You can find various aquarium sizes and models across different sources. Take into consideration the location you choose to place your tank in, and how it would look. You can check out our blog, Choosing The Best Location For Your Saltwater Aquarium for our best tips on picking the perfect aquarium location in your home.

You should also decide whether you want to keep small or large fish. The larger the fish, the bigger the tank will need to be. This also applies to the amount of fish you plan to keep in a tank. Avoid “transferring” fish from a small tank to a large one, especially in a saltwater aquarium. Saltwater aquariums take a lot of effort to maintain and flourish—making this switch can cause your aquarium to go out of balance. 

2. Set up your tank for your fish

The first step to setting up your tank is to create a clean environment that can support aquatic life. You can do this by grabbing a cloth, soaking it in warm water, and cleaning the walls of the tank. Do not use Windex or other chemicals to clean your tank as these sprays can mix with the saltwater.

To ensure you have a clean aquarium, we recommend rinsing out the saltwater gravel or substrate you have chosen for your tank. It may require more work but remember that these little rocks may contain dust that can be toxic to your fish. Make sure you use pre-mixed saltwater to fill up your tank. 

Once these steps are completed, you can move on to decorating your aquarium the way you like. We recommend using live rock and vegetation, which can help filter your aquarium and act as a food source.

3. Choose healthy fish for your aquarium

Once you have properly cleaned and set up your tank, it’s time to choose the fish you will keep inside of your aquarium. It’s important to choose fish that are suited to living in saltwater and healthy. A sick fish or a fish with bacteria can contaminate and destroy the balance of your aquarium. They can also infect your other fish, resulting in a significant loss if not dealt with.

While you prepare your aquarium, research the types of fish you would like to keep and visit your nearest fish specialty stores. These specialists will help you decide what fish is best suited for the location and tank you’ve chosen. They will also know which fish are healthy for you to take home. 

Keep in mind that saltwater fish can be more expensive than freshwater ones. To further ensure your fish are completely healthy, make sure you observe these signs when visiting a speciality store:

• Avoid buying fish from a tank with a dead or sick fish in it
• Watch every fish’s behavior and make sure it matches with normal behavior for its species. If it’s acting oddly, it may be a sign it’s sick.
• Research about every fish you’re planning to look at. Do not buy fish you do not know about. 

By following these tips, you will ensure that your clean aquarium will be filled with healthy fish that will thrive.  

4. Acclimate your fish to their new home

Once you have chosen your new pet fish, you must let them undergo the acclimatization process. It sounds like a complicated procedure but we promise it’s easier than it sounds! This process allows your fish to grow used to their new aquarium so they won’t go into shock and possibly die. You can start the acclimatization process by doing the following:

• Open the bag your fish are in and pour half of the water out
• Cut any excess from the bag and secure it to one side of your aquarium.
• Place an air stone inside the bag so that your new fish are receiving oxygen.
• Add ¼ of a cup of the aquarium water into the bag of your new fish. 
• Allow this mixture to sit for around 10-15 minutes in the bag with your new fish. Repeat the process and add another ¼ cup of aquarium water. 
• Repeat this process several times. You should definitely test the temperature, pH and salinity of the water in the bag. Make sure it matches the ones in your aquarium water.
• Once there’s a match, use a net to remove your fish from the bag and place it into your aquarium.

Preparing and setting up your aquarium can be a long and tedious process but it ensures the health and safety of your aquarium fish. Just think: once you’re finished, you will have many years of beautiful fish, thriving plants, and underwater scenery for you and your guests to admire. Now, maintaining your aquarium during a power outage is another obstacle you may face at some point. Check out our blog, Dealing With An Aquarium During A Power Outage for tips on how to care for your aquarium in the event of an emergency.