The Basics to Starting and Keeping a Saltwater System
By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com Guides to Saltwater Aquariums
From choosing the equipment, to setting up, cycling, and then maintaining a saltwater aquarium, this is the place to learn all the basics about starting and keeping everything from a simple fish-only to an advanced reef tank system.
- Where to Start
- Setting Up the Aquarium
- Do-It-Yourself Projects
- Choose Equipment & Other Components
- Filters & Filtration Systems
- Top Aquarium Equipment Picks
- Lights & Lighting Systems
- Live Rock & Live Sand
- Biological Filtration & Cycling the Tank
- Algae Control & Propagation
- Top Aquarium Product Picks
- Maintain Your Aquarium
- Water Quality
- Emergency Help!
Where to Start
Whether you want to start a basic saltwater aquarium or an advanced reef tank system, it is best to first plan ahead.
- Saltwater Aquarium 101 - Getting Started
- So, You've Heard Having A Saltwater Aquarium Is Difficult?
- 10 Most Common Mistakes
- Top Saltwater Aquarium Myths
- How to Plan a Saltwater System
- Checklist of Items for Starting an Aquarium
- 10 Easy Aquarium Set Up Steps
- Cycling a Tank and Establishing the Biological Filter
- Convert a Freshwater Tank to a Saltwater System
- What Is a Fish-Only System?
- Convert a Fish-Only System Into a Reef Tank in 7 Easy Steps
- What Is a Fish Only With Live Rock System?
- Sample Fish-Only W/Live Rock System Set Up
- What is a Reef Tank?
- What Is a Mini-Reef Aquarium?
- Quick Reference Help Desk
- Top Saltwater Aquarium Starter Books
- FAQs Quick Reference Index
Setting Up the Aquarium
Once you've finalized your saltwater system design and purchased the equipment, it's time to set it all up.
- 10 Easy Aquarium Set Up Steps
- Aquarium Equipment & Set Up Polls
- Aquascaping & Decorating
- Changing From a Fish Only to a Reef Tank
- Checklist of Items for Starting an Aquarium
- Choosing the Right Substrate
- Converting from Freshwater to Saltwater
- How To Set Up an Aquarium in 10 Steps
- Quarantine Tank (QT) Set Ups
- Small Tank Set Ups - 40 Gallons or Less Keys to Success
Do-It-Yourself Projects
If you like to build aquariums for enjoyment or want to save money, these projects are for you! Learn how to make everything from a simple glass aquarium to a chiller for a fraction of what it costs to buy them.
- Aquarium & Tank Plans
- How to Make a 55-Gallon Glass Aquarium
- Custom Glass Aquarium Building Tips
- Aquarium Glass Thickness Calculator
- Aquarium Cabinet & Stand Plans
- Easy, Inexpensive Aquarium Stand Plans
- Photos of DIY Cabinets, Stands & Hoods
- Aquarium Canopy/Hood/Light Plans
- Chiller Plans
- Automatic Top Off System
- Doser & Water Top-Off Unit Plans
- Denitrator Plans
- Fish Feeder Plans & Food Recipes
- Filter Plans & Filtration Projects
- Live Rock & Sand Projects
- Simple Hang-On-Tank Acrylic Refugium
- Refugium Plans & Setups
- Protein Skimmer Plans
- Solve Leaky Aquariums & Make Repairs
- Sump & Overflow Box Setup Plans
Choose Equipment & Other Components
Saltwater aquariums require a number of different pieces of equipment in order to function properly. From the aquarium itself to filters to pumps, learn how to select the equipment you need for your saltwater system.
- Choosing a Tank Location, Style, Size, and More
- Emergency Back-Up Power Outage Equipment
- Heaters & Aquarium Heating Issues
- Lights & Lighting Systems
- Live Rock Filtration
- Live Sand Filtration
- More Saltwater Aquarium Polls
- Overflow Boxes
- Protein Skimmers & Skimming
- Pumps (Air & Water)
- Refugiums
- Sea Salts Mixes
- Sumps
- Wavemakers & Surge Devices
- What Type of Material(s) is Your Tank Made Of?
Filters & Filtration Systems
From canister to wet/dry trickle filters, to natural nitrate reduction by means of live rock, live sand, and mangrove plant filtration, here is everything you'll need to know about choosing and setting up various types of biological, mechanical, chemical filters, and filtration system setups for saltwater and reef aquariums.
- Choosing a Filtration System
- Choose a Filtration System in 5 Easy Steps
- What Is A "Biological Filter"?
- Choosing the Right Biological Filter Material
- Biological Filtration Poll
- Canister Filters
- Carbon Filtration
- DIY Filter Projects
- Live Rock Filtration
- Live Sand Filtration
- Mangrove Filtration
- Natural Nitrate Reduction (NNR) Filtration
- Other Filtration Methods
- Protein Skimmers
- Tap Water Filters
- Under Gravel Filtration
- Wet/Dry Trickle Filters
- Ultraviolet (UV) Filtration
Top Aquarium Equipment Picks
Choosing the right equipment for your aquarium system can be confusing. Read aquarium equipment descriptions and compare prices in the Top Aquarium Equipment Picks.
- 1-50 Gallon Aquariums
- Air Pumps
- Aquarium Lighting Hoods
- Automatic Fish Feeders
- Before You Buy Aquarium Equipment or Products Tips
- Canister Filters
- Fluorescent Light Bulbs
- HO & PC Fluorescent Light Fixtures
- Metal Halide Fixtures
- Mini/Nano Aquarium Kits
- Overflow Boxes
- PC & MH Lighting Retrofit Kits
- Power Filters
- Powerheads
- RO & RO/DI Units
- Skimmers: Hang-In/On Tank Models
- Skimmers: In/On Sump Models
- Submersible Heaters
- UV Sterilizers
- Wet/Dry Trickle Filters
Lights & Lighting Systems
While there are basic guidelines to follow when deciding on which and how much lighting to use, each aquarist has to evaluate what is in their tank, and then research the lighting options available to choose one that is best for their particular saltwater system.
- Before You Buy Reef Tank Lighting
- Lighting Fundamentals
- Types of Aquarium Light Fixtures
- Reef System Lighting - What To Buy and Why
- Coral Lighting
- Power Compact (PC) Lighting
- Tank Lighting - Fish-Only Tanks
- Tank Lighting - VHO Fluorescents
- FAQs & How To's
- Lighting Poll
- Top Aquarium Lighting Products
- Top Metal Halide & PC Retrofit Kits
- Top Fluorescent, VHO, PC and Metal Halide Ballasts
- DIY Hood & Lighting Projects
Live Rock & Live Sand
Serving many purposes, live rock is probably the most popular material used for natural biological filtration in saltwater aquariums, particularly with a Berlin style NNR setup. Whether deciding to run a fish-only or a reef tank system with this medium, learn all the ins and outs of buying and curing, aquascaping, cycling a tank, and more about working with live rock.
- Definition & Purpose of Live Rock
- What is Live Rock F.A.Q.s
- Grades of Live Rock
- Poll - When Is Live Rock, Live?
- When Is Live Rock, Live?
- Working with Live Rock
- How To Preclean Live Rock Before Using It
- How to Cure Live Rock
- Buying Live Rock
- Cured, Precured, or Seeded Live Rock?
- How To Cure Live Rock in a New Saltwater Aquarium
- How To Cure Live Rock in a Separate Curing Set Up
- How to Cycle a Tank With Live Rock
- Aquascaping Live Rock
- Live Sand Filtration
- Arranging Non-Living & Live Rocks - Aquascaping Rocks Help Tips
- What Is A "Berlin Filter"?
Biological Filtration & Cycling the Tank
The biological filter is the heart of every aquarium. In order for the biological filter to function properly, it must be "cycled." Here is the information you will need to help you set up your biological filter and initiate the cycling process.
- What is the Biological Cycle and How Does it Work?
- What is the Nitrogen Cycling Process?
- What Is A "Biological Filter"?
- Biological Filtration Poll
- How To Speed Up The Nitrogen Cycling Process
- FAQ - Biological cycle and using Biozyme tank starter?
- Tank Cycling Methods Poll
- Options For Cycling a New Tank Without Fish
- Cycling With Dead Cocktail Shrimp
- Cycling a New Tank With Fish
- Top Nitrifying Bacteria Starter Picks
- Cycle a New Tank With Live Rock
- My Tank Has Finished Cycling - Now What?
- Cycle a New Tank With Live Sand
- FAQ - Should I Do a Water Change While Cycling My Tank?
Algae Control & Propagation
There are many varieties of brown, green, and red algae an aquarist will deal with during the lifetime of their saltwater aquarium. Whether you want to propagate good kinds or get rid of problem ones, browse Bubble, Caulerpa, Coralline, Diatom, Slime, Hair, Halimeda, and other algae categories to learn to identify, cultivate and control both good and bad types of marine algae or seaweeds.
- Algae Photo Gallery
- Algae Propagation & Control Information
- Brown Diatoms & Slime Algae
- Bubble Algae
- Caulerpa Algae
- Coralline Algae
- Green Hair/Net Algae
- Halimeda Algae
- Identification of Nuisance Green Algae
- Mangrove Plant Filtration & Care Information
- Other Algae/Seaweeds
- Red Slime Algae
- Reef Safe Rock & Glass Algae Cleaners
- Simple Solutions to Solve Green Hair Algae Problems
Top Aquarium Product Picks
From air pumps to wavemakers, here are all types of saltwater aquariums and reef tanks equipment, supplies, as well as other products your Guides have reviewed, rated, and consider to be some of the best choices available on the market.
- Antibiotic Products
- Books: Top Fish and Invertebrate Care Books
- Calcium Supplements
- Coral and Invertebrate Foods
- Foods of Choice for Saltwater Fishes & Invertebrates
- Gift Ideas for a Saltwater Aquarists
- Nitrate Absorbing Products
- Nitrifying Bacteria Tank Starters
- Parasitic Medications
- Phosphate Removing Products
- Popular Liquid Vitamins for Aquarium Fishes and Inverts
- Red Slime Algae Removers
- Saltwater Aquarium Keeping Books
- Sea Salt Mixes
- Sealife Artists' Works Replicated on Prints and Posters
- Simple & Inexpensive Gift Ideas
- Test Kits
- Water Conditioners
Maintain Your Aquarium
Once your aquarium is cycled, the next step is to take care of it. Whether it's a water change, tidying up of the substrate, cleaning filtering materials or other simple maintenance tasks, doing them "regularly" is primary to the success of a healthy saltwater system.
- Aeration & Water Circulation
- Aquarium Vacation Care
- Do I Add Fresh or Salt Top-Off Water?
- Faster, Easier Aquarium Maintenance
- Heating & Cooling Issues
- How Often Do You Perform Water Changes?
- How to Deal With Salt Creep
- More About Good & Bad Algae
- More Sea Salt & Making Up Water Info
- My Aquarium Has Finished Cycling. What's Next?
- Tank Janitors
- Water Changes
- What Is Red Slime Algae, Causes and Cures
- What Maintenance Procedures Should Be Performed, and When
- Identify Nuisance Green Algae
Water Quality
Do you know what is happening in your aquarium, what it needs, and what it doesn't? You should, and testing your aquarium water tells you what is going on. It allows one to make any necessary corrections to fix a problem, such as with pH, unwanted nitrate and phosphate, and when to add beneficial calcium and other trace elements that are essential to reef systems.
- Ammonia Toxicity Reduction
- Test Kits & Water Testing
- Curing Cloudy Aquarium Water
- Can I Use Ocean Water In My Aquarium?
- About Nitrate, and Ways to Control It
- Top Nitrate Absorbing Products
- What Is a Coil Denitrator, and How Does It Work?
- pH & Alkalinity Simplified
- Sea Salts & Making Up Water
- Calcium (Ca) - An Essential Reef Tank Element
- FAQ - Should I Do a Water Change While Cycling My Tank?
- Make-Up Water Sources
- More Water Quality Topics
- Top Phosphate Removing Products
- Phosphate: What It Is - Where It Comes From - How to Remove It
- Aquarium Substrate & Live Rock Clean Up Tips
- Tap Water Purification Methods
- Water Circulation
- Tank Janitors Information
Emergency Help!
Here are fast answers to emergency help problems, including how to set up a QT quickly, how to keep your aquarium running when the power goes out, and how to fix tank leaks.
- 8 Easy Steps to Pack-Up and Move Aquarium Pets
- A First-Aid Kit for Saltwater Aquariums
- Beware Of Poisonous Fish!
- Creating a Fast QT
- Emergency Aquarium Evacuation Checklist
- Guides Fish Disease Trouble Shooter
- How To Keep Your Aquarium Running When the Power Goes Out
- How to Manually Generate Oxygen and Circulate Water in Aquariums
