I just got my first Salt Water aquarium from a friend at work and I’m starting to set it all up. The aquarium had gotten “out of balance” (infested with creepy bristle worms) so I needed to completely empty the tank, throw out the substrate, sun bleach the rocks and start all over.
I’ve had fresh water tanks since I was a kid, but I’ve never had salt. It’s a whole different world, so I felt like I needed a lot of help and advice. Of course, I went to PETCO to buy all the things I needed. I bought new substrate (aka crushed coral sand), salt and a filter refill.
I couldn’t wait to set up the tank! I didn’t know how to set up the protein skimmer, but at least I knew how to mix the salt and add water….the problem when you get equipment from someone else? No instructions! For now, I have my “fish geek” friends to help me out.
First, I filled my new marine tank up with water mixed with with the recommended sea salt. The density has to be within a small band of tolerance, and I tested it with an old hydrometer that I had around. Then I tested it with another old hydrometer and surprise! they read completely different density. One said the tank was correct and the other said that it was way over in salt content.
So I took my two hydrometers to work, and we tested them with 2 others. we tested water from the same tank wth 4 different hydrometers, and each had it’s own reading. I guess lesson 1 is this: This is not an exact science!
I decided to keep the hydrometer that had the closest to the others. Close enough, I hope, to guide me in keeping marine fish alive…
My next question was to heat or not to heat? It seemed logical to me that marine tanks should be heated, like “tropical” fresh water tanks. It is warm on the coral reefs isn’t it? Well, to my surprise, my marine guides at work told me that it’s really not necessary. I was hesistant to believe them but they are the experts.
Another question I had was what kind of test kit to get? With a marine tank, you need to check the nitrates (or is it nitrites?) and a few other things. The experts recommended two types of kits: one is the type where you dip a small tube in your tank and pull out a sample of the water, and add a drop of chemical in it, to see if it’s within the tolerance. It sounds more accurate than the type where you dip a strip in the tank, and see what color each little patch turns. However, much to my surprise, the experts at work use the dip strip type.
Ultimately, setting up my tank has already presented some challenges. But I’m excited about this next adventure I’m on, me and my new fish!
My new tank is ready to go!