12 Steps To Maintaining A Saltwater Aquarium
As with all living things, it takes routine maintenance to keep fish healthy and an aquarium looking great.
The best way to avoid stress and, ultimately, diseases is to keep the water in the aquarium in ideal condition entails regular water changes, siphoning (vacuuming) the substrate and cleaning equipment.
Some aquariums require small biweekly water changes; others are good for once a month.
Either way, water changes require some time.
You will want to siphon or vacuum debris from the substrate and clean the filter and other equipment.
Here are 12 Steps to Maintaining a Saltwater Aquarium Step 1 Inspect Fish Health Watch your fish.
If they are ordinarily out and swimming around and are now hiding there could be a problem.
Make sure their eyes are clear, they are not breathing heavily and the body and fins are clear of any abnormalities such as tears or chunks missing.
For close inspection, use a magnifying glass.
Step 2 Test the Water Use aquarium test kits to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, carbonate hardness and a hydrometer to test specific gravity or salinity.
Specific gravity should be between 1.
020 and 1.
025.
Keep pH between 8.
2 and 8.
4 Ammonia and nitrite should read zero.
For the health of your fish keep nitrates below 50 mg/L, for invertebrates and coral this level should be much lower, not to exceed 10 mg/L.
Frequent, consistent water changes are the best solution to keep nitrates in check.
Check the aquarium temperature and ensure it is between 74º and 78º year round.
Step 3 Clean Algae from Interior Glass Clean or scrape algae off the inside walls of the aquarium with a hand held algae pad, a pad on a stick or an algae magnet.
As you move the outside magnet around, the inside magnet scrapes off algae.
Standard algae magnets are good for soft algae but hard algae or coralline may require a scraper with a metal blade.
A razor blade scraper may be used on glass aquariums, but be careful around silicone seals.
Acrylic aquariums call for special tools to keep from scratching the surface.
Step 4 Clean Decorations and Live Rock If you are using artificial decorations and they need cleaning, remove them from the aquarium to clean them.
Leave live rock in the aquarium and if necessary scrub it using a small brush or toothbrush.
A flexible piece of tubing ½ to 5/8" in diameter can be used to siphon detritus from live rocks into a bucket.
A turkey baster may be used to blast debris off the rock.
Step 5 Vacuum Substrate and Remove Water With one end of the siphon in the aquarium and the other in a bucket, use a gravel vacuum to clean the sand, removing accumulated detritus and water at the same time.
Try to vacuum as much of the substrate as possible.
If the water flows too quickly, pinch the flexible tubing to slow the water flow.
Keep an eye on how much water you are removing.
You can do small water changes of 10 to 15% biweekly or change at least 25% each month.
If you have sand-sifting starfish or other invertebrates, take care not to injure them when vacuuming the substrate.
Tip: Unplug the heater when changing water.
Step 6 Mixing Saltwater Dump dirty aquarium water from the bucket(s) and refill the bucket with clean water.
Make this water the same temperature as your aquarium.
Test the specific gravity of the water in the aquarium.
Use a good grade salt mix and add it to the water in the bucket(s).
Once the salt dissolves, check the specific gravity.
If your aquarium water specific gravity is too low then mix the new salt to a little higher specific gravity.
If it is too high, then make the new salt mix at a lower specific gravity to dilute the salt.
While explaining how to mix salt water at home, my preference is to use R.
O.
(Reverse Osmosis) water.
This water, often found sold by 5-gallon jugs at local fish and pet stores, is sent through a series of filters which remove most of the impurities, particularly phosphates and nitrates.
This helps significantly to control algae! Step 7 Test Water in Bucket(s), Add Conditioners and Buffers Once the specific gravity is correct, test pH and add buffers if needed.
Then add water conditioners and trace elements.
Step 8 Adding Saltwater Back to the Aquarium If using artificial decorations use a second set of clean ones to redecorate the aquarium.
Use a water pump to return water to the aquarium or just pour the premixed saltwater directly from the bucket.
If sand falls onto rocks, use a turkey baster to squirt the sand away.
Step 9 Clean or Change Filter Media Clean all mechanical filter media, including foam, pads, filter socks and cartridges often, and replace them as needed.
To clean mechanical media rinse it under running water until water runs through it clear (foam and some pads can be squeezed or wrung out).
If the mechanical filter is your main source of biological filtration, clean the filter in de-chlorinated water.
Most tap water contains chlorine or chloramines that will kill beneficial bacteria.
Replace carbon each month.
While it may last longer than a month, it may not, depending on how heavily the aquarium is stocked.
There are many different types of resins that are helpful in a saltwater aquarium, if you use any, change them according to manufacturer recommendations.
Step 10 Harvest Algae If using a refugium, harvesting algae removes nutrients that have been absorbed by the algae from the system.
Trim it or pull some of it out.
Change a small amount of water change to remove detritus from the top of the substrate.
Scraping the inside of the refugium with an algae scraper helps keep its interior visible.
Step 11 Cleaning the Protein Skimmer and Other Equipment Dump and clean skimmate collected in the protein skimmer cup.
This foam is usually foul smelling.
Clean the collection cup and throat with a bottlebrush.
To ensure equipment runs optimally it should be taken apart and cleaned regularly.
Power heads can be quickly taken apart and cleaned with a small brush every 1 to 3 months.
Protein skimmers should be completely taken apart and cleaned every 4 to 6 months.
Clean the skimmer collection cup and the throat of the cup every time you empty it.
For protein skimmers with a venturi, clean the venturi regularly to keep salt from building up and reducing airflow.
Canister or hang-on filters need to be taken apart and cleaned regularly to ensure good water flow.
Step 12 Clean the Exterior Glass Clean outside glass on aquarium with plain water or an aquarium glass cleaner and a soft rag or paper towel.
Wipe down inside and outside of cabinet or stand.
Salt creep buildup can be wiped off with a damp towel or can be vacuumed with a shop vac.
Excess salt creep around hoses and PVC parts may indicate a fitting that needs attention.
Your fish and invertebrates are much happier with a clean aquarium and some new saltwater.
Now is the time to add more livestock, if the water quality levels are all good.
The best way to avoid stress and, ultimately, diseases is to keep the water in the aquarium in ideal condition entails regular water changes, siphoning (vacuuming) the substrate and cleaning equipment.
Some aquariums require small biweekly water changes; others are good for once a month.
Either way, water changes require some time.
You will want to siphon or vacuum debris from the substrate and clean the filter and other equipment.
Here are 12 Steps to Maintaining a Saltwater Aquarium Step 1 Inspect Fish Health Watch your fish.
If they are ordinarily out and swimming around and are now hiding there could be a problem.
Make sure their eyes are clear, they are not breathing heavily and the body and fins are clear of any abnormalities such as tears or chunks missing.
For close inspection, use a magnifying glass.
Step 2 Test the Water Use aquarium test kits to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, carbonate hardness and a hydrometer to test specific gravity or salinity.
Specific gravity should be between 1.
020 and 1.
025.
Keep pH between 8.
2 and 8.
4 Ammonia and nitrite should read zero.
For the health of your fish keep nitrates below 50 mg/L, for invertebrates and coral this level should be much lower, not to exceed 10 mg/L.
Frequent, consistent water changes are the best solution to keep nitrates in check.
Check the aquarium temperature and ensure it is between 74º and 78º year round.
Step 3 Clean Algae from Interior Glass Clean or scrape algae off the inside walls of the aquarium with a hand held algae pad, a pad on a stick or an algae magnet.
As you move the outside magnet around, the inside magnet scrapes off algae.
Standard algae magnets are good for soft algae but hard algae or coralline may require a scraper with a metal blade.
A razor blade scraper may be used on glass aquariums, but be careful around silicone seals.
Acrylic aquariums call for special tools to keep from scratching the surface.
Step 4 Clean Decorations and Live Rock If you are using artificial decorations and they need cleaning, remove them from the aquarium to clean them.
Leave live rock in the aquarium and if necessary scrub it using a small brush or toothbrush.
A flexible piece of tubing ½ to 5/8" in diameter can be used to siphon detritus from live rocks into a bucket.
A turkey baster may be used to blast debris off the rock.
Step 5 Vacuum Substrate and Remove Water With one end of the siphon in the aquarium and the other in a bucket, use a gravel vacuum to clean the sand, removing accumulated detritus and water at the same time.
Try to vacuum as much of the substrate as possible.
If the water flows too quickly, pinch the flexible tubing to slow the water flow.
Keep an eye on how much water you are removing.
You can do small water changes of 10 to 15% biweekly or change at least 25% each month.
If you have sand-sifting starfish or other invertebrates, take care not to injure them when vacuuming the substrate.
Tip: Unplug the heater when changing water.
Step 6 Mixing Saltwater Dump dirty aquarium water from the bucket(s) and refill the bucket with clean water.
Make this water the same temperature as your aquarium.
Test the specific gravity of the water in the aquarium.
Use a good grade salt mix and add it to the water in the bucket(s).
Once the salt dissolves, check the specific gravity.
If your aquarium water specific gravity is too low then mix the new salt to a little higher specific gravity.
If it is too high, then make the new salt mix at a lower specific gravity to dilute the salt.
While explaining how to mix salt water at home, my preference is to use R.
O.
(Reverse Osmosis) water.
This water, often found sold by 5-gallon jugs at local fish and pet stores, is sent through a series of filters which remove most of the impurities, particularly phosphates and nitrates.
This helps significantly to control algae! Step 7 Test Water in Bucket(s), Add Conditioners and Buffers Once the specific gravity is correct, test pH and add buffers if needed.
Then add water conditioners and trace elements.
Step 8 Adding Saltwater Back to the Aquarium If using artificial decorations use a second set of clean ones to redecorate the aquarium.
Use a water pump to return water to the aquarium or just pour the premixed saltwater directly from the bucket.
If sand falls onto rocks, use a turkey baster to squirt the sand away.
Step 9 Clean or Change Filter Media Clean all mechanical filter media, including foam, pads, filter socks and cartridges often, and replace them as needed.
To clean mechanical media rinse it under running water until water runs through it clear (foam and some pads can be squeezed or wrung out).
If the mechanical filter is your main source of biological filtration, clean the filter in de-chlorinated water.
Most tap water contains chlorine or chloramines that will kill beneficial bacteria.
Replace carbon each month.
While it may last longer than a month, it may not, depending on how heavily the aquarium is stocked.
There are many different types of resins that are helpful in a saltwater aquarium, if you use any, change them according to manufacturer recommendations.
Step 10 Harvest Algae If using a refugium, harvesting algae removes nutrients that have been absorbed by the algae from the system.
Trim it or pull some of it out.
Change a small amount of water change to remove detritus from the top of the substrate.
Scraping the inside of the refugium with an algae scraper helps keep its interior visible.
Step 11 Cleaning the Protein Skimmer and Other Equipment Dump and clean skimmate collected in the protein skimmer cup.
This foam is usually foul smelling.
Clean the collection cup and throat with a bottlebrush.
To ensure equipment runs optimally it should be taken apart and cleaned regularly.
Power heads can be quickly taken apart and cleaned with a small brush every 1 to 3 months.
Protein skimmers should be completely taken apart and cleaned every 4 to 6 months.
Clean the skimmer collection cup and the throat of the cup every time you empty it.
For protein skimmers with a venturi, clean the venturi regularly to keep salt from building up and reducing airflow.
Canister or hang-on filters need to be taken apart and cleaned regularly to ensure good water flow.
Step 12 Clean the Exterior Glass Clean outside glass on aquarium with plain water or an aquarium glass cleaner and a soft rag or paper towel.
Wipe down inside and outside of cabinet or stand.
Salt creep buildup can be wiped off with a damp towel or can be vacuumed with a shop vac.
Excess salt creep around hoses and PVC parts may indicate a fitting that needs attention.
Your fish and invertebrates are much happier with a clean aquarium and some new saltwater.
Now is the time to add more livestock, if the water quality levels are all good.
