Live Salt Water Fish: Preparation and Care

Making the decision to own live salt water fish is a tremendous decision that requires some careful thought and preparation. While the actual care of salt water fish is relatively easy, it does take some time to set up and make sure the fish have a healthy environment in which to thrive in.

Choose the Right Location
Before purchasing any live salt water fish it is important to know what type of fish you are going to have. Some salt water fish do not get very large (a few inches in length), while other types of fish can grow to be over a foot in length. A small tank in the corner of your room might not be big enough.

Choose an area where external features such as light and temperature change will not affect the tank in anyway. A quality, sturdy stand is also important as a 25 gallon fish tank can be over 250 pounds with just the water alone.

Adding Fish
Once your tank is set up, add pre-mixed salt water to the thank and let is flow for a few days. Put in your plants, live rocks, and other accessories so they can aclimate to the thank before introducing any other living species. After a few more days then begin adding live salt water fish very slowly. Start them in a bucket by adding aquarium water every 10 minutes to get the use to the water.

Care and Maintain
Monitor your salt water fish tank daily for temperature and cleanliness. Spend time each month changing some of the water to keep it clean and free of contaminants. A good rule of thumb is to change at least 30% of the water each month. As long as you keep an eye on your tank and your fish, your live salt water fish should be healthy for some time to come.