Items Required for a new tank

For someone new to the marine aquarist hobby, I’d recommend no less than:
Aquarium
Stand or place to put the aquarium
Cover
Light
Heater
Thermometer
Hydrometer (or preferably a refractometer)
Mechanical filter
Skimmer
Equipment to make up fresh saltwater from mix
Quarantine tank and appropriate equipment – Click here for more information on the importance of quarantining new purchases and sick inhabitants.
Test kits: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, pH (or pH meter)

Inside the system I’d recommend no less than:
Source water (water used to mix with the artificial salt)
Artificial salt (unless natural sea water will be used)
Live rock
Substrate
Clean-up Crew (snails, pods, worms, shrimp)
Fish
Internal powerhead or circulating pump for aquariums over 50 gallons

Patience

As you add fish to your tank, you increase the biological load in your tank. It can only accept so much at one time, so it is far better to add new things very slowly to your tank, rather than all at once. That way the beneficial bacteria in your tank can increase to handle the new load and not create a sudden Ammonia spike in your tank. By adding things slowly, the tank, the water, and the natural filtration will adjust for the new load. Remember, a new pet will require you to feed a little more, and that fish will add waste for your tank to absorb, so you need your natural filtration to keep up.

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32 Responses to “Items Required for a new tank”

1. What you need to know! | Reef Chronicle says:

   April 8, 2009 at 5:21 pm

   [...] Basic items needed to set up a new reef tank [...]