1. Setting up and Maintaining a Saltwater Aquarium

2. Setting Up Aquarium Step 1: Prepare the aquarium – Clean tank and all equipment with sponge; no detergent Step 2: Aquascape the Aquarium

3. Setting Up the Aquarium Step 3: Prepare water – Fill bucket, add salt until you have a salinity of 1.021 – 1.025 (32-38ppt) then pour into tank; repeat until tank is filled

4. Setting Up the Aquarium Step 4: Test the System – Fill filter with water, plug in filter, plug in thermometer and set (76- 82F), and circulation pump – Balance salinity if needed – Check for leaks

5. Cycling the Tank and pH Step 5: Cycling the Tank – Phase 1: Ammonia (NH 3 or NH 3 +4 ) Ammonia is the first too accumulate in the tank. This starts the nitrogen cycle Ammonia comes from decaying organic materials present on the coral rock substrate.

6. Cycling the Tank and pH Step 5: Cycling the Tank – Phase 2: Nitrite (NO 2 ) About 10 days into the cycle, nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrite. Nitrites will continue to rise to a high level of about 15ppm, the most critical stage, and should eventually drop to zero.

7. Cycling the Tank and pH Step 5: Cycling the Tank – Phase 3: Nitrate (NO 3 ) The ammonia has been converted to nitrite, the nitrite will now be converted to nitrate Nitrobacters are bacteria living in the tank which require oxygen and food (ammonia source) to survive. Waste from nitrobacter are in the form of nitrate. When nitrate readings begin to increase, nitrobacters are becoming established in your tank. SUCCESS!!! This is what you want!!!

8. pH of the Aquarium pH measures the amount of alkalinity in the water. All marine organisms like a pH near 8.2 ranging from 8.0 to 8.4. The pH should never drop below 8.0

9. Perform a Water Change Step 6: Perform a Water Change – After ammonia and nitrite levels drop to zero, you will perform a complete water change. Plan on doing this on Monday, 9/17 or Tuesday, 9/18.

10. Tidy Things Up Step 7: Tidy Things Up – After water change, you will replace mechanical filtering cartridge and rinse black mesh pads. – Lightly clean the sides of tank.

11. Aquarium Filtration Stage 1: Biological Filter A good biological filter is one that involves the propagation and retention of billions of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

12. Aquarium Filtration Stage 2: Chemical Filter – Removes phosphates, silicates, nitrates and ammonia through use of chemicals – Activated carbon removes some of these compounds. – Water changes is commonly used to get rid of nitrates.

13. Aquarium Filtration Stage 3: Mechanical Filter – Mechanical filter media is usually made from synthetic fibers of various coarseness to remove debris from water.