How do I properly maintain a saltwater aquarium for my pet fish?

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is the same question I asked myself a few years ago when I started with my first saltwater aquarium. It really depends on a lot of factors. Consider that it requires a significant amount of time and money commitment if you want to do it the right way. It is really time consuming though extremely rewarding. Water quality and equilibrium of the tank are key and ensuring both requires using the right equipment and constantly testing the water and adjusting things as needed. I would consider reading a lot about it before commiting any money to it. I personally love it but it really is a second job I have every Saturday morning just to take care of my tank. Good luck!

If your are using a product such as Instant Ocean ( www.instantocean.com ) or Reef Crystals ( http://www.instantocean.com/Products/Sea-Salt-Mixes/reef-crystals-sea-salt.aspx ), then directions will be on the container. Other products may also include instructions. The amount of sea salt will depend on the specific gravity you desire. Ocean water, or water used in marine tanks, has a specific gravity of 1.025, so you will need to dissolve enough salt into a quantity of water to reach that level. You will need to allow for 24 hours to make sure the salt has completely dissolved. If you want a step by step guide, click the link below. http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/guide-to-mixing-saltwater-517/

Yes it is possible, however, unless you have a lot of experience keeping saltwater fish, please do not even attempt it. Most wild caught saltwater fish will not feed when they are in an aquarium, and only a small percentage will ever learn to feed. Please leave them where they are happy and healthy and where they belong, the sea.

Thanks for reaching out, the rule of thumb is 1" of fish per 3 gallons, but smaller tanks are very difficult to keep stable, and saltwater fish are easily stressed by environmental fluctuations (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen). Good luck.

The frequency of water changes depends on how many fish you have in the tank with your betta, how large the tank is (i.e. how many gallons it is), how often you are feeding (more frequent feedings often results in more wasted food and more poop, so it can dirty the tank more quickly), and if you have any live plants present. The amount of salt that is needed also depends on whether you are adding salt just for maintenance or if you are treating your fish for stress or disease. My advice would be to get all of this information and contact your local pet store or aquarium store as they can then help to guide you on these specifics. Alternatively, you can gather all of this information and I can also do a consultation with you as well, whichever is easiest/most convenient for you.

It is very difficult to get a good biotope in a just 1 foot long tank unless it is a few feet high. You will not be able to keep fish in it, only invertebrates, maybe a few shrimp or sea anemones. It is much harder to keep the water healthy in a small tank,and the appliances needed for running a salt water aquarium cost pretty much the same (if available) as appliances for a larger tank. I suggest you join a club of salt water aquarists who will be able to start you off perfectly. Your local fish/pet shop should be able to point you to a club.

It is possible the tank has not cycled properly which results in high ammonia and nitrite levels which can kill fish. Allow the tank to run, without fish, for at least 4-6 weeks. During this time, use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing every few days. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. What you are looking for is to have ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm and nitrates at 20ppm or less. pH can hover around 7 for most community fish. Avoid large, rapid swings in pH though. What is happening in the tank during this time is that beneficial bacteria are populating the gravel/substrate and the filter. These bacterial populations are responsible for the Nitrogen Cycle. This cycle breaks down wastes from fish, uneaten food and plant matter into by-products that are filtered out or dissipate. You can "cycle" a tank with fish, however this increases the risk of loss. Once your tank has cycled, you can add fish. You will still need to monitor water chemistry and perform partial water changes regularly. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. You will also need to vacuum the gravel regularly and rinse the filter media. Never use tap water to rinse. Use a bit of tank water to protect bacterial populations in the sponge.