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Congrats on welcoming home aquatic life

The Petco Saltwater Aquarium Guide

We’ll help you navigate the exciting journey into pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and shopping recommendations for all your milestones together.

1. Choosing the right aquarium
2. Setting up your saltwater aquarium
3. Filtration and water care
4. Finding the right nutrition
5. Supporting a routine
6. Care sheets for every species

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1. Choosing the right Aquarium

After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable, water is clear and salinity is in the proper range.

1. Choosing the right Aquarium

After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable, water is clear and salinity is in the proper range.

Aquariums

Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.

Shop Aquariums

Lighting & Hoods

Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.

Shop Lighting

Aquarium Kits

A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.

Shop Kits

Aquariums

Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.

Shop Aquariums
Lighting & Hoods

Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.

Shop Lighting
Aquarium Kits

A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.

Shop Kits

Aquariums
Lighting & Hoods
Aquarium Kits

1

Fluval 13.5 Gallon Evo XII Marine Aquarium Kit

2

Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium Tank 29 Gallon

3

Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium Tank 40 Gallon Breeder

1

Coralife Marine Aquarium Clip-On LED Fixture

2

Coralife Seascape Mini LED Aqualight, 12"-18" L

3

Coralife Seascape LED Aquarium Light, Adjustable 48-54" L

1

Fluval 13.5 Gallon Evo XII Marine Aquarium Kit

2

Fluval 5 Gallon EVO V Marine Aquarium Kit

2. SETTING UP YOUR saltwater aquarium

Bring home essentials to help them feel safe and comfortable while supporting their natural instincts.

Live Sand & Substrates

Marine substrate provides a surface for beneficial bacteria and gives substrate-dwelling invertebrates and crustaceans a home to call their own.

Shop Substrates

Décor

Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.

Shop Décor

Live Rock

Live rock is a platform for coral and invertebrates and creates a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.

Shop Live Rock

Thermometers

Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.

Shop Thermometers

Live Sand & Substrates

Marine substrate provides a surface for beneficial bacteria and gives substrate-dwelling invertebrates and crustaceans a home to call their own.

Shop Substrates
Décor

Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.

Shop Décor
Live Rock

Live rock is a platform for coral and invertebrates and creates a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.

Shop Live Rock
Thermometers

Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.

Shop Thermometers

Substrates
Décor
Live Rock
Thermometers

1

CaribSea Super Naturals Aquarium Sand, 10 lbs.

2

CaribSea Aragonite Aquarium Sand, 10 lbs.

3

CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Aquariam Sand, 20 lbs.

1

Imagitarium Large Tree Log Aquatic Decor

2

Imagitarium Flowerball Aquarium Ornament

3

Zoo Med Aquatic Natural Mopani Wood

1

Blue Ribbon Texas Holey Rock Aquarium Ornament

2

RockGarden Small Sculptured Lava Rock

1

Imagitarium Glass Thermometer, Small

2

Imagitarium Aquarium Strip Thermometer

3

Imagitarium Digital Aquarium Thermometer

3. Filtration and water care

Take care of their aquarium and water quality to keep their tank clean and help them stay healthy from the inside out.

Heaters

Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.

Shop Heaters

Filters & Media

Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.

Shop Filters & Media

Conditioners & Additives

A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, add calcium and promote alkalinity.

Shop Conditioners & Additives

Marine Salt

Marine salt provides the essential ingredients to help mimic natural seawater.

Shop Marine Salt

Protein Skimmers

Remove organic and inorganic matter, phenols, oils and debris before they are broken down into the nitrogen cycle, plus increase dissolved oxygen in the aquarium.

Shop Protein Skimmers

Heaters

Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.

Shop Heaters
Filters & Media

Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.

Shop Filters & Media
Conditioners & Additives

A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, add calcium and promote alkalinity.

Shop Conditioners & Additives
Marine Salt

Marine salt provides the essential ingredients to help mimic natural seawater.

Shop Marine Salt
Protein Skimmers

Remove organic and inorganic matter, phenols, oils and debris before they are broken down into the nitrogen cycle, plus increase dissolved oxygen in the aquarium.

Shop Protein Skimmers

Heaters
Filters & Media
Conditioners & Additives
Marine Salt
Protein Skimmers

1

Aqueon Preset Aquarium Heater, 50W

2

Aqueon Mini Flat Heater, 5 Watts

3

Aqueon Mini Heater, 10W

1

Fluval 307 Performance Canister Filter 120Vac, 60Hz

2

Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 75 Aquarium Power Filter

3

Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO 10 Aquarium Power Filter

1

Seachem Prime

2

Instant Ocean Nitrifying Bacteria Bio-Spira, 3.38 fl. oz.

3

Boyd Enterprises Chemi-pure Blue Aquarium Filtration Media, 5.5 oz.

1

Imagitarium Pacific Ocean Water, 5 gallons

2

Coralife Marine Salt Mix, 14.5 lbs.

3

Instant Ocean Marine Fast Dissolving Sea Salt, 15 lbs.

1

Fluval Sea Mini Protein Skimmer

2

Fluval Sea PS 1 Protein Skimmer

3

Instant Ocean Seaclone Powerful 100 Gallon Protein Skimmer, 18" H

4. Finding the right nutrition

Set a strong foundation for their health with quality nutrition.

Pellets, Flakes & Freeze-Dried Food

Packed with the necessary blend of minerals and vitamins to help promote a healthy immune system.

Shop Fish Food

Fresh & Frozen Food

Fresh and frozen food can be more natural and appetizing options for marine aquatic life.

Shop Fresh &
Frozen Food

Pellets, Flakes & Freeze-Dried Food

Packed with the necessary blend of minerals and vitamins to help promote a healthy immune system.

Shop Fish Food
Fresh & Frozen Food

Fresh and frozen food can be more natural and appetizing options for marine aquatic life.

Shop Fresh & Frozen Food