How to start a nano saltwater reef aquarium

How to start a 2 1/2 gal nano saltwater aquarium. A weekly video from start to finish.

Items used : Week one 10/23/07.

. One 2 1/2 gal plexiglass aquarium.

. One water heater, Hydor Theo, 25 watt.

. One marineland Mini Aqualight ,18 watt.

. One Eheim Liberty 100 hang on the back filter.

. One Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer .

. Corallife aquarium sea salt 4 to 6 cups.

. 2 to 4 lbs Caribsea Agagonite ocean sand.

. 2 gal Reverse Osmosis or distilled water

.1 Coralife Digital light timer.

. Small amount of live rock (cured ocean rock) see blog (Ocean Liverock)

Step one, rinse your Agagonite sand in a clean container untill the water is clear and all debris is removed.Put the sand into the aquarium.Set the water heater in the aquarium.Mount the Ehiem filter on the back of the aquarium,rinse the carbon insert and slide into the filter.Pour enough water into the filter to fill it up.Mix your salt water.(see Salt water mixing video ).

Pour your salt water into the aquarium keep it at 76 to 80 degrees.Add your ocean live rock and arrange as needed.Press the suction cups of your Hydor water heater hanger onto the plexiglass tank (inside).Plug your light plug into the yellow slot of your coralife timer and turn on the light. (see video)

Set the program to turn your lights from 8 to 11 hours a day when you will view the aquarium most.Plug the heater in and set it at 78.Plug the filter into the white plugs on your coralife timer (white sockets stay on all the time).

Now check your water level and wait from one week (if you used cycled products) to two weeks if you did not.,.......(see next weekly blog)..Neil

Nano aquarium cycling process.

At this point a water change may be needed to stop a harmful build up of nitrates and toxins in the salt water. Nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are harmful to your corals and invertebrates though fish are more forgiving .You can check the water chemistry using a saltwater test kit or dip test available from your local aquarium store, many retailers will test you water for you if you bring them a water sample. Do this before you add anything alive to your tank. Test your nano aquarium weekly. A 20% saltwater change should be conducted every month to replace nutrients and remove pollutants built up in the water. For evaporation of water add filtered water R/O or distilled is best to top off the tank, salt does not evaporate. I usally keep jug of water in the sam room and add water as needed. As long as the added water is 68 or above a small amount of room temp water added to the tank will not decrease the water temp enough to harm your sealife.

When your water tests are good add Snails, Blue Leg Hermit crabs and a small Shrimp. A nano fish, tiny Gobies or tank raised Percula Clownfish. Coral fragments of whole corals. Zoanthids, Mushrooms, Colt Coral, Xenia, Star Polyp, Sponges every tank is different some things will thrive some won't. Don't spend a lot of money look for or request from suppliers a Nano assortment. See if friends have some items in their aquariums.

Week 5....... corals are open and looking great, shrimp and clam happy.Water testing shows ph 8.3,no nitrates or nitrite.. perfect. Next week long term care feeding ect...Neil