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Saltwater Aquarium Guide Reef-keeping magazine

Beginner path

Start Here: Your First Saltwater Aquarium

A saltwater tank rewards patience. Work through these steps in order; each one links to the guide or tool that covers it in detail.

  1. Decide what kind of tank you want

    Fish-only, soft-coral reef or mixed reef all need different equipment and budgets. Settle this first and every later choice gets easier.

  2. Pick a tank size and plan the equipment

    Bigger tanks are more stable but cost more to light and fill. Size the tank, then list the equipment it needs before you buy anything.

  3. Get the water right

    Saltwater livestock depends on clean source water and stable salinity. Learn to mix and measure before any animals arrive.

  4. Build the rockwork and cycle the tank

    The cycle grows the bacteria that process waste. It takes weeks, not days, and no livestock should go in until it is finished.

  5. Add livestock slowly

    Start with hardy species, add one or two animals at a time and quarantine new fish so a disease does not reach the display tank.

  6. Settle into a maintenance routine

    Small, regular jobs prevent most problems. Test, top off, change water and keep a log so you can see trends early.

  7. Start with easy corals

    Once the tank has been stable for a while, soft corals and hardy LPS are the forgiving place to begin.

Where to go next

Browse every topic from the article index, look up unfamiliar terms in the reef glossary, or see all the free planning tools.