How To Setup A Saltwater Aquarium // Build A Tropical Reef Tank // New Step By Step For Beginners
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
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My First Fish Tank Links:
- Website www.myfirstfishtank.com
- Bulk Reef Supply bulkreefsupply.sjv.io/oqDzbm
- Gear Guides myfirstfishtank.com/gear-guides/
- Beginner Guides myfirstfishtank.com/beginner-...
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UA-cam Links
- Saltwater Aquariums Demystified • Saltwater Aquariums De...
- Maintenance • How To Saltwater Tank ...
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Are you interested in setting up a saltwater aquarium? Maybe feeling a bit daunted and don't know where to start? You've found the right place! Links to everything below! Happy reefing!
Table of Contents:
0:00 Intro
01:19 Step 01 Research
02:47 Step 02 Buy Tank & Gear
04:00 Step 03 Setup Hardware
05:08 Step 04 Leak Test
05:49 Step 05 Add Sand & Aquascape
08:22 Step 06 Add Saltwater & Cycle
09:46 Step 07 Organize Wires & Install Drip Loops
10:48 Step 08 50% Water Change
11:14 Step 09 Add Fish
12:18 Step 10 Maintenance
13:00 Final Thoughts
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
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Video Description:
This video does not contain everything you need to know, but will be enough to get you started. Don’t expect to be an expert by the end of this video. If you were to watch a 15 minute video on how to play the piano, I doubt you would expect to be Sergei Rachmaninoff. But, I bet you could learn a few things and get started playing! You won’t be a marine biologist after this video… But, you will know enough to get started.
1) Research
There are a ton of resources out there for learning more, so let me recommend a few. Your goal in research is not to become an expert, but to decide what type of saltwater tank you want.
2) Decide on tank & buy gear
Smaller tanks are more affordable, but aren’t big enough to hold much livestock. For example, a 20-gallon tank might be able to hold 3-5 small fish, corals, crabs, and snails, but not much more.
3) Setup your hardware
Choose location- not too sunny, good temperature consistency so not near a heater, and with outlets near by. If you get large tank, make sure your floor can support the weight.
4) Leak test
Add tap water, wipe it down, and let it sit for 24 hours, checking occasionally for any leaks
Drain
5) Add sand & aquascape
Buy enough sand to cover the bottom of your tank 1-2” depth.
I’d recommend stacking the rocks in whatever way is aesthetically pleasing to you. Keep them away from the glass so you can get an algae scraper in there.
6) Add saltwater & cycle your tank
You can either buy saltwater or make it yourself with an RO/DI filter and seawater mix.
7) Organize wires & drip loops
Drip loops are essential to prevent electrical fires or damage.
Use zip ties, cable organizers, and a label maker to organize your wires. Keep them away from the water.
8) Perform 50% water change
Now that your tank is fully cycled, it’s time to reduce those nitrates. Change out half of your saltwater with freshly made saltwater.
9) Add fish
Acclimate- float your aquarium bags in your tank for 20 minutes to equalize the temperature. Then use a piece of airline tubing to slowly add water from your tank to the bucket with the fish. After about 30 minutes, gently catch the fish and release them into their new home. Make sure the aquarium lights are off when doing this to reduce stress.
10. Maintenance
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Music: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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Filmed With:
- Camera- amzn.to/37YmGrX
- Vlogging Mic- amzn.to/3jGtTTt
- Aluminum Tripod- amzn.to/30cr9Xn
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Edited On:
Imac- 2019, 40gb Ram, i5 processor
Final Cut Pro X
#aquarium #aquariums #saltwateraquarium #saltwateraquariums #tropicalfish #tropicalfishtank #marineaquarium #marineaquariums #myfirstfishtank #reeftank #reeftanks #saltwaterfishtank #coralreef #fishtank #coralreef #clownfish #aquariumfish #meerwasseraquarium #aquariumhobby - Навчання та стиль
honestly this is the first look into saltwater set ups for me. I was a bit scared off by all the other builds i've seen. This is a well planned out video. thank you
That's awesome to hear!
I'm here for 1st time, exact place you were 2 years ago. How's the journey
@michaelborkowski3333 I got into some financial issues so I still haven't been able to get one going. I even had to see my freshwater set ups
Matthew Your a great asset to the Reefing Community.
Somebody has to look after the newbies. Keep it up.
That is really kind of you, I mean it. Thanks for your time in watching and commenting. It's people like you that keep me going making content for beginners!
Iv got your back. Ever need some backup from a real world average Joe reefer hit me up. Reef.sys on Instagram. Ian
I don’t actually know what’s going on here?
This was so comprehensive, and I'm so excited to use this and other videos to setup my first saltwater tank... a mantis tank!
Glad it was helpful! Can't wait to see the mantis tank!!!!
I have literally been looking for a video like this for months. This is why I subscribed to u
Sweet! Thanks!! I also make lots of beginner videos for Bulk Reef Supply, so check them out too!
Best video so far ! Wanting to start a reef saltwater tank,, correct! Overwhelmed! Ugh
This is the first basic saltwater 'how to' that actually left me feeling as though I have enough information to start.
My niece bought my daughter a 3-gallon tank and a betta for her birthday. Two years later, we have a 5 gallon for the betta and his snail friend, and a 20 gallon for more fish and snails. Now, I really want to set up a 60 gal salt tank in our living room.
Yup... Sounds like it is time! :-). I love betta fish tanks! What are you thinking about for the 60 gallon?
@@MyFirstFishTank A salt water one. :) Gonna use your guide to set up, but it won't be until at least a year or two from now. Just doing my research until then.
Wow super helpful resources, many thanks!
I’m building my first salt water aquarium and your videos are helping a ton. Thank you 👍
Glad to help
Wow 🤩 I’m gonna build my first saltwater tank ...after my quarantine in Taiwan 🇹🇼😍...looking forward to it
Woot woot, be sure to send me pictures. And if you have any questions let me know!
Preparing to setup my first saltwater tank and all your content is so helpful, thank you!
I hope you guys stick with this page, you really seem helpful. Gonna be starting mine after a little more education. Thank you
Thanks Jonathan, we hope we stick with it too!
Great video. Thank you
I Find the Information You Gave as Very Inspiring. Keep Up The Great Work You Channel is the Best.
I appreciate that!
I considered this hobby last year, but when I did the research, I realized what a total commitment this is. It's not suitable for someone who travels, or who spends winters in a warmer climate. This seems like a wonderful hobby, but totally consuming and potentially very expensive. Good luck with it.
A great simple step by step guide thanks for sharing
Thanks Adam! I hope it encourages beginners to keep learning more! Thanks for watching and commenting!
A nice step by step process for people getting started. Great job Matthew
Glad you think so Darren! Thanks for watching and commenting as usual! You da man!
@@MyFirstFishTank 😁
Good video as always
Appreciate that!
I have no fish tank experience at all but I want a salt water tank so bad but it’s so much to learn 😢
You can do it! One step at a time! Go for a simple tank with a clownfish to start! I'm here to help with whatever questions you have. You can alway email me at contact@myfirstfishtank.com
I subscribed to your page just based on the intro. Now let me watch the rest. Goof stuff so far and thanks
Why thanks, that was kind of you! Hope its what you expect! :-)
As someone who is just getting into this saltwater hobby (i hopped over from fresh after like.. 3 years of doing it) this was nice, my plan is to buy the Fluval Flex 32.5 Gallon (saltwater version) and I just mostly needed to know what other equipment I should pick up, I am going to get the PS2 skimmer for it but other than that what else would I need if it is my first saltwater tank?
During the leak test I thought you had a bunch of eels escaping from the tank! 😂😂😂
:-)!!!
I love this so much and I love the website but where did it go
Great video im not a noob but I watched the whole video
That's such nice feecback! I'm glad it was entertaining enough to hold your attention! Thanks for watching!
Thank you, that’s taken the angst out of beginning...
Great to hear Ian!
I have a question.. are there any species of fish that are okay with loud music? I am wanting to put a tank in my studio but I don't want to stress out any fish/shrimp if I were to get any.. Great video! Thank you
Ayooo what kind of clown fish are those in beginning of video they gorgeous 😮
Im a fan of the fluval 123 for my first tank but im concerned with the lighting. A lot of reefers place their lights quite high im guessing to distribute it. But with the stock fluval it is built into the lid, would this be a problem?
I would like to grow a variety of coral and i like the fluval 123 for its built in filter!
What would you say is the tank size where having it on a 2nd floor is a concern?
Hi
I want to keep a saltwater aquarium. I go on a holiday for a month each year. How to take care when i am away for so long?
Feeding is not an issue as we can get a feeder controlled through an app.
a very well done video. I sadly have a 75 gallon glass tank its undrilled. I have Instant ocean reef salt the only problem is im not doing a reef system im doing a fish only system with peaceful fish. What would be a better salt brand for this kind of set up? Filter wise i only have an FX 4 canister filter
Using instant ocean is totally fine. I know plenty of hobbyists who use it and it works great! And canister filters can work just fine for this hobby!
@@MyFirstFishTank wow so much i did not even think about. Now when it comes to rock im looking for a good purple looking rock that dose not have any pest im thinking of going with ether CaribSea LifeRock Original or Walt Smith 2.1 Reef Rock . what matters to me is wanting it to look good from the start and i dont really want to use rock that is pure white
@@MyFirstFishTank I really dont know what fish can stay in a 75 gallon. My dream fish is Coral beauty angel or the Flame angel another fish i would love to try to keep is yellow tang i dont know if they can stay in a 75.
Hi! you know you have a Fluval m90 tank there, does it use a lot of electricity to run please? I have the excact same tank but it used that much electricity that I had to turn it off & it's a real shame because I really love the marine hobby! 👍
Hey Paul, a good question. I'm not sure actually. I don't use any of the stock equipment it came with. I changed out everything from pumps to lights. I can't imagine it uses too much electricity since it's a small pump and LED lights, but I really can't say for certain. If you want to locate what's using all of the electricity, check your lights, pumps, wavemakers, and heaters using one of these amzn.to/3r3nsxk
What was the black board that you connected all your power strips to
It's this control board from MD. www.marinedepot.com/partners/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=3891. It's awesome!
Hello I need info about saltwater aquarium. Can I use sea water in my aquarium ? If yes Is there some procedure about putting it in, what do I need to look out for ? I live in Croatia we have a pretty clean sea water, so what do you think ?
Really awesome vid. Don't own a tank....yet....but you have not at all scared me off. However, big question, the more i watch regarding reef tanks, the conflicting information i find. Would it be fair to say (within reason ofcourse) that there are no steadfast rules regarding seawater/reef tanks. Everyone seems to have their own version of what is better. The more i watch the more tricky it seems to be to find steadfast answers on what to do and when. Change water, some say 1 week, some say 3 weeks. Some say use tap water and salt, some say it must be rdohi (sry, forget the exact term) water. Is it cool to say, again, within reason, that what you think is right is right?
Thanks for the kind words and you are absolutely right. This hobby is half art and half science, and there are very few things that are certain. Different people have success with different methods, and we are constantly learning. My methods are definitely not the only way, but I do try to keep things simple for beginners. But you are definitely correct and it can be frustrating to try to find the answers. The best thing you can do when starting out, is to find somebody you trust, and use them as a starting point. And as you learn more, you can adjust your methods and see what works best for you!
How the heck did you build that multi-clown tank? That’s wild.
Math is a lot agresive on my tank is up to the aqua scape they fight for the cave?
Let's not forget the "My First Fish Tank" Q&A beginner livestream on youtube most Saturdays ;)
A great point indeed!!!😃
Hi! I have a question. During the cycle the pump is on? And filter is in place?
Hi Mac, that's a great question. During the cycle definitely have the pump on, and have the mechanical filtration in place. But there's no reason to turn on your protein skimmer at this point.
How can I do a leak test on a used aquarium that does have some algae?
do I do a water change when my tank is in cycle
Yes, always a good idea after the tank he cycled. Helps remove nitrates. I like to do a 25-50% water change after the cycle is done.
Greek subtitles 🙏
So what advise would u have for a guy who moves frequently (every 2-3 years) for a living? Get into it. Or hang on till I anchor at some place someday.
Either. If you want to get into it, just stay small. I've, moved several tanks, all under 40 gallons. It is a pain, but definitely doable. Don't go big though, because then it becomes an ordeal. Say under 70 gallons for sure, and the even easier, 20 gallons!
The website won’t load ?
Marine Depot is great back up
For sure right?!?!
@@MyFirstFishTank Absolutely 💯%
@@MyFirstFishTank My first Saltwater tank is up and cycling now. I took the plunge. You and quite a few others helped so much. Thank you
OMG that's awesome! send me some pictures!! contact (@) myfirstfishtank (.com)
I want a fish tank for clown fish how big should it be
Well, you can probably go with 15 gallons or higher for a pair of clownfish. I have a 14 gallon peninsula tank next to my desk that I'm putting in a pair of clowns. But watch them closely. I've had a pair of clowns in my 20 gallon tank, and the larger one wouldn't stop bullying the smaller one, so I eventually had to move the small one.
can you just add natural seawater ? I live close to the sea. please answer I'm a beginner
Potentially yes. Make sure your local laws and ordinances allow it... Then make sure you collect from a clean area with no pollution, no boat oils, no sewage runnoff, no plastics... etc.
@@MyFirstFishTank tfortunately my place is a tropical paradise so the water is very clean. Thanks !!
how about a budget guide for a 120g reef?
That's a really good idea. I'l add that to the list. My biggest piece of advice for a 120 gallon tank, scour Craigslist, Facebook, Offer Up, etc... And find a used tank. You can usually get it for a few hundred or even free if you are willing to pick it up and clean it. That will save you at least $2000 right there!
@@MyFirstFishTank sweet i'll keep an eye out i want to set it up before summer so by the end of the year i can have a semi reef maybe :D
For sure!
What is the shark in the tank 3:38
I have no idea. I took that footage at a reefing convention a couple years ago!
Are you still making videos
Get some phytoplankton and other sea animals to make the aquarium sustain it’s self
Yeah, for sure! That is definitely true!
Can keep salt water aquarium in shed?
As long as you can keep the temperature steady!
@@MyFirstFishTank okay thanks . I get shed for my reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates and wanted get in to tropical and marine fish
I love supporting local businesses but I worked at my local fish store and they treat their employees like garbage so I don’t feel too bad shopping online
Well that certainly sucks to hear! I don't like it when people are treated poorly!
DO NOT BUY FIJI PINK UNLESS YOU WANT TO CONSTANTLY HAVE A CLOUDY TANK!!!
Fiji Pink is too light and too fine and will constantly get blown around.
saltwater is nothing more than freshwater with more work. if you can handle a freshwater tank you can do a saltwater tank as well. You can make it as complicated or as easy as you want -the same with freshwater.