Salt Water Aquarium Information

The object of this site is to help novice salt water aquarists to acquaint themselves with the basics of water quality.

Now, with that being said, if you are looking into salt water aquariums as a hobby, I am sure you have already heard the terms specific gravity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and more.  If you are like I was when I first started the hobby, you have know idea what any of that stuff is or what it means to your new aquarium. 

I am not here to bore you with a long drawn out explanation of what each element of salt water chemistry is.  I am simply here to give you the basics, if you feel compelled to seek more information there are plenty of other websites and books that go into more detail than I will.

Temperature:

Ideal temperature for marine fish is between 72 & 78 degrees Fahrenheit.  Temperature should not be allowed to fluctuate rapidly, so it is important that you use an aquarium heater to maintain a stable temperature.

Learn More About Temperature

Specific Gravity:

A specific gravity of 1.021 - 1.024 is generally accepted by marine fish.  Specific gravity indicates the amount of salt that is in the water.  If the specific gravity is too low, you need to add more salt; if it is too high, you need to add fresh water.  Make changes slowly, as most fish cannot tolerate a rapid change in specific gravity.

Learn More About Specific Gravity

Ammonia:

If you are setting up a new salt water aquarium, it is a certainty that you will experience high ammonia levels.  Ammonia is a waste product of aquatic organisms, and will be evident in new aquariums.  Many fish are not tolerant to high ammonia levels, so it is important to wait until ammonia levels are under control before adding many fish.  As your aquarium cycles, you will notice that the ammonia levels will drop and nitrite levels will increase; this is a biological reaction that is turning the ammonia into a less toxic form.

If you experience an increase of ammonia in an established aquarium, it is important to regain control of the levels through water change(s).

Nitrite:

As mentioned earlier, nitrite is caused by a biological reaction involving ammonia.  Although less hazardous than ammonia, high nitrite levels are still not good for many fish, so it is best to wait until your aquarium has cycled to add most fish.  As your aquarium continues to cycle, you will begin to notice that nitrite is falling off, and nitrate is beginning to increase; hang in there... it won't be much longer and your aquarium will be completely cycled.  

Nitrate: