Saltwater Aquarium 101: How to set up a saltwater aquarium

Name: Saltwater Aquarium 101: How to set up a saltwater aquarium
Rating: 4.5 (104 reviews)

A guide to setting up and maintaining a thriving saltwater aquarium

Created byAlbert B. Ulrich

Last updated 7/2016

English

What you'll learn

Create a thriving saltwater aquarium
Select the best fish and corals
Choose the right equipment
Avoid making some of the most common mistakes
Save time and money setting up their ideal saltwater aquarium
Have greater success keeping saltwater fish and corals

Course content

7 sections • 24 lectures • 1h 57m total length

Course Introduction1:46

What type of aquarium is right for you?13:09
If you are just starting out, you have a lot of options and can build the saltwater aquarium of your dreams. But it can sometimes be daunting to sort through all of those options. This lecture will serve as your guide through the various options and help you decide what type of saltwater aquarium is right for you.
What do you want to keep?6:50
You don't have to have it all figured out, in the beginning, but having some understanding about which saltwater aquarium animals (corals, fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, etc.) you are interested in keeping does have an impact on the type of equipment you will need. This lecture will help you continue the process of refining your selections, on the way to building a successful reef aquarium.

Equipment summary3:15
This lecture provides a high level overview of the types of equipment commonly used in a reef tank setup.
Aquarium lighting6:52
Aquarium lighting is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will need, if you want to keep corals. Learn about your options in this lecture so you can make the best decision for your own reef tank.
Protein skimmers3:24
Temperature Control1:56
Water movement1:33
Reactors1:46
Measuring salinity1:21
Refugium4:47
What is a refugium? This is a popular addition to most reef tanks. Learn all about it in this lecture.
RO/DI Water Purification3:02
RO/DI stands for Reverse Osmosis/DeIonization--which is a way to purify the water coming out of your tap, for use with your reef tank. Find out more about this equipment and purification technique and decide if it is necessary for your own reef aquarium.
Aquarium Filtration4:05

Water Parameters and Testing9:34
Keeping your saltwater aquarium water within the proper range for the most important water parameters is one of the most important aspects of the hobby. In this lecture, you will learn what the 9 most important water parameters are and what range you should strive for.

Once you have finished watching the lecture, download the testing worksheet from the Reef Journal to help keep track of the water parameters in your tank.
Choosing a salt mix2:39
Which salt mix should you buy? That is one of the most common questions I get from new saltwater aquarium hobbyists. The goal of this lecture is to help you decide what commercial salt mix is right for you.

Planning out the order of your fish3:20
Planning out the order of your first saltwater fish is an important step in establishing a successful reef aquarium. Use the downloadable PDF worksheet to plan out the order of you fish.
Fish7:13
Now it is time to pick your first saltwater fish. After watching the lecture, download the accompanying PDF from Reef Journal and take it with you to your local fish store to make sure you are purchasing a healthy saltwater fish.
Starter Fish9:09
This lecture introduces the concept of a starter fish and will help you pick a great first fish to add to your tank.
Quarantine2:11
This section will teach you why it is important to quarantine your new purchases before adding them to your display tank. Keep track of your quarantine procedures with the downloadable quarantine worksheet from the Reef Journal.
how to acclimate fish3:46
Corals9:32
Learn about the different types of corals that are commonly kept in a saltwater aquarium and how to care for them.

Costs7:01
How much is this all going to cost? This lecture will show you what you can expect.
Common problems6:49
When you interact with friends online, you tend to hear the good news--but what about the bad news? This section will give you a head start on some of the most common problems to help you avoid falling into one of the pitfalls that are common when starting up a new saltwater aquarium.

Requirements

There are no required actions before starting this course, although some prior experience with keeping freshwater fish may be helpful

Description

Welcome to Saltwater Aquarium 101

Saltwater Aquarium 101 is a great introduction to the concepts and strategies for starting a saltwater aquarium and is intended for:

Anyone who has not previously set up a saltwater aquarium, or
Anyone who has had some challenges with their saltwater aquarium in the past, or
If you have had success with keeping a freshwater aquarium and you want to know what it takes to convert to saltwater

Who is this not for? This course is not the best option if you are looking to learn the most advanced concepts in reef keeping.

Saltwater Aquarium 101 is a combination of video lectures and downloadable workbook assignments developed to help you apply what you learn and build the habits that will help you achieve success with your tank.

Get your hands wet and get started right away!

Who this course is for:

This Saltwater Aquarium 101 course is intended to be an introduction to the concepts of starting a saltwater aquarium for those who have not previously set up a saltwater aquarium or who have had some challenges with their saltwater aquarium in the past.
This course is a great option if you have had success with keeping a freshwater aquarium and you want to know what it takes to convert to saltwater
This course is probably not the best option if you are looking to learn more advanced concepts in reef keeping

Saltwater Aquarium 101: How to set up a saltwater aquarium

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Getting started: Creating a plan2 lectures • 20min

Equipment10 lectures • 32min

Water parameters and Testing2 lectures • 12min

Adding fish and corals6 lectures • 35min

Common problems to anticipate2 lectures • 14min

Course Conclusions1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: