Now that you have a bucket of saltwater... Place a clean flat dinner plate in the bottom of your aquarium on top of the substrate. This is to keep the muck down when filling, or pouring the water into the aquarium. Pour water onto plate as you fill up the aquarium, making sure you don't stir up the substrate.. Repeat this process untill you have added the right amount of salt and water to your aquarium.
The second way to mix and fill your aquarium is to run a garden hose to the aquarium, and fill the aquarium up with water. Add salt as directed on back of salt bag by pouring it in a little at a time until the propper amount is added to the tank. Plug in all pumps and power supplys. Set aquarium heater for 78 degree's.
Check Gravity,or Salinity with a hydrometer after a few days...give the salt time to salitify. Also keep an eye on the temperature of the aquarium. Try to maintain an even 78 degree's.
"SaltyDog Says"
Some local fish stores sell already established water. This might be a pain in the fanny to move in large quantities, but It's a good way to jump start your new aquarium.
Step 5. Checking Gravity/Salinity with a Hydrometer
Now that you have let your aquarium sit for a week, check the salinity with your hydrometer.
You want to keep the range on your hydrometer between 0.021 and 0.024. This is ideal for most saltwater set up's. If the readings are above, or below....adjust by adding salt, or water to the mix.
Add salt if reading is too low, and add water if reading is too high. Remeber to let salt salitify for a few days before taking your next hydrometer reading. When the salt level reads between 0.021-0.024, and your tank temp. is at 78 degree's.... you are ready for the big step....
Step 6. Adding fish to the scene
When I started my 125 gallon aquarium, I worked at a LFS. I learned I could cycle my aquarium with fresh water Molly's (a cheap way to cycle)....so....I took a few home with me and began the acclimation process. I put a couple Black Molly's and a Silver Molly in my aquarium. They acted funny for a few seconds, but came out of it quickly.I started the whole process with a few Molly fish...go figure. After all said and done, I lost 2 of the Black Mollys...they jumped out of the aquarium. The Silver Molly grew very large, and the color of the fish changed for the better. The fish ended up with a shiney purple stripe down it's side...weird. <"((((>(
The Silver Molly went on to give birth while cycling my Aquarium.
The Mollys were eventually replaced by 2 YellowTailed Damsel Fish, and 2 Blue Damesel fish.
When starting the cycling process Only start with a couple small cheap fish..Fresh water Mollys, or
Blue Damsels are a good hardy cheap fish to cycle with. Alway's acclimate, and remember the rules that apply when buying fish.