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Congrats on welcoming home aquatic life
The Petco Saltwater Aquarium Guide
We’ll help you navigate the exciting journey into pet parenthood with helpful tips, expert guidance and shopping recommendations for all your milestones together.
1. Choosing the right Aquarium
After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable, water is clear and salinity is in the proper range.
1. Choosing the right Aquarium
After adding water, substrate and décor, set the heater and wait 24–48 hours before introducing fish to ensure the temperature is stable, water is clear and salinity is in the proper range.
Aquariums
Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.
Shop Aquariums
Lighting & Hoods
Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.
Shop Lighting
Aquarium Kits
A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.
Shop Kits
-
Aquariums
Having the right-sized habitat helps keep them healthy and relaxed while preventing aggression and stress.
Shop Aquariums
-
Lighting & Hoods
Enhance the colors of your aquatic life while helping live plants grow with a variety of options that match any habitat.
Shop Lighting
-
Aquarium Kits
A cost-effective way to bundle a range of essentials that help you set up their home.
Shop Kits
- Aquariums
- Lighting & Hoods
- Aquarium Kits
2. SETTING UP YOUR saltwater aquarium
Bring home essentials to help them feel safe and comfortable while supporting their natural instincts.
Live Sand & Substrates
Marine substrate provides a surface for beneficial bacteria and gives substrate-dwelling invertebrates and crustaceans a home to call their own.
Shop Substrates
Décor
Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.
Shop Décor
Live Rock
Live rock is a platform for coral and invertebrates and creates a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.
Shop Live Rock
Thermometers
Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.
Shop Thermometers
-
Live Sand & Substrates
Marine substrate provides a surface for beneficial bacteria and gives substrate-dwelling invertebrates and crustaceans a home to call their own.
Shop Substrates
-
Décor
Add personal touches to their home while also providing territorial boundaries and hideaway places for when they need to rest or de-stress.
Shop Décor
-
Live Rock
Live rock is a platform for coral and invertebrates and creates a surface for beneficial bacteria to live.
Shop Live Rock
-
Thermometers
Used for monitoring water temperature daily to help ensure fluctuations do not harm the health of aquatic life.
Shop Thermometers
- Substrates
- Décor
- Live Rock
- Thermometers
3. Filtration and water care
Take care of their aquarium and water quality to keep their tank clean and help them stay healthy from the inside out.
Heaters
Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.
Shop Heaters
Filters & Media
Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.
Shop Filters & Media
Conditioners & Additives
A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, add calcium and promote alkalinity.
Shop Conditioners & Additives
Marine Salt
Marine salt provides the essential ingredients to help mimic natural seawater.
Shop Marine Salt
Protein Skimmers
Remove organic and inorganic matter, phenols, oils and debris before they are broken down into the nitrogen cycle, plus increase dissolved oxygen in the aquarium.
Shop Protein Skimmers
-
Heaters
Heaters help maintain stable water temperature and are essential for healthy metabolic rate and immunity.
Shop Heaters
-
Filters & Media
Help meet the biological, chemical and mechanical filtration requirements needed for stable water quality.
Shop Filters & Media
-
Conditioners & Additives
A variety of conditioners and additives help neutralize toxic chemicals in tap water, add calcium and promote alkalinity.
Shop Conditioners & Additives
-
Marine Salt
Marine salt provides the essential ingredients to help mimic natural seawater.
Shop Marine Salt
-
Protein Skimmers
Remove organic and inorganic matter, phenols, oils and debris before they are broken down into the nitrogen cycle, plus increase dissolved oxygen in the aquarium.
Shop Protein Skimmers
- Heaters
- Filters & Media
- Conditioners & Additives
- Marine Salt
- Protein Skimmers
4. Finding the right nutrition
Set a strong foundation for their health with quality nutrition.
Pellets, Flakes & Freeze-Dried Food
Packed with the necessary blend of minerals and vitamins to help promote a healthy immune system.
Shop Fish Food
Fresh & Frozen Food
Fresh and frozen food can be more natural and appetizing options for marine aquatic life.
Shop Fresh &
Frozen Food
- Fish Food
- Fresh & Frozen Food
5. SUPPORTING A ROUTINE
Follow these tips to help them stay happy and healthy.
Cycling their tank
Understanding the nitrogen cycle before adding aquatic life is crucial to the overall health of your ecosystem.
Acclimating your aquatic life
Help ease the stress of a new environment by properly acclimating your aquatic life before putting them in their new home.
Cleaning their tank
Routine maintenance like changing water, vacuuming gravel and scrubbing algae help maintain a healthy ecosystem and water quality.
6. SPECIES-SPECIFIC CARE SHEETS
Discover tips and essentials that help support every aspect of their health.
