Aquarium Setup Video
Setting up a marine aquarium has traditionally been one of the biggest challenges for new reef keepers, weeks of cycling, equipment research, and livestock selection before the tank is even running. The Living Oceans Aquarium was designed to change that. With pre-configured hardware, established biological filtration, and guided training videos, most owners complete the full hardware installation in around 90 minutes.
A Two-Stage Installation Process
To give your reef the best possible start, installation is completed in two stages.
Stage 1 focuses on assembling the aquarium and preparing its biological foundation. Once complete, submit your setup checklist to the support team and we'll confirm everything is ready before scheduling your livestock delivery.
Stage 2 is your livestock introduction. Once the aquarium has been verified, your Clownfish, Coral Livestock, and Clean Up Crew are dispatched separately, reducing stress on the animals and improving long-term success.
Everything Arrives Ready to Assemble
Your Living Oceans Aquarium bundle arrives across five packages, the Living Blocks reef, aquarium, sand, cabinet, and maintenance kit, with every component designed to work together. No additional equipment needed.
Setting Up the Hardware
Position the cabinet on a stable, level surface away from direct sunlight. The aquarium sits on top, with all power cables fed through the back of the cabinet. Every cable and connection is clearly labelled, making installation straightforward when following the guided training videos.
Key hardware components and how they're set up:
Heater arrives pre-set to 24°C. Place it in the overflow chamber and pass the cord through the back of the cabinet.
Filtration — the filtration chamber sits at the back of the aquarium and contains 3 filter baskets (Small (80L) model) or 6 filter baskets (Medium (130L) and Large (200L) models). The top basket is pre-loaded with a carbon filter media bag. For new aquariums, remove the white phosphate remover media and store it for later, it isn't needed during initial setup and can be reintroduced if a future phosphate test shows elevated levels. The bottom baskets will be filled with live bio-media at livestock delivery. Unlike mechanical filter pads, bio-media is never cleaned, it becomes a permanent home for the beneficial bacteria that maintain your water quality. Replace filter media bags every three months; a spare set is included for your first maintenance.
Auto Top Off (ATO) — the green water level sensor sits in the pump chamber and connects to the cabinet reservoir via a hose. The ATO automatically replenishes evaporated water to keep salinity stable between water changes.
Auto Feeder — mounts over the pump chamber and is programmed to dispense food once daily at 12pm. Set your local time first, then program a single feed cycle at 12:00, blank out all other cycles. Confirm the unit works by pressing the manual feed button and checking the drive unit turns. Fill the barrel with 1mm high quality marine pellets, enough for four to six weeks, and replace food every four weeks to keep it fresh. Never open the barrel cover over the aquarium.
LED Light — place onto the glass rim of the aquarium and loop the cord under the auto feeder barrel to avoid interference with its rotation. Connect the power transformer and place excess cord in the cable box. The light arrives pre-programmed for an eight-hour daylight cycle plus moonlight, supporting both coral health and natural viewing throughout the day.
Installing the Living Reef
Add the dry sand to the aquarium and push it to the sides and front to create a central indentation. Lower the Living Blocks reef into position with the trellis pressed against the back glass panel, then push the sand back over the trellis to conceal it. Take care not to spill sand into the coral plug holes. Because the reef is modular, it can be removed later for maintenance or coral repositioning as your reef develops.
Mixing Saltwater
Mixing saltwater correctly is the most important part of the installation process. Use filtered tap water with minimal chlorine, nutrients, and heavy metals. Mix 300ml of salt per 10 litres of water in a large bucket, add water conditioner to neutralise residual chlorine, and test salinity with the hydrometer, aiming for approximately 1.024 (within the green marks). Adjust temperature to around 24°C before adding to the aquarium. Always confirm the siphon valve is closed before filling, and never leave the siphon unattended while water is running.
Powering Up and Fine-Tuning
Before applying power, unplug the ATO. Once the pump is running, top up the pump chamber with approximately 3 litres of saltwater until the ATO sensor is submerged. Adjust the circulation pump nozzle to sit horizontal and face the centre of the aquarium, do not angle it upward, as this creates surface agitation, noise, and salt creep. Plug the ATO back in and confirm the sensor flashes then holds solid green.
Preparing for Livestock
The Sea Grass Lagoon is not installed at this stage, keep it in the cabinet until your livestock arrives, as its setup is covered in the Adding Livestock video. Once your setup checklist has been submitted and approved, your aquarium is ready to receive its living inhabitants.
Support Every Step of the Way
Every Living Oceans owner has access to the Support Hub, with step-by-step Assembly and Training Videos covering installation, livestock introductions, maintenance, and ongoing reef care. If you need additional help at any stage, contact the team at support@livingoceans.com.au.
