Living Oceans Aquarium Setup Guide

Welcome to the Living Oceans Aquarium setup process.

The Living Oceans Aquarium is designed as an all-inclusive marine ecosystem, combining fish, coral, live sand, and filtration into a system built to be sustainable, simple to install, and easy to maintain.

The installation is completed in two stages.

Stage one is setting up the aquarium hardware and ecosystem foundation, which usually takes around 90 minutes once the system has been positioned and unpacked.

After completing setup and submitting your checklist to support, stage two begins with livestock delivery.

Your Living Oceans Aquarium arrives in five main packages:

• aquarium
• cabinet
• living blocks reef
• sand
• maintenance kit
  

The first step is positioning the aquarium securely on the cabinet, ensuring it is level, stable, and away from direct sunlight.

From there, the setup includes:

• installing the heater
• preparing the filtration chamber
• connecting the automatic top-off system
• setting up the circulation pump
• programming the auto feeder
• mounting the lighting system
  

The filtration system is designed around multiple filter baskets and live bio media, helping establish the biological balance of the ecosystem.

The auto feeder is programmed for a single daily feed cycle at 12pm and should only contain enough food for four to six weeks to maintain freshness and reduce nutrient risk.

The lighting system supports both coral growth and overall ecosystem health while remaining simple to access during maintenance.

Once the hardware is complete, the reef and sand are added.

The Living Blocks reef structure is designed to sit securely within the aquarium while remaining removable and easy to maintain.

Saltwater preparation is one of the most important stages of setup.

The water is carefully mixed using:

• filtered tap water
• water conditioner
• marine salt
• salinity testing with the hydrometer
  

The system is then filled, circulation begins, and the automatic top-off system is activated to stabilise water levels.

Once complete:

• the light cycle is active
• filtration is running
• the ecosystem foundation is established
• the aquarium is ready for livestock delivery
  

The Lagoon Algae Refuge is installed later during the livestock stage and helps support natural nutrient export within the ecosystem.

With setup complete, you’re now ready to begin the next stage of building your living ecosystem.

Thank you for joining the Living Oceans community.