All About Tropical Fish Care

Setting Up The Aquarium

Once you have gotten all the supplies for your aquarium, it is time to set it up so lets go! 

The first step to find a place for your aquarium stand, if you haven't already done so. The next step is to make sure it is level and place the aquarium on the stand. You may need to wipe the inside down with a wet paper towel (make sure to use no soap or cleaners since these have chemicals that can harm your fish), this will be the third step. The next step, which would be the fourth if you are to do it, is optional, you may or may not want a background but in this case you may, pick up the aquarium and turn it around to the back and place the background on, you may need to use a background apply glue or you can use tape. Make sure it is cut to the exact size of your aquarium back and your all set. 

The fourth step is to wash your gravel, plastic or fake plants and decorations since they could contain any dust or bad chemicals on them. Be sure to not use any soap or cleaners. After your gravel has been washed and the water has been drained, place the gravel in your aquarium, this is the fifth step. Spread it out and make sure it is even through out the aquarium, it doesn't have to be perfect since the water will possibly move it around. 

Your sixth step is to place the decorations in the aquarium, if you desire to, this step is optional if you don't want your hands all soaking wet trying to put in your decorations.

Once you have arranged your decor into the places you want them to be it is time to set up the filter, heater, air pump (optional), thermometer and aquarium hood, this of course is the seventh step. e sure to read all the directions on the filters guide to be sure to set it up correctly. Some filters can be tricky to set up and maintain. Next set up the heater and check and see if it has an adjust button to adjust the temp to where you want the water to be, if it doesn't go back to the store and pick up another one. I am not saying it is bad but it is better to get a heater you can set the temperature to in case something has dropped in your water temp or you want it at a specific temperature. Next set up the thermometer. I suggest getting a digital thermometer as they are easier to read and have more accurate readings then stick on or hang on thermometers that are plastic or hard to read. Once you have set up those important components, it is time to set up the hood. Having a hood with LED lights is a good idea. It saves money on your electric bill and provides "natural sunlight" to the tank making it brighter and cooler to the aquarium look. 

The eighth step is filling your aquarium with water. You are going to need a bucket specifically used only for your fish, something to stir with like a fish net, de-chlorinator with aloe, a bacterial additive (which is optional only if you want to kick start the Nitrogen cycle), and some pH corrector if your tap or well water isn't specifically at the right pH for your fish. Fill the bucket with tap or well water. Add the de-chlorinator and wait a few minutes before adding the bacterial additive, if not adding additive then go ahead and add the pH corrector. If your pH is at the correct pH, then you don't need to add the pH corrector and can add the water to your aquarium. Once the water has been added, fill up the filter with water from the tank and plug it in along with the heater, air pump (if using one), and turn on the aquarium hood. 

The almost to last step is to wait 24 hours and check the equipment to make sure everything is running properly and you can test the water for the pH to make sure it is at the correct pH for your coming fish. 

The last step is to let your aquarium cycle for at least 2-6 weeks. Maybe even more, it all depends on what you have done to speed up the process, if you haven't done anything to speed up the Nitrogen cycle, it make take at least two months or an aquarium to cycle. If you did you a bacterial additive, like Tetra SafeStart which uses live safe bacteria, then  it should cycle in 2 weeks sometimes less. Once your aquarium has cycled you can go pick out your fish!