23.12.08

How To Setup A Freshwater Aquarium


This is an 11 step guide for setting up a freshwater aquarium
in your house.

Equipment you need the following:

Aquarium
Aquarium gravel
Aquarium filter
Replacement filter media
Heater
Other decorations (such as plants)
Chemical test kits
Fish
Aquarium vacuum
Fish net
Glass scrubber
5-gallon bucket
Pasta colander

1: Realize the responsibility involved.
A tropical aquarium is like a dog or a cat when it comes to the amount of effort on your part. To achieve a successful aquarium, you will have to work. Once a week, or at most once every two weeks, you will need to perform some kind of maintenance on the tank. Most of the time you perform water changes. Also you must feed your tropical fish at least once per day. If you are up to the challenge, go on!

2: Decide on an aquarium size.
It is a good idea to have in mind what kind of tropical fish that you want to save before you buy an aquarium. Some tropical fish only grow as a centimeter or two, while other species of tropical fish can grow to 12 or 13 cm in length! Knowing what kind of tropical fish that you want to help keep the size of the tank they need. If this is your first time with an aquarium, then I go with a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium for now.

3: Decide on the aquarium's location.
Place your aquarium in an area where the light and temperature of the tank is not influenced by external sources such as windows and heater vents. You want your aquarium on a stand that will be able to take its total weight. A good rule of thumb for determining the total weight of a full tank is 10 pounds per gallon of water. For example, a 55-gallon tank will weigh about 550 pounds when filled with water!

4: Buy your aquarium and equipment.
Now is the time to decide on the type of filtering you want to use. You will also need to buy a stove capable of heating of the tank size you have. Now the gravel, plants, a power strip and other decorations. A good rule of thumb for the amount of gravel that you need is 1 to 1.5 pounds per gallon of water pebble.

5: Set your aquarium and stand.
Wash your tank with water! Do not use soap or detergents. Soap residue left behind will be harmful to your tropical fish. If you are going to use on the basis of a gravel filter (not recommended) would now the time to establish as good.

6: Was Gravel, plants and decorations.
Be sure to thoroughly wash the gravel before adding it to your tank. An easy way to do this is to put some of the rocks pasta in a colander and rinse them in your bath. Then place the clean gravel in a clean 5-gallon bucket for transport to the aquarium. After adding the gravel your plants and decorations.

7: Add water to the aquarium.
To avoid making your gravel and plants, you can add a picture or a dish in the middle of your aquarium and direct the flow into the plate. Use room temperature water to fill. To remove the chlorine and chloramine, use something like Tetra Aqua Safe for aquariums. Not completely fill the tank until you are sure of the layout of your decorations. Otherwise, if you're in your arm to move things around the water will spill-over. Doh!

8: Set up equipment.
Install your stove, but do not plug it in until the thermostat in the heater has adapted to the temperature of the water. This usually takes about 15 minutes or so. Connect your filter and any other equipment you have, then the top of the aquarium water to just below the hood lip. Place your hood and light on the aquarium and then check your power cords are sure that they are free of water. I would also recommend a drip loop on all the power cords are extra cautious. Close all of the equipment into an outlet box and then "turn on" the aquarium.

     1. Wait, wait, wait and then wait a bit longer.
        I know, you want to add some tropical fish. But, in order to do this right you must wait until your aquarium has cycled for the addition of fish. There are ways to accelerate this process. Check out the nitrogen cycle page for more information. If you must use it to fish, I try to get a hardier species like the zebra Danio or cherry barb.
     2. Add tropical fish.
        Only one or two fish at a time. Adding a couple tropical fish at a time gives your filtration system the time required for the increased biological load that the new fish carry. If you let the fish still hang the bag in the tank for about 15 minutes, so the fish can be acclimated to the temperature and pH of the water tank. After 5 minutes of the floating bag use a portion of the aquarium water to the bag, so the fish can be acclimated to the pH level in the aquarium. This will help reduce the amount of stress imposed on the tropical fish. Tropical fish stress often leads to dead tropical fish! Not feeding your tropical fish on the first day. They would probably not eat all the food on the first day anyway. Let them get acquainted with their new home.
     3.Maak you ready for a regular maintenance.
        Be prepared for some time once a week or two for cleaning your tank. Carrying out regular water changes will reduce the nitrate levels and keep your tropical fish happy and healthy.

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