Setting up an Aquarium

When you first get your tank home you are going to need to clean everything. You want to remove dust and debris from everything. This includes the tank itself and all decorations. Do not use chemicals or soap. You are only rinsing. The best way to clean the gravel is in the bathtub using a strainer. Watch to see that the water is running out clear.

If you have bought a stand get it into place and make sure that it is level. If you do not have a stand then place the tank in the location where it is going to be permanently. Check that the tank is making good contact with the stand. You do not want it uneven or unsupported in any way, as this may cause your tank to crack or break.

If you are putting in an underground filter, do it now, otherwise put in the gravel. You should make sure that you have enough gravel in the tank to completely cover the bottom. You are probably going to want have at least an inch of gravel. Remember, that debris builds up in gravel, so if you do not have a vacuum you may not want to have gravel that is too deep or to have a lot of hills and valleys.

Place in any other decorations that you want to use. Avoid stacking anything that might fall and crack the glass when you put the water in. When adding either live or plastic plants make sure that you bury their roots or bases well, otherwise they are going to float.

Once you have everything in place add water, but only fill the tank about halfway. To avoid disrupting all the careful landscaping you have done, pour the water over a plate or carefully down the inside of the glass. Check your decorating. Some things may have shifted, or have become dislodged. Make your final adjustments.

Add the rest of the water. Read all the instructions and safety guidelines before putting any electrical equipment in the tank. Once you have finished reading, install whatever equipment you have selected. Follow all safety instructions carefully not only for your safety, but also because you do not want to accidentally damage any of the equipment.

Treat the water. At the very least add something that will remove both chlorine and chloramine. If you are using well water find out what other minerals or substances are in it before you introduce the fish.

Now you have to ‘cycle’ the tank. This is the worst part about setting up a new tank. You are going to have to be patient and allow the good bacteria in your tank to build up. This process can take two weeks or longer depending on the size of your tank. There are certain chemicals that you can add to speed up the process however, the best thing to do is wait. Test your tank every day or two to see if you have achieved a balanced level. You do not want to have any ammonia or nitrites showing up. If you detect nitrates then you know it should be safe to begin adding fish.

Aquarium Basic Equipment List