aquariumguide

[aquariumguide]

How to set up a fish tank

Keeping fish has proven effects in reducing stress and improving mental health, so it's no surprise that more and more people are choosing to keep them in their own homes.

With a huge variety of tank sizes to choose from, and a wealth of fish in all different shapes and colors, there is something for anyone who wants to venture into the world of aquariums.

In this article we will explain how to set up an aquarium, including: preparing the tank, installing the equipment, cycling the tank and acclimatizing fish.

Unfortunately, it is common for fish shops to sell fish to customers who have only set up their tank for a few days, this article will explain the importance of setting up your tank properly and perform a full cycle before adding fish. Step one: Plan your tank

How to Set Up Tank Photo This is the step most people miss, but it's the most important if you want to have a successful, thriving aquarium.

Before you even start looking at tanks, or equipment, you have to decide what kind you might want to keep in your tank.

Is it going to be a big community tank, a smaller species of single tank, or a breeding tank?

The type of fish and invertebrates that you decide to keep will be the size of your tank, the water conditions in the tank, the equipment you need, and the types of plants you need. Sit down and make a plan about exactly what you want from your tank. Once you know what types you want to keep, you continue to buy the tank and proper equipment.

If your tank is small, you might want to use a piece of paper, the same size as the bottom of your tank and plan out where you want your plants and decorations to go to make sure you have enough space.

Step two: Prepare the tank Once you've bought all your equipment, you're ready to set it up.

Before you start adding water you need to make sure the tank is clean. If you've bought a new tank, all you have to do is use a damp cloth to wipe out the dust it has collected.

Never use soap or detergents to clean your tank.

It is important to also remember that any equipment you use for your tank (e.g. cloths and buckets) should be new and only ever used for your tank so that you don't have all the household chemicals or other products in your tank.

Cleaning a used tank Used tank for a clean A used tank before they are cleaned.

If you bought a used tank, you need to give it a little more attention. Remove all dirt from the tank, and use vinegar and kitchen roll to clean the tank. Clean both the outside and inside of your tank.

Be careful to do this if you have bought an acrylic tank. Acrylic can scratch very easily, so you need specific cleaning cloths for an acrylic tank.

Used tank after a clean A used tank after being cleaned.

Once you have cleaned your used tank, make sure it is leak-free. To do this, fill it with a few inches of water and leave it for an hour. Run your finger over the lower edge to see if there are any leaks.

If you find one, you can use an aquarium kit to seal the tank again.

Position your tank Now it's time to get your tank in the right position. Make sure you get it somewhere outside direct sunlight, and near a power supply.

You should also make sure that the standard on which you put your tank is suitable and strong enough - water in the tank can add a lot of weight to the whole tank.

For example, a 50 liter tank weighs about 100 pounds when empty, and once filled weighs about 600 pounds.

This is another good reason to put your tank in the right position for filling it, as it will be very difficult to fill it afterwards.

Once your tanks are in the correct position, you need to make sure the level. You do this two ways. You use a spirit level, whether you fill it with an inch or two of water and see if the level by eye.

Step three: Add the substrate and water

Your tank is now clean, in the right position and level. Now it's time to prepare your substrate and add the water.

The type of substrate you choose is down to your personal preferences, but will sometimes be determined by the type of fish and plants you want to keep. Many catfish, for example, require a sandy substrate.

The amount of substrate you need depends on how thick you want it. A good rule of thumb to follow is 1 pound substrate per litre of water; this will be enough to make a 1 " thick bed. If you want it to thicken, 2 pounds per gallon will create a 2" bed of substrate.

Washing the substrate Wassubstreet Sink your substrate into a bucket Although substrate normally comes prewashed, it will probably be very dusty and need to be rinsed so that it doesn't make your tank really cloudy.

You should rinse the substrate before adding it to the tank. You do this by placing small amounts in a bucket and fill it with cold water. Use your hand to swirl around the substrate and flush until the water runs as clear as possible.

If you have a lot of gravel to clean, you might want to consider doing this outdoors with a high pressure hose. Keep pouring the water out of the bucket and spraying again until the water is clear.

Some substrates (e.g. powder-coated gravel) do not do well to be washed in this way and the water only becomes more and more cloudy. Just try to remove as much dust as possible and use less powerful hand movements.

Now that your substrate is clean you are adding it to the tank.

Add substrate in tank Substrate in the tank Start by adding just a thin layer to make sure you don't scratch the bottom of your tank, and then you can pour the rest in.

When you pour the rest of your gravel in, think about whether there are areas you want raised a little higher, perhaps to bury the roots of plants in it.

It is common to see aquarium gravel running in a slope, from the highest point at the back of the aquarium to the lowest point at the front.

Now that your substrate is in, you need to fill the tank with water.

Add water to the tank If you are only using a small tank (less than 20 liters) to perform step four and five for adding water.

Now, the way to add water varies depending on whether you set up a freshwater or saltwater tank.

The pictures we follow are of a freshwater setup, so we'll see how we do it first.

Add freshwater To prevent your gravel or sand from being disturbed as you pour water in, you use a dish or a bowl.

Add substrate in tank Dish used to prevent gravel from being disturbed. Place the dish where it is easiest to tilt the water, and slowly start pouring your water in.

When the tank is full, add a dechlorinater to the water. Follow the instructions on your bottle. It usually gives you the ratio in ml's per gallon, for example 1 ml of de-chlorinator per 20 liters.

Add saltwater Tank is filled with water Before you add any water to your aquarium, you need to prepare first.

You need to use water that has been through reverse osmosis (you buy RO water or use treatments); Also make sure you use a de-chlorinator.

To prepare your saltwater use a salt mix and follow the instructions on the packaging to make sure you add the right amount.

You then follow the above step to add the water to the tank.

Step four: Install the equipment Add equipment

Your tank is full of water and substrate, now it's time to install the equipment.

At an absolute minimum, most set-ups require a filter.

All filters depend on the chosen brand. You have chosen an internal or external filter. Internal filters are relatively easy to install, starting with mounting all parts. The filter should go on the back wall of your tank, and the wire should reach a power supply.

Here is a video of a small filter being mounted on a tank; it is likely that there will be a specific YouTube tutorial on your brand filter if you need extra help.

If you've chosen an underwater gravel filter, you'll need to install it before adding the water.

Always make sure the filter is properly installed before turning it on with the power supply.

The tank in our example uses an external filter. External filters have room for more forms of media and filter the water more effectively.

External filters are usually in the stand, under the tank. An external filter carries the water out of the tank, and to the filter below to clean in, and then sends it back to the tank. Always make sure that the intake and exhaust tubes are straight without bends or kinks, so that the water can travel freely from (and back) into the tank.

Most external filters must be full of water before connecting them to the power supply - this is called priming the system, causing water to move through the filter.

Once you have installed the filter, you must install the heater (if you have chosen a tropical or saltwater setup). Most heaters are quite obvious and come with a dial on top to choose the right temperature.