How to Set up a Tropical Fish Tank

If you'd like to be fish keeper, you'll need to start out right. A tropical fish tank is a good choice because it's low maintenance, and there are a lot of beautifully colored tropical fish to choose from. If you've decided to set up a tropical freshwater fish tank, here's how.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tank with hood and lighting
• Filtration system
• Tank heater
• Thermometer
• Gravel
• Tank dechlorinator
• Decorations
• Tank stand
• Tap water
• Strainer
• Bowl
• Large Bucket
• Live Plants
• Tropical Fish

Get Supplies

1. Decide which size tank you'll need. A 10-gallon tank is a good size to start with. Be sure it has a hood and lighting for the tank.

2. Buy a tank, appropriately-sized filtration system, heater, thermometer, gravel and bottle of water dechlorinator to make the water safe for fish. Or buy a starter kit that has all of these items in it.

3. Purchase decorations for your tank. Choose items made specifically for fish tanks. Be sure to get at least one "hideout" so your fish will feel secure.

4. Consider buying a stand designed for use with fish tanks or find a sturdy flat surface in your home away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations.

Set up the Tank

5. Set up your tank. Rinse gravel in a strainer until the water runs clear. Spread evenly across bottom of tank. Slope the gravel slightly higher in the back so that the fish will stay close the front of the tank so that you can see them.

6. Wash tank decorations thoroughly in lukewarm tap water, and then place tank decorations securely in the bottom of the tank.

7. Attach filtration system, heater and thermometer to the sides of the tank. Set heater to appropriate temperature, usually about 77 degrees.

8. Place a bowl in the bottom of the tank. Fill a large bucket with cold tap water and pour into the tank, aiming for the bowl so that the gravel isn't displaced by the water.

9. Turn everything on and add water dechlorinator. Follow the directions on the label so that you use the correct amount.

10. Wait at least 24 hours before you add live plants or fish to the tank. The water needs to run through the filter and the tank temperature needs to be right or you risk killing the fish.

Add Plants and Fish to the Tank

11. Buy live plants the next day. Rinse them off in the sink and prune them if necessary. Then plant them in the gravel in the middle of rear of the tank. Be sure that the tank lights you are using support live plants.

12. Choose your fish. Go to a reputable pet store or aquarium store to find healthy tropical fish and knowledgeable sales people. If there are a lot of dead fish floating in the tanks, or the fish look lethargic or dull, go somewhere else.

13. Ask for assistance to find fish that live well together, or choose one species to start out with. Guppies are low maintenance and hearty. Buy a plecostamus as well. They'll help keep your tank clean and get along well with most tropical fish.

14. Add fish to the tank by floating the bag from the store in the tank water for twenty minutes and then net each one and drop them into the tank gently. Feed them a few hours later after they get settled and your fish should thrive in your new tropical freshwater fish tank.

Resources

• Step by step video on setting up a tropical tank
• Aquarium help
• Tips and Articles

[kalindria]

on 1/12/2008 Check with your local water district as many jursidictions are now adding chloramine to tap water and this needs to be neutralized in addition to the chlorine. You can purchase one product to handle both water additives, but check the labels. Also, you will want to avoid doing water changes immediately after chlorine is added to your municipal water supply as the concentration is much higher at such times. Check with your water district to find out when they add chemicals to the water and wait several days before using tap water for your fish.