Things You'll Need:
- Shopping Time: 1.5 hours
- Tank and Other Supplies (Cost: Up to $250 or more)
- Setup Time: 2.5 hours
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Step 1
Part 1: Setup
Introduction
Are fish zero maintenance, or are they too much trouble? Many people have only a vague idea about those rare, mysterious aquariums seen at a friends' house or the pet store. After all, there must be a big secret to fish keeping or else more people would do it, right?
Some common opinions about aquariums include:
* "Seeing an aquarium at someone else's house or office is the best way to enjoy one--no work involved."
* "Fish take care of themselves, right?"
* "I would get an aquarium if it wasn't so complicated—I have no clue where to start."
If the idea of having your own aquarium seems daunting, then you may be relieved to hear that there is no big secret to fish keeping and it can actually be a relaxing pastime. Once you setup your aquarium and your fish get comfortable their new home, you will spend less than one hour a week maintaining it. In fact, some evenings you might find yourself mesmerized by watching dancing fish and bubbling water instead of watching TV.
Here, you will find simple instructions that take you from absolute ground zero to a finished product, without skipping minor or transition steps that many how-to books leave out. If you are the greenest of beginners and are eager to try something new, it is time to get a clue about aquariums with Milo's Example: 30-Gallon Tank.
In this series, you will find out how to:
* Buy the aquarium and equipment
* Setup the tank
* Wait-out the initial Water Without Fish Week
* Learn about ecosystems and fish species
* Buy fish and supplies
* Put in the fish
* Survive the initial Treacherous Tank Cycle
* Feed and care for your fish friends
* Do the Water Changes every two weeks
Now you can bring aquatic life, beauty and serenity in your home without feeling left in the dark. -
Step 2
The Mystery of Aquariums Unveiled
Pet stores, books and the internet provide a wealth of information on this subject. Ironically, those same sources have created a puzzling thicket of differing opinions and advice about aquariums and fish. Even more confusing is that they can all be correct in various situations! It is no wonder that some beginners are uncertain about what do think or do. This could be why there may be an aura of mystery surrounding fish keeping that scares many people away.
The first realm of incongruence consists of a zillion different ways to setup an aquarium. Enthusiasts advocate many different methods and suggestions, while stores offer a wide array of products – from a variety of tanks to filters to water treatments. Secondly, there are thousands of species of fish to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics and needs. When I asked five different aquarists to stereotype a Puffer fish, I received five different answers about what Puffers like to eat, which fish they get along with, and how big they get.
Since every possibility, option and combination cannot be covered in this book, I have included one method of setting up a 30-gallon tank stocked half-way with fish as Milo's Example: 30-Gallon Tank. Fortunately, there is general agreement in the world of aquarists that a 30-gallon tank with 15 inches of fish is a great starting point for beginners. Alas, the mystery begins to unravel!
I believe there is at least one tried-and-true recipe for success, and that process is detailed in the following step-by-step instructions for Milo's Example: 30-Gallon Tank. For those of you who are creative and have collected additional advice elsewhere, please feel free to modify the formula to suit your needs. -
Step 3
Setup Your Aquarium
Part 1 is setup only—no fish! No fish will be swimming around your new tank on the first day (so go ahead and pout for a few minutes). There are no exceptions because the one week waiting period is crucial to the survival of your future fish.
Allow several hours for setting up your new aquarium, maybe this Saturday afternoon. Your future fish will appreciate the effort and care you put into building them a safe and beautiful home. The good news is that you can start looking forward to spending next Saturday afternoon getting your new fish friends. -
Step 4
Go Shopping
Time: 1.5 hours
Visit several local pet stores or web sites to see a variety of items and find the lowest prices. Buying online could save you a lot of money, but it will take a few days to ship. If you are bursting with excitement (and you have the cash in hand!) you can go to the store right now and get started today. If possible, get a friend to help with lifting and transporting the heavy, breakable tank.
Use the following Supply Checklist to ensure you purchase everything you need: -
Step 5
Supply Checklist
Cost: Up to $250 or more
Always use items that are approved for fish aquariums from your local pet store.
Tank
* 30-gallon stand, or reinforced dresser/table for supporting 300 pounds with waterproof surface. Also be sure your floor can withstand the weight.
* 30-gallon rectangular glass tank, 30"x20"x14"
* 30-gallon black, plastic tank hood with florescent light, usually included with tank
Equipment
* 30-gallon 3-in-1 water filter with sponge, bio wheel and carbon, back-hanging model
* 150 watt heater with thermostat, fully submersible with suction cups
* 30-gallon air pump motor with one outlet, preferably the quietest model
* One-way safety airflow valve
* 2 digital LCD thermometers, a primary one for the tank and an extra one for conditioning new water
* 6-plug power strip with surge protection
Materials
* 45 pounds of aquarium gravel (not sand) in your color choice. Typically, you want 2-3 inches of gravel on the bottom, which equates to 1.5 pounds times the number of gallons of the tank.
* 2 large decorative structures, such as castles, caves, pots and rock formations. Even though fish require plenty of hiding places in caves and bushes, it is possible to overcrowd the tank.
* 7 fake plants, such as tall flowing plants, short plants, flowers and floating vines. Even though fish require plenty of hiding places in caves and bushes it is possible to overcrowd the tank.
* Decorative window film or aquarium background poster, 30"x20". Decorative window film can be found at your local home improvement store. However, it is much more expensive than poster paper.
* 10 feet of clear 1/4" air tubing
* 1 air tube T-connector, for creating a dual-bubbler system
* 2 air stones (i.e. bubblers, fizzlers) in various sizes, such as long wands, blocks, and spheres, for creating a dual-bubbler system
* 6-pack of suction cups for air tubing
Maintenance Supplies
* 10 ml bottle of water conditioner with chlorine remover
* 5-in-1 water quality test kit for Nitrate, Nitrite, Alkalinity, Hardness and PH, test strip style
* Ammonia test kit for both NH3 and NH4+, test tube style
* 2, 5-gallon plastic buckets. Water changes are easier with two buckets at a time. You need brand new ones because you do not want traces of soap or chemicals in them.
* Medium gravel vacuum
* Medium fish net -
Step 6
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Time: 10 minutes
It is time to put down those shopping bags, change into some work clothes and gather up a few tools.
Use the following Tools Checklist to ensure you have everything you need:
Tools Checklist
* Spaghetti strainer
* Scissors or utility knife
* Tin snips or hand saw
* Ruler or tape measure
* 1 clean, soft lint-free cloth
* 2 large clean towels
* Plastic cup or bowl
* Dinner plate
* Stepping stool *optional
* Water hose *optional -
Step 7
Prepare the Tank
Time: 15 minutes
1. Position the aquarium stand in the desired location in the living room or bedroom. Walkways, hallways or cramped areas are not recommended.
Note: The aquarium will be here from this day on since it cannot be moved after it is setup, so plan carefully.
2. With the tank sitting on a large towel on the floor, wipe down the inside and outside of the glass using a soft cloth and water to remove any dust or dirt.
Note: Soap and cleaners will kill fish, so always use plain water for rinsing things.
3. Lay the tank over on its side with the back glass panel facing up.
4. Measure and cut the decorative window film or background poster to size using scissors. Then attach it to the outside of the back glass panel following the package instructions or using scotch tape.
5. Carefully lift the heavy, glass tank onto the stand and position it properly. -
Step 8
Prepare the Gravel
Time: 15 minutes
1. Rinse the 5-gallon buckets with tap water to remove any dust or dirt.
2. Using a spaghetti strainer, rinse the gravel under running tap water for 2 minutes per load to remove any dust or dirt, then let drain. You can do this outside with a water hose. If done in the kitchen sink or bathtub, prevent loose gravel from going down the drain. Store the clean gravel in a 5-gallon bucket.
Note: Soap and cleaners will kill fish, so always use plain water for rinsing things.
3. Rinse the decorations and plants, as well. -
Step 9
Fill the Aquarium
Time: 15 minutes
1. If necessary, use a stepping stool to help you reach over and down into the bottom of the tank.
2. Using a plastic cup, slowly pour the rinsed gravel into the bottom of the tank and spread out evenly. For aesthetics, gently slope the gravel from the back down to the front of the tank to counteract visual refraction of the water and glass. The entire tank floor should always be covered with 2-3 inches of gravel.
3. Place a dinner plate on top of the gravel to prevent the pouring water from tossing the gravel around.
4. Condition 5 gallons of tap water. This is a two part process:
Part A: Temperature. Using a water hose or the bathtub, fill a 5-gallon bucket with slightly warm tap water. Using the extra LCD digital thermometer, ensure the water temperature is 76 degrees (same as the recommended tank temperature). If necessary, adjust the temperature of the bucket by replacing one gallon with warmer or cooler water.
Part B: Conditioner. Following the package instructions, add water conditioner with chlorine remover. It is typically 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water, or 1/2 teaspoon per 5-gallon bucket. This treatment takes effect within 10 seconds.
5. Pour 5 gallons of conditioned water into the tank directly on top of the dinner plate.
6. Repeat four times, until you have filled the tank with 20 gallons of conditioned water, leaving the tank about 2/3 full.
Note: Never put unconditioned water into a tank with live fish since chlorine will kill them and more than 1 degree of sudden change in temperature will stress them. -
Step 10
Decorate the Aquarium
Time: 30 minutes or more
If you have been so careful as to keep from getting wet thus far, get your towel ready!
1. With water up to your elbows, arrange the decorations on the gravel floor. Bury the bases of some plants to hold them in place and suction cup others to the glass. It is hard to see what things will look like from the outside during the process and floating items constantly try to escape from their posts, so this is a real test of motor skills and patience!
2. Depending on your design skills, imagination and perfectionism, it could take hours to get everything looking exactly like the aquarium of your dreams.
Note: Even though fish require plenty of hiding places in caves and bushes, it is possible to overcrowd the tank with too much stuff, so plan carefully. -
Step 11
Install the Equipment
Time: 15 minutes
Do not plug in or turn on any of this equipment yet. It is safer to wait until Step 9 when everything is setup, especially since the heater must adjust to the water temperature for 15 minutes before turning it on to avoid cracking.
1. Following the package instructions, assemble the water filter system and hang it on the back rim of the tank toward the left or right corner.
2. Following the package instructions, assemble the water heater and suction cup it to the glass near the filter.
3. Following the package instructions, place the air pump motor on floor behind or under the aquarium stand. -
Step 12
Install the Bubbler System
Time: 15 minutes
Measurements may vary depending on your situation.
1. Using scissors, cut a 4" piece of air tubing and attach it to the air pump. Next, attach the one-way air flow valve to the tubing with the arrow pointing in the right direction, usually the direction of the airflow from the pump to the aquarium. Finally, cut a 6-foot piece of tubing and attach it to the open end of the air flow valve.
2. This 6-foot long tube will run from the air pump motor over the rim of the tank and down inside to the bottom of the tank where it will produce decorative bubbles inside caves and bushes.
3. Attach an air stone (i.e. bubbler, fizzler) to the open end of the 6-foot tube and submerse it to the bottom of the tank, resting it on the gravel. If you desire a dual-bubbler system use your imagination or see Option A below.
Option A: This option produces bubbles in two locations. Instead of an air stone, attach a T-connector to the open end of the 6-foot tube, which splits the line into two directions. Cut a 4" tube and a 12" tube and attach them to the open ends of the T-connector. Attach air stones to the open ends of each of the tubes. Submerse the tubing system into the bottom of the tank and rest the air stones on the gravel, one on the left side of the tank and one on the right. Voila, you now have bubblers that will produce fascinating displays in two places.
4. Position the air stone(s) to rest just above the gravel at the base of caves and bushes and secure it by using a decoration, by burying part of the tubing or by suction cupping the tubing to the glass.
5. Plug in and turn on the air pump motor to ensure it is working properly and the bubbles are flowing in the desired location(s) at the desired speed. -
Step 13
Wrap It Up
Time: 30 minutes
1. Condition 5 gallons of tap water. This is a two part process:
Part A: Temperature. Using a water hose or the bathtub, fill a 5-gallon bucket with slightly warm tap water. Using the extra LCD digital thermometer, ensure the water temperature is 76 degrees (same as the recommended tank temperature). If necessary, adjust the temperature of the bucket by replacing one gallon with warmer or cooler water.
Part B: Conditioner. Following the package instructions, add water conditioner with chlorine remover. It is typically 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water, or 1/2 teaspoon per 5-gallon bucket. This treatment takes effect within 10 seconds.
2. Pour 5 gallons of conditioned water into the tank.
3. Repeat two times, until you have filled the tank with almost 10 gallons of conditioned water, leaving the water level one inch below the top (usually to the bottom of the black rim).
Note: Never put unconditioned water into a tank with live fish since chlorine will kill them and more than 1 degree of sudden change in temperature will stress them.
4. Suction cup the LCD display of the primary digital thermometer to the outside of the tank in a visible location. Then, suction cup the underwater probe to the inside of the tank, about 5 inches below the top and on the opposite end away from the heater.
5. Using a hand saw, cut out some of the perforated squares on the tank hood to fit around the filter, heater cord, air tube and thermometer wire.
6. Place the hood on the tank, ensuring that it fits snuggly and doesn't pinch the cords or air tube.
7. Following the package instructions, plug in and turn on the water filter, water heater and hood light and ensure that all equipment is functioning properly.
8. Set the heater thermostat to the recommended 76 degrees, which is suitable for most fish tanks.
9. Clean up your mess of towels, buckets and trash. It would be wise to save the equipment instructions. -
Step 14
Whew, you're done! Well, that wasn't as scary as you expected was it? Now, that you've completed Part 1, go on to Part 2.
Part 1: Setup
Part 2: Learn
Part 3: Get Your Fish
Part 4: Care for Your Fish
Part 5: Maintenance
