How to Set Up a Fresh Water Fish Tank

You've purchased a tank with the intention of setting up a nice tropical atmosphere in your living room, or to add a little nature to your kitchen, but how do you set it up? It isn't difficult, but it will require a number of supplies and a bit of time to make it look just right.

Things You'll Need

• Aquarium and stand
• Water filter that is appropriate for tank
• Air pump that is large to enough to supply air to tank
• Air hose that fits your pump
• Air wand to sit on the bottom of aquarium, an air stone, or an ornamental that releases air from pump
• gravel or small rocks
• Silt to anchor down living plants (optional)
• New, short hose or large, clean containers to carry water
• Real or artificial fresh water plants
• Pieces of coral, rock, shells, or ornamental to decorate the inside of you aquarium
• Water conditioner
• Stress medicine for fish
• Water clarifier
• PH tester
• Aquarium fertilizer (if you are growing real plants)
• Aquarium salt

Instructions

1. Rinse out your aquarium before use. Set it up on the stand. Set up the filter according to the directions on the package. Filters are not all the same; some go underneath the gravel in the tank, others attach to the side, and some do both. Talk to a professional where you are going to purchase your fish to find out the right type for your aquarium.

2. Put approximately two to three inches of gravel on the bottom of your tank. If you intend to grow real plants, you can purchase a bag of anchoring silt and put it down before the gravel. It will help your real plants anchor to the bottom and not come up. Anchoring silt is nice but not necessary.

3. Rinse out your new hose, hook it up to the nearest water source, and fill your tank leaving about three inches for water displacement for other items you are going to add to the tank. If you prefer, depending on the size of your tank, you can fill it up using large, clean containers to carry water.

4. Get the filter working according to the directions on the filter. Also, plug in the air pump, hook up the air hose(s) to it and attach it to your air stones, air wand, or ornamental designed to release air and place it at the bottom of your tank in the place you want it to be. I prefer an air wand that is designed to sit on the bottom of the tank. You can place it and partially bury it in the gravel along the back of the tank. Air bubbles will come out of it all along the back of the tank.

5. Add the chemicals to the water according to the directions on the bottles and the size of your tank. Water conditioner is meant to take out the chemicals in tap water that can be harmful to fish. You can also purchase a water conditioner that helps to stabilize the pH level of the water. Next, add the stress medicine; it will help your fish adjust to the water by protecting their slime coating. Even though you have a fresh water tank, the fish need salt. Add aquarium salt according to the package. Finally, add water clarifier. It will clear up the water and make it pretty. Lastly, if you are placing live plants in your aquarium, add aquarium fertilizer. After you do all of this, check the pH level of the water. The pH level should be between 6.8 and 7.2. If the pH is not within acceptable limits, you may need to purchase additional chemicals to adjust it.

6. Rinse off artificial plants and ornamentals and add them to your tank. Fill up the tank the rest of the way if necessary. Your tank is now set up and only needs the fish for the final touch!

Tips & Warnings

• When you are putting water in the tank, the gravel will get shifted all around. Don't worry; it isn't hurting anything and will settle down as soon as you are done.

• Make sure you purchase an air pump that fits the size of your tank; you jeopardize your fish if you purchase one that is too small.

• Water clarifier will make your water cloudy at first. Be patient; it could take up to twelve hours for the water to get clear.

• Do not purchase fish to put in your tank the instant it is set up. Many fish are sensitive to new water and could die if placed in your tank too soon. Wait at least several days, preferably about a week before putting fish in the tank. Ask the person selling you the fish about fish that are sensitive to new water and do not purchase those fish until a later time. Neon fish are very sensitive to a new tank.

• Do not use a dirty hose to put water in the tank. You are putting in contaminated water and it is likely to kill your fish.