How to set up a fish tank for Community (Passive) fish

Community fish are by far some of the cheapest and easiest fish to keep. Fish in this category range from 1/2" to 5". With this article, you will be able to set-up a tank suitable for community fish and eventually get fish in the tank.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aquarium (preferably at least 10 Gallons)
• Gravel
• Plants (Artificial or Real)
• Decorations
• Heater (Suitable heater for Aquarium size)
• Filter (Suitable filter for Aquarium size)
• Quality fish flakes
• Fish Supplement food
• Light for Aquarium (Preferably a fluorescent light)

1. Your first step is to visit your local pet store. Whether it is an independently owned or corporate owned. Keep in mind however, that a corporately owned store is going to have basic supplies, an independent is more likely to have rarer items. It is a good idea to know what kind of space you have available or want to make available for a fish tank.

2. At the pet store, you must decide upon a tank size. Most would recommend at least a 10 Gallon Fish Tank. An important tip to remember is that in a Community Fish Tank, it is recommended to give 1" of fish per Gallon of water. That is recommended because it allows adequate space for your fish to swim, the filter to keep waste levels down and generally keeps the tank looking nice and not overcrowded.

3. After you have selected the Fish tank, then you must select the accessories to combine with the tank. Gravel (1-1 1/2 lb per gallon), Plants (artificial do not change color and can appear real, real plants consume waste and add oxygen to the water), decorations (there are many types of decorations but the key to remember is that the fish tank is for the fish, not the decor. A light is required, some tanks will come with them, and a fluorescent will really bring out the color in the fish. A filter is a definite must and getting a larger filter is not a bad idea (a 10 gallon tank with a 15-20 gallon filter will keep the tank much cleaner). A heater is also a good idea however not required during the spring and summer, but a necessity during the fall and winter. Finally you will need a water conditioner and a bacteria booster.

4. Now that you have the accessories, it does not hurt to look at fish. HOWEVER do not purchase any yet. Take all the items home and rinse everything. It is preferable to use conditioned water but not a necessity. However, it is a god idea to use warm water.

5. After everything is rinsed, add in your gravel, you usually want a 2"-4" gravel bed, which will allow you to bury your plants and allow the beneficial bacteria (Which breaks down fish waste) to grow.

6. After your gravel is in the tank, add in the plants and decorations. Keep in mind again that the tank is for the fish and not the decorations. Set things up where fish will be given hiding places and attempt to make it look somewhat like a river bed (Most freshwater fish habitats in nature are river beds).

7. Now it is time to add the water into your tank. Fill the tank leaving about 1" clearance between the lid and the water line so the filter can work properly and food can circulate.

8. After that, add the filter and heater. An external filter such as a power filter are recommended. If using a power filter or canister filter, it is necessary to fill the filter with water before plugging in or turning on the filter, internal filters will fill themselves.

9. Once you have everything running properly, it is now time to add the water conditioner and bacteria booster to the tank.

10. Turn on the light and congratulations, you have now set up a Community fish tank!

Tips & Warnings

• Let the water run with the filter for at least 24 hours, but preferably a few days before adding fish, which will ensure that any chemicals or impurities have been removed.
• When adding fish, it is recommended to add them in groups of 3, more could add too much waste for the bacteria to break down.
• Wait a few days to a week between adding fish so that the bacteria can populate enough to break down all waste.
• When adding live bearing fish (fish that give birth to live babies) it is a good idea to add them in groups of 3 (2 females and 1 male) and to have low to the gravel plants and caves for the babies to hide in. However there are breeder boxes you can use to isolate the pregnant female until she gives birth which after she is removed, will give the babies a safe place to grow.
• Catfish are your friend especially Cory catfish which are small, schooling catfish.
• Do not add too many fish at once or over-populate the tank, you do not want a waste buildup that will kill your fish
• Do not combine aggressive fish with your community fish
• Add less hardy fish (tetra) to the tank after it is established
• Always condition water before changing water.