Setting up your first tropical fish tank

When you have decided what type of fish and plants you wish to
keep, found a suitable tank and purchased all the necessary
equipment, the next step is to actually set up your aquarium.
Many people quite randomly add stuff to their aquarium without
much consideration, which usually mean that they will encounter
a lot more problems that the prepared aquarists. By sticking to
a plan when you arrange your first aquarium you can save
yourself a lot of time and trouble.

The first thing you should do is to thoroughly clean your tank.
If you skip this stage simply because your new aquarium looks
clean and shiny, your fish might die due to left over
contaminants that become dissolved in the water. A previously
used aquarium also needs a good scrub to remove unwanted
parasites and diseases. Many microorganisms are remarkably
resilient and can stay dormant even in an empty aquarium.
Normally, it is unadvisable to use detergents when cleaning
aquarium equipment, but during this first wash you can use a
small amount of dish washing liquid in warm water. It is of
imperative importance that you rinse away all traces of washing
liquid as soon as possible. Use warm water to thoroughly rinse
the aquarium several times. Fish can die from even tiny amounts
of dish washing liquid.

When you have cleaned your tank, you should clean all the items
that will go into the aquarium, such as equipment and aquarium
décor. If you use a bucket when cleaning your equipment, you
should use a bucket that has not previously been contaminated
with any form of detergents. Gravel should be washed under warm
running water while being stirred. Continue to stir until the
water is clear. If you plan to include bogwood in your set up,
you might have to keep it in a bucket for a few weeks before you
can place it in the aquarium. Bogwood can not sink until it has
been water drenched. If you are lucky, your bogwood has been
properly drenched before entering the store shelves.

You should be very careful with items from the wild, since they
might affect the water chemistry in the aquarium. If you still
want to use aquarium decoration from the wild, you must make
sure that the items free from undesired microorganisms. Place
them in a bucket filled with water and chlorine bleach. All
traces of chlorine bleach must naturally be removed afterwards
by repeated rinsing and soaking in fresh water.

Before you begin to fill your aquarium with water you should
check that the spot that you have chosen is suitable. The floor
must be flat and the room should ideally not be subjected to
shakings. A special type of aquarium matting can be used to
decrease unevenness between the aquarium and the thing that is
stands on top of. A special aquarium stand is recommended,
especially for larger aquariums since they can become too heavy
for ordinary furniture.

If your tap water contains chlorine, you need a purchase a water
conditioner from the fish store to remove the chlorine. In many
countries, chlorine is added to the tap water to reduce the
growth or bacteria and other micro organisms. In an aquarium,
chlorine is naturally unwanted.

Now it is time to test your aquarium for leaks. Mending leaks is
much easier now, then when you have filled your aquarium with
gravel, equipment, fish etcetera. Fill your aquarium with water
and let it stay like that for at least half a day. If there are
no signs of leaks, you can remove the water and begin to
decorate your aquarium. The first thing that you should add to
your aquarium is the gravel. If you want to use an under gravel
filter, the necessary plates must be inserted prior to the
gravel. It is popular among aquarists to add more gravel to the
back of the aquarium that to the front, in order to create a
sloping bottom that gives you a better view of the aquarium.
Adding 1-3 inches of substrate is common, but some aquarists
prefer a deep sand bed while others go for much less gravel. If
you are going to use under gravel filtration, you should follow
the instructions for the filter system.

The next step involves filling the aquarium half way up with
water. If you fill the aquarium all the way up, it will be more
difficult to add equipment and decorations. One of the most
convenient ways of filling your aquarium with water is to place
a place on top of the gravel and pour dechlorinated water onto
that plate. With this method, you will disturb the gravel as
little as possible. Try to direct the flow to the sides of the
tank. By using a plate and adding water at a slow pace, you can
have your water pretty clear from the start. It is normal for
the water to look a little cloudy after being poured into the
aquarium; it will settle after a day or two.

Attach the equipment to their proper places in the aquarium. For
most beginner aquarists, this means the heater, the thermometer
and the filter. A heater should be placed somewhere in the
aquarium where the circulation will be potent, since this will
spread the heat evenly in the tank. The thermometer should be
placed where it is easy to read. Do not connect the equipment to
the electrical outlet yet.

Place aquarium decoration at their desired places. Try to create
plenty of good hiding spots for your fish, since this will make
them feel more at home in the aquarium. A fish that is relaxed
is less prone to diseases. Aquarium decoration is also a good
way of hiding ugly cable cords, tubes etcetera. Make sure that
the decorations are safely a secured. Caves should not be able
to collapse, stones should not topple, and artificial plants
should be anchored in the substrate or attached to aquarium
decoration.

Live plants are a nice addition to the aquarium and sturdy plant
species can be successfully kept even by beginner aquarists. If
you want to keep live plants, you can add them now. If you are
in no hurry, you can instead wait a few days and allow the water
to stabilize since this is more beneficial for the plants. It is
advisable to read more about aquatic plants before you choose
plants. This way, you will find out which plants that are ideal
for you and how to care for them. Some plants should be planted
in the substrate; others attached to aquarium decoration, and a
third type is simply left floating at the surface.

When you have gotten this far, you should turn on the equipment
and make sure that they work. Always read the manuals that come
with aquarium equipment before you begin to use the items. Fill
the aquarium full with dechlorinated water and wait 30 minutes
before you turn on the heater. Install the air supplying
equipment, e.g. air stones or the air pump. Also turn on the
mechanical filter, if you are using this type of filtration.
Always follow the manufacturers instructions, since different
equipment have different requirements. The temperature in the
aquarium should be closely monitored for a day or two to make
sure that everything works properly before you add any fish. The
filter should run for at least one day.

Now you are ready to begin the so called ‘cycling’ of the
aquarium. This is an important step that should never be
skipped. I suggest that you read about aquarium cycling before
you add any fish, since this can save you a lot of trouble and
prevent fish death.