How To Setup A Freshwater Tropical Fish Tank

Step 1 : realize the responsibility. Tropical fish a reservoir is just like having a dog or cat when it is the amount of effort on your part. In order to have a reservoir fish successful you will have to work. Once a week, or at most once every two weeks, you will need to make some type of maintenance on the shell. Most of the time, you will be making changes of water. You will also to feed your tropical fish at least once per day. If you are up to this challenge, please proceed!

Step 2 : decide the aquarium size. It s a good idea to have in mind this kind of tropical fish that you want to keep before buying a aquarium. Some tropical fish grow to one or two inches, while the other types of tropical fish can grow 12 or 13 inches in length! Knowing what kind of tropical fish that you want will help you decide the size of the tank that they will need. If this is your first time with an aquarium, I would recommend goes with a 10 or 20 gallons aquarium for the moment.

Step 3 : Decide on the aquarium location. Place your aquarium in an area where the light and the temperature of the tank has won t be affected by external sources such as windows and heating vents. You want to place your aquarium in a position which will be able to hold its total weight. A good rule of thumb to determine the total weight of a full aquarium is 10 pounds per gallon of water. For example, a 55 gallons tank weigh approximately 550 pounds when filled with water!

Step 4 : buy your aquarium and the equipment. It is now time to decide what type of filtration you want to use. You will also need to buy a heating apparatus capable of heating of the size of reservoir that you have. Buy the gravel, plants, a power blades and other decorations. A good rule of thumb for the amount of gravel that you will need is 1 to 1.5 books of gravel per gallon of water.

Step 5 : put in place your aquarium and eligibility. Rinse your tank with water only! Do not use the soap or detergent. Soap residues left will be harmful to your tropical fish. If you use a sub gravel filter (not recommended) today would be the time to put in place as well.

Step 6 : wash Gravel, plants and decorations. Be sure to wash the gravel carefully before add to your tank. An easy way to do is to put some of the rocks in a pulp strainer and wash them in your bathtub. Then Place the clean gravel in a clean place 5-gallon bucket of transport to the aquarium. After adding gravel you can place your plants and decorations.

Stap 7 : add water to the aquarium. In order to avoid your gravel and plants, you can place a plate or saucer in the middle of your aquarium and direct the water run on the plate. Use the ambient temperature water during filling. To delete the chlorine and chloramine, use something like Tetra AquaSafe for aquariums. Don t completely fill the aquarium up to what you are sure of the provision of your decorations. Otherwise, when you place your arm in to go stuff around water will spill. Doh!

Step 8: Put in place equipment. Install a heating apparatus but don t connect up to the thermostat in heating has adjusted to the temperature of water. It usually takes approximately 15 minutes. Connect your filter and any other equipment you have, then top off water at just under the cover lip. Place your hood and of the light on the aquarium and then to verify your power cords to be sure that they are free of water. I also recommend to use a drip loop on all power cords to be extra cautious. Connect all equipment on a barrette and then turn on the aquarium.

Step 9 : Wait, wait, wait and then wait a little more. I know, you want to add some tropical fish. But, in order to make this right you have to wait until your aquarium has travelled before adding any fish. There are ways to accelerate this process. Departure nitrogen cycle page to learn more. If you must use the fish cycle, try to get a bolder species such as the zebra danio or cherry barb.

Step : 10 Add the tropical fish. To add one or two fish at a time. Adding a couple tropical fish at a time gives your filtration system the necessary time to take to the increase biological burden that the new fish introduce. When you bring the fish home let the bag float in the reservoir of approximately 15 minutes in order that the fish can become acclimated to temperature and the pH of the water. After 5 minutes of floating the bag you should add some of the water to the pocket in order that fish can become acclimated to pH level in the aquarium. This will help to reduce the amount of stress imposed on tropical fish. Stressed tropical fish often leads to death of tropical fish! Don t feed your tropical fish on the first day. They probably not eat more food on the first day of any way. Let them to familiarize themselves with their new house.

Step 11 : Get ready for a regular maintenance. Be willing to spend a certain time once a week or two to clean your tank. Regular water changes will reduce the rate of nitrates and keep your tropical fish happy and healthy.

By: Michael Magnum