Aquarium Setup 101: How to Setup a Fish Tank
While there are many different benefits that are related to keeping a fish tank, the mains ones are that you will help to reduce your stress levels, as well as improve your overall mental health. With that being said, it is no big mystery why more and more people are starting to add a fish tank into heir home.
However, with all of the different sized aquariums that you have to choose from, as well as the hundreds of different fish that come in all types of different colors and shapes, it can become overwhelming, and fast. But rest assured that there is something that will satisfy all of your wants when you start your venture into the wonderful world of aquariums.
This article is going to give you the step by step directions for setting up your perfect fish tank, including: preparing your new aquarium, installing all of the equipment that you will need, preparing the water for your fish, and acclimating the fish to their new forever home.
If you were to go into a pet store, you will find that they are more than willing to sell you any fish you want, even if you have only had your tank setup for a matter days. In this article you will learn the best way to set your tank up before you start adding fish, which will help keep them healthy and happy during the entire process of adding them to your tank.
When it does come to setting up your fish tank, there are going to be several different steps that you will need to take. They include:
- Planning your tank
- Preparing your tank
- Adding water and substrate
- Installing any equipment
- Adding plants and other decorations
- Cycling your tank
- Adding the fish
Here is how you are going to want to do each one of the steps mentioned above.
Step #1: Plan Out Your Tank
This is one of the most crucial steps when it comes to setting up your fish tank that is usually not given any attention. If you are planning on having a successful aquarium, you are not going to want to skip this step.
Prior to going out and purchasing an aquarium or any fish, you are first going to want to take a second and figure out exactly what kind of fish you are going to be keeping in it. While it may not sound like that big a deal, deciding on the breed of fish you are going to keep in your aquarium will affect how you prepare and setup the actual aquarium.
For example, are you going to be keeping a tank of different community fish, a tank that is better suited for a smaller species, or even a breeding tank? These are all things that you are going to need to figure out before you even start looking at fish tanks to purchase.
This is due in part to the fact that they breed of fish and other invertebrates that you are planning on getting are going to determine the water conditions that you will need to maintain, the actual size of the tank you decide to get, the different types of equipment that are going to be required to maintain the water in the tank, and even the types of plants that will be required for your tank. So take a few minutes to sit down and plan out exactly what you are wanting when it comes to your fish tank. After you have figured out what species of fish you are going to be getting, you can then move on to the next step, which is to buy your fish tank and all of the necessary equipment.
Step #2: Prepare Your Tank
Once you have purchased the fish tank that you are going to be using and any necessary equipment, you are now ready to start setting up your tank.
While you may be thinking that all you really need to do is to add water to your tank and you’ll be good to go, that is not correct. Before you add any water to your tank, you are going to want to make sure that the tank is nice and clean. If you have bought your tank brand new, all you need to do is simply wipe it down with a damp cloth. This will remove any dust or dirt that has collected in the tank.
You never want to use any type of detergents or soap when you are cleaning your tank. If you do, the residue can potentially contaminate the water in the tank after you fill it.
It is also very important that you that any type of equipment that you do use on your tank (such as buckets and cloths), is brand new and has only ever been used on your tank. This will help prevent any household products or chemicals from contaminating the water in your tank.
If you decided to buy your tank used, it will require a little bit more attention than if you purchased the tank brand new. To get started, you are going to want to first remove any type of debris that may be in the tank, and then use some kitchen roll and vinegar to decontaminate the tank. You are going to want to make sure and clean both the inside and the outside of the tank.
If the used tank that you bought is made out of acrylic, you are going to want to be extra careful during this process. This is because acrylic is extremely easy to scratch, so be sure to take extra precaution and use a special cloth that is designed specifically for cleaning acrylic tanks.
Now that your tank is nice and clean, you are going to need to take a second and check it for any kind of leaks. For this, all you are going to do is fill up your tank to about 3” deep. Once there is about 3” of water in it, you then just let it sit there for about an hour. After an hour has gone by, take your fingers and run them over the bottom edge of the tank to see if there are any leaks. If you do find that there are some leaks in your tank, all you need to do is use an aquarium sealant to fix and reseal the tank.
Once your tank is clean and leak free, it is now time for you to put the tank into the perfect position. Be sure that you position it someplace that is not in the direct sunlight or near any type of power supply.
If you are planning on putting your tank onto a stand, you will need to double check to make sure that the stand is able to support the weight of the tank after it is all setup. This is important as a completely full fish tank can weigh a lot.
For example, while a 50 gallon tank may weight around about 100 pounds or so when it is empty, it can easily top the 600 pounds mark when it is full of water.
With that being said, this is another reason why you should have your tank in the position that you want it in before you start to fill it up with water. Once it is full, it will be much more difficult to move and position.
After you have found the perfect position for your tank, you will then need to make sure that it is on a level surface. There are two ways that you can go about doing this. One is to simply us e a spirit level, the other is to fill it with about an inch or two with water and then just eyeball it.
Step #3: Adding Water and Substrate to Your Aquarium
Now that your tank is clean and positioned where you want it to be in your home, on a level surface, it is now time to add any substrate you like as well as add the water.
While the types of substrate that you decide to use in your tank is going to be decided by your own personal preference, it will often times be determined by what type of plants and fish you are going to have. For example, if you are going to get catfish for your tank, you will need some type of sandy substrate.
As for how much of the substrate you should use, that all depends upon the level of thickness that you would like in your tank. However, a good rule to follow is about 1 pound of substrate should be used for each gallon of water that is in the tank. If you follow this rule, you will have enough substrate to make about a 1” thickness on the bottom of your tank. If you would like it to be even thicker, 2 pounds of substrate per gallon of water will give you a 2” thickness of substrate.
Just keep in mind that different types of substrate are going to have different weights. This means that the weight of substrate that you require is going to vary from substrate to substrate.
- Washing Your Substrate
Even though most substrate will come prewashed, there is a very good chance that it will be dusty and require a cleaning rinse to help prevent it from causing your tank to become cloudy.
So you will need to rinse off the substrate prior to adding it to your fish tank. This can be done by putting smaller amounts of it into a bucket and filling the bucket up with water. Next, put your hand in the bucket and start swirling the substrate, causing all of the substrate to be cleaned. You are going to want to repeat this process until the water becomes as clear as possible.
For larger amounts of substrate, you may want to think about doing this task outside using a high-pressure hose. Simply pour the water out from inside the bucket and spray it again and again until you see that the water is starting to clear up. However, not all substrates are going to do well if you try to wash them this way and may cause the water to become cloudier and cloudier. If this is the case, simply try to remove as much of the dust as you can and slow down your hand movements.
Once your all of your substrate is clean, you can now put it into your tank.
You are going to want to start by adding a thin layer to the bottom of your tank in order to avoid scratching the bottom of the aquarium. Once you have a base layer on the bottom of your aquarium, you can now pour in the rest of the substrate.
When you are pouring in the rest of the substrate, you are going to want to decide whether or not you are going to have any areas that are raised a little higher, perhaps as a way to help bury any roots from the plants you are going to be adding. It is actually common practice to have the substrate done in a slope with the highest point being at the back of the tank, while the lowest part in in the front.
Once you have all of your substrate in your tank and setup how you would like it, you are now ready to start adding the water.
- Adding Water into Your Tank
If your tank is on the smaller size and less than 20 gallons, you are going to want to ad any aquarium equipment, as well as decorations and plants before you add any water.
Depending upon whether you are adding saltwater or freshwater will vary how it is that you add the water to the tank.
- Freshwater
To help prevent any of your substrate from getting moved around while you are adding the water to your tank, you can place a bowl or saucer on top of the substrate. You will then want to start slowly pouring the water in.
Once your tank is full, you are going to need to use a de-chlorinator on the water to make it suitable for your fish. Simply follow the directions that will be on the bottle and you should be able to figure it out. Just remember that it will more than likely give you the ratio of how much to use as ml’s per gallon. For example, , for each 1 ml of de-chlorinator, it may treat up to 20 gallons.
- Saltwater
When it comes to saltwater, before you think about adding any water to your tank, you must first prepare it. For saltwater tanks, you are going to need water that has gone through the process of reverse osmosis. This means that you are going to have to either but reverse osmosis water or use one of the many treatments that are available. No matter which option you decide to do, be sure that you don’t forget to use de-chlorinator as well.
To get your saltwater prepared, you are going to want to use a salt water mix and then follow all the instructions that come on the packet to make sure that you add the right amount of mix.
Once your saltwater has been prepared, you can then use the same method as adding freshwater to make sure that you don’t disrupt your substrate.
Step #4: Installing Your Equipment
Now you have a tank that is full of substrate and water, so it must be time to add the fish. Not quite. First you are going to have to install any equipment that is required for your tank. At the absolute minimum you are going to want to install some type of filter.
While filter installations are going to vary from brand to brand, your filter is either going to be an external one or an internal one. If your filter is internal, it will be relatively easy to get installed. You are going to want to start by assembling all of the parts, and then place the filter onto the back wall of the aquarium. Be sure that when you are installing the filter that you put it where it will be able to reach power, as it will need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet.
Before you turn your filter on for the first time, always be sure to double check that your filter has been properly installed.
If you have decided to use an external filter, there is a good chance that it is going to be hidden below the tank in the aquarium stand. The external filter is going to carry water away from the tank, moving into the filter so that it can be cleaned, and will then send the clean water back into the tank. When you are installing your external filter, you are going to want to make sure that both the inlet and outlet tubes do not have any kinds of kinks or bends, which can restrict the amount of water that is flowing through them.
Deepening upon the type of external filter you are using, there is a good chance that it will need to be filled with water prior to being powered on. This is what’s known as priming the system, which is essentially done to help get water flowing through the filter.
Once you have your filter in place, the next thing you are going to want to install is a water heater. (if you are going with tropical fish or with a saltwater tank). Most of the heaters available are simple to use and have a dial for adjusting their temperature. They usually include markings showing you how much it should be submerged into the water.
Always be sure that you place your tank heater onto the side of your fish tank, and the thermometer on the far wall of the tank. This will help you make sure that the water is heated through on a consistent basis.
If you have any other equipment that needs to be installed, now is the perfect time to do so.
Step #5: Adding Plants and Decorations
Now that your tank’s equipment is setup and you have the water added, you can start adding plants and other decorations. Just be sure that you rinse off each item prior to adding it to the tank. If you are adding real plants, be sure that you do your research before adding them. This way you will be able to make sure that they are healthy and placed correctly.
Step #6: Cycling the Tank
Your tank is now finished being setup. However, before you add any fish, you are going to want to cycle your tank first. This is what’s called the Nitrogen Cycle. This is done to help encourage your tank’s filter to build up a bacteria ‘bed’, which will become essential for your fish if you want them to remain healthy.
So how long should this process last? That all depends upon the size of your tank. Just be sure that you check the levels of both nitrate and ammonia, and that they are both at 0ppm before you add any fish. This process can take a little longer than what is ideal, but will ensure that your fish remain healthy after they are added.
Step #7: Add the Fish
Once you have chosen the fish that you are going to be adding, you must first acclimatize them to the tank. This is to help make the transition to their new home as smooth and stress free as possible.
To do this, allow the bag that the fish came in to float in the tank for about 15 minutes. After this, cut the top of the bag open and add about ½ cup of your aquarium’s water into the fish bag. After about 5 more minutes, use a fishnet to transfer the fish from the bag that it came in to the tank.
Repeat this process with all of the fish you plan on adding!
