Setting up your new aquarium
How do I properly set up my new aquarium?
So you have all the gear but no idea?. Before you start anything It is important that you carefully choose where you want to place the tank, make sure it is even ground and will support the tank's weight (you may have purchased a cabinet). Also make sure you can support the electrical requirement (light, filter, and heater) is there a PowerPoint nearby?
Equipment Check List:
- Aquarium
- Aquarium gravel
- Aquarium filter
- Replacement filter media
- Heater
- Other decorations (such as fake or real plants)
- Aquarium test kits to test water parameters and monitor the infamous aquarium nitrogen cycle
- Fish food
- Aquarium vacuum
- Fish net
- Aquarium Glass Scrubber
- 5-gallon bucket
Steps:
- Once you have chosen the tank’s placement it is time to start it up. Take your purchased gravel and pour it into a bucket, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU WASH THE GRAVEL too many people foget to do this and it will make your tank filthy for months. Take a hose and wash it around then tip out the dirty water 4,5...10 times until it is absolutely clear, if it’s still dirty that’s what your tank will resemble.
Want the tips and secrets of keeping aquarium? buy an aquarium book - Place the cleaned gravel into the bottom of the aquarium GENTLY then move it around to create an even base, if you make a slight slant from the back coming down toward the front, it gives the tank a nice perspective and we perceive it to be deeper.
- Fill up the tank with a hose pipe, (note* if it is a small tank or you do not have a tap nearby you will have to use buckets).
- Use a water de-chlorinator, although there are no fish, chlorine and chloramines can build up over time. If you do not have one BUY ONE, you will not only use it now but every time you do a water change.
- Clean out the filter material, these always contain heaps of nasties and debris you don’t want in your tank. If your filter contains a carbon packet in wool, be careful not to rip this open.
- Place the filter material in the filter and the filter into the aquarium. If it is a hang-on filter you will need to fill it up with a cup to start it working, the tap on top of it allows you to change its flow rate, for cycling put it at the maximum.
- WASH AND CLEAN any rocks and ornaments you will be putting into the tank, you will be surprised how much dust and dirt comes off, you don’t want that in your tank!
- Put the heater in your aquarium, this will help with the cycling process.
- Place the light on the tank and enjoy your tank as it begins the process of building bacteria to support your eco-community!
- But wait! You are not done yet! READ BELOW TO CONTINUE
At this point you will have to “CYCLE” the tank, which will promote the build up of de-nitrifying bacteria. This process is essential to the aquarium and to prevent loss and death please follow the next part of the guide below.
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