You, first, want to wash the gravel thoroughly. Place it under running water and keep stirring the gravel until the water is clean after it flows through the gravel. Also wash any decorations that will be going in the tank. Next, clean the tank and check for leaks. Always empty after the cleaning before refilling. Before you fill the tank check to see that everything is right such as the light, heater, filter and thermostat. Information is also essential before getting started. I recommend looking around and perhaps studying some material that discusses the care of tropical fish before getting started.
After you are ready to start, gravel obviously will be the first to be added to the tank. If you use an underground filter, be sure to place it far enough under the gravel - about one and one half to two inched in front and three to four inched in the back.
When adding the water, you only want to fill the tank half way to begin as this will allow you to finish adding the plants and decorations that you desire to please your pet fish. Make sure that the plants have enough gravel for the roots. When you are installing the filter, attach it so no plants or rocks are in the way. Attach heater and thermostat firmly also. If you use large rocks, make sure that they are firmly bedded in and can never topple other. This is very important.
Next, condition the water. This needs to be done before adding the fish. Get rid of all of the chlorine in the water. That can harm the fish. There are lot of water conditioners on the market and they must be used. Before adding any fish, let the filter run for 5-7 days, so any last chlorine will be able to escape. Its not a bad idea to add a couple of flakes of food without the fish to start off the nitrogen cycle before your fish arrive. You can also take some water from an aquarium that is already in use and pour it in. Make sure that the temperature is correct, at about 24 degrees Celsius.
Add only a couple of fish to start off with. You will need to "equalize" the waters by floating the fish using their bag. Leave them there for 15 - 20 minutes. Then release them.
The absolute balance of an aquarium world is not usually possible to start with. Usually the fish give off more waste matter than the plants will absorb. And plants almost never provide sufficient food for fish life in an aquarium tank. You will need to work to start the "ecobalance" in the tank and then maintain the environment afterward.
Whenever you start a new hobby it is very tempting to try to get everything at once. It can be also be easy to buy whatever the store clerk tells you is the right thing, especially as you are probably keen to get started. But if you are setting up your first fish tank and buying your first fish, then it is a good idea to think what you really want and what may be suitable for you before you buy.
If you are not familiar with tropical fish, then the best thing you can do is to find someone who is. If you have a friend who knows about tropical fish then take them to the store with you. But if you don't, make sure that you do your research first. It might be tempting to go to the store and buy the fish that look best, but if you have no idea whether or how you can look after them, then it is not a very good idea.
There are some wonderful beginners books on how to keep tropical fish that will tell you exactly what the requirements of each fish are and how well they get on with other fish. If you do this research then you will be in a much better position to choose the right fish that you can look after well and your new hobby is much more likely to be successful.
One mistake that many people make is that they buy everything at once. There is no point in buying the tank and all of the accessories at the same time as you buy the fish. To set up the fish tank properly without using chemicals to clear the water, you need at least 24 hours to let the water and gravel settle and clear. You also need to make sure that your filter, aerator and heater are working properly and that your tank is set up properly and that everything works well. There is no reason, even if you did not have to let the water clear, to leave your new fish in a bag while you do all of this.
It is much better to wait until everything is set up and working well so that when you get your fish then you know that they will be ok. Tropical fish are a great hobby and choosing carefully and taking the time to set everything up well can make all the difference.
Both Mike Dodd & Johnny Blade are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mike Dodd has sinced written about articles on various topics from Low Carb Diet, Jewelry and Cooking Tips. The aurthor, Mike Dodd, has kept a variety of tropical fish as and has years of experience in the upkeep and maintenance of. Mike Dodd's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Johnny Blade has sinced written about articles on various topics from Aquarium Fish, Tropical Fish and Fish Goldfish. Johnny Blade, a former private investigator and award winning author who writes on a variety of subjects, is an online marketer for many sites such as Aquarium Fish Resource at. Johnny Blade's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.