How to Set Up a Tropical Aquarium

You will need:

• Aquarium
• Filter
• De-Chlorinator
• Gravel/Substrate
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Decorations
• Plants
• Filter Start Bacteria Solution

Step 1 – Choosing Your Tropical Aquarium

When considering an aquarium, it’s usually a good idea to get the biggest one you have space for and can afford. The bigger the tank, the more fish you can keep, the better the environment for the fish, and the happier and healthier they will be. Many aquariums are now sold as complete all-in-one packages to make the setup of your tank even easier. Be sure to look into which tank is most suitable depending on what kind and how many fish you want to keep in it. Preferably you want a tank with a cover and built-in lighting to save buying these separately.

Step 2 – Placement of the Tropical Aquarium

Consider where you’re going to place the tank in the room, will the surface be able to hold its weight? A lot of aquariums come with the option of having a specially built cabinet for that aquarium to hold it up.  Is the area too warm, cold, or in direct sunlight? Keep your tank away from sources of noise such as the television and radios as these will scare the fish. Make sure that the tank is also away from sources of heat, for example, radiators and fireplaces. Be sure about the placement of your tank, as once it’s been filled with water, it’ll be extremely difficult and hazardous to move it.

Step 3 – Cleaning your Tropical Aquarium

Begin first by cleaning the tank with warm water, don’t use a household cleaner as this can be harmful to the fish. This gets rid of any dust or debris that may have been picked up while the tank was in storage or during travel.

Step 4 – Adding the Gravel/Substrate

Always use gravel purchased from a reputable pet or aquatic shop as you can be sure it is safe for your fish. You will need around 250g of gravel/substrate per litre of the tank. Gravel/substrate is very important as a lot of good bacteria grow in and on it. You’ll need to rinse your gravel well before adding it to the tropical aquarium which will remove any dust or debris. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. When placing the gravel/substrate into the tank, have a gentle slope with the deepest gravel at the back and shallowest at the front.

Step 5 – Adding Decorations & Plants

Rinse the decorations for your tropical aquarium in tap water and then place them in your desired positions within the tank. You can also stick a printed backdrop sheet across the back of the tank. This helps the fish feel like they’re in a more natural environment and makes them feel safer. It also makes the tank appear like a denser, more complex habitat.

Step 6 – Add the Equipment

Fish produce a large amount of waste that needs to be filtered out otherwise it would become toxic to them. There are many types of filtration setups to choose from, but try and get a filter that agitates the top of the water. This is important because the water movement encourages oxygen to diffuse into the it. If your filter doesn’t do this, you may have to think about purchasing an air tube that will do so. Attach the filter to your aquarium, following the instructions that came with it. The only difference between a tropical and cold water aquarium is the heater. As a general rule you’ll need 1 watt of power per litre of water. Place your heater into the tank, also following the instructions carefully. Place the thermometer into the tank and check the temperature after a while, make sure it is the right temperature that you need depending on the kind of fish you are hoping to keep in there.

Step 7 – Add the Water

Now you’re ready to add the water. Put a small, clean dish or bowl on top of the gravel in the aquarium and then slowly pour the water onto it. This helps stop movement and displacement of the gravel that you’d have to re-arrange later. Add a good de-chlorinator, which is a special liquid that makes water from your taps safe for fish. Follow the instructions on the packaging to find out how much you should add depending on how much water you have in your aquarium.

Step 8 –  Test the Conditions

Switch on the filter and heater and they will begin to change the conditions of the tank so that they are suitable for the fish. Add some filter start solution which will help kick start the biological filtration of the tank. You’ll need to wait around 2 days before adding any fish for the tanks conditions to become suitable. You should also have its pH tested, which can be done with a pH tester kit. Make sure that the pH matches the kind of fish you are looking to keep in the aquarium before adding them.

Step 9 –  Add the Fish

Once the tank has been set up and the equipment has been running for a couple of days, you can start adding fish. Only add a few fish at a time, as this process is not only stressful to them. But also affects the important ecosystem of the tank, which needs to rebalance itself and adapt before adding more fish. Too many fish at once will shock this delicate ecosystem and could cause problems. Adding around 1-3 fish a week is a good general rule. When adding your fish to the tank, switch the light off the tank and float the bag in the tank water for around 15 minutes. This helps the fish adjust to the new temperature in the tank. Once done, add some of the tank water to the bag to further accustomed the fish to the new conditions. Allow another 15 minutes for them to adjust. Once this time has passed you are now free to let your fish loose in their new habitat!