| Stocking your freshwater tropical fish aquarium | | | | visualizing where you will want your plants to be. |
| with live plants is a very good idea. This will give | | | | Place a saucer or plate on the gravel bed and |
| your tank a more natural look and an ever | | | | begin filling the tank by pouring the water onto |
| changing landscape as they grow. Live plants use | | | | the plate. This will keep the stream of water |
| the nitrates produced from left-over food, fish | | | | from disturbing the gravel and stirring up the |
| excrement, along with decaying plants and fish | | | | gravel. You will want to fill about a third of your |
| that have died and were not removed from the | | | | tank and then add your plants. When planting a |
| tank. | | | | stem plant, first cut an angled cut just above one |
| Deciding if you will be using real plants should be | | | | of the healthy green nodes leaving as much of |
| done before you lay down your gravel bed. The | | | | the plant as possible. Now gently push the plant |
| reason for this is you will be placing a layer of clay | | | | about half depth of the gravel. Remember to |
| substrate material in your tank. Substrate is the | | | | space them out as overcrowding them will inhibit |
| area that the plants will acquire their nutrients | | | | the lower leaves from getting enough light. |
| from, just like regular plants get their nutrients | | | | Continue filling the tank and then remove the |
| from the soil. Before adding the gravel or | | | | plate. Now that your tank is full, the next step is |
| accessories to the tank they need to be rinsed | | | | to get the water circulating and warmed up, and |
| off. I usually rinse everything under the tap with | | | | begin cycling your freshwater tropical fish |
| cool or warm water. Soap or other cleaning | | | | aquarium. Replace the cover and light, than check |
| agents are not needed and can add toxins to | | | | to be sure that the heater and filter are plugged |
| your tank if not totally removed. There are | | | | into the non-timed side of the power bar and the |
| several choices for the substrate but one of the | | | | light on the timer side. Plug the power bar into a |
| easiest is Flourite. Start by placing about 1/2" of | | | | wall outlet and then set the timer for twelve to |
| gravel on the bottom of the tank and then add | | | | fourteen hours. This is the optimal time that a |
| approximately 1" of Flourite, and then another 1 | | | | freshwater tropical fish aquarium should get light. |
| 2" of gravel. A product like Flourite is a porous | | | | Light is not a factor for the fish but it plays a big |
| clay material that enhances the plants ability to | | | | part in plant growth and the control of algae. Too |
| use the nitrates in your freshwater tropical fish | | | | little light and the plants will not grow or even die, |
| aquarium. | | | | but with too much light algae will grow out of |
| OK, now we can start adding any decorations | | | | control. |
| you may want to use. Place them in the tank, | | | | |