| When you have decided what type of fish and | | | | inserted prior to the gravel. It is popular among |
| plants you wish to keep, found a suitable tank and | | | | aquarists to add more gravel to the back of the |
| purchased all the necessary equipment, the next | | | | aquarium that to the front, in order to create a |
| step is to actually set up your aquarium. Many | | | | sloping bottom that gives you a better view of |
| people quite randomly add stuff to their aquarium | | | | the aquarium. Adding 1-3 inches of substrate is |
| without much consideration, which usually mean | | | | common, but some aquarists prefer a deep sand |
| that they will encounter a lot more problems that | | | | bed while others go for much less gravel. If you |
| the prepared aquarists. By sticking to a plan when | | | | are going to use under gravel filtration, you should |
| you arrange your first aquarium you can save | | | | follow the instructions for the filter system. |
| yourself a lot of time and trouble. | | | | The next step involves filling the aquarium half |
| The first thing you should do is to thoroughly | | | | way up with water. If you fill the aquarium all the |
| clean your tank. If you skip this stage simply | | | | way up, it will be more difficult to add equipment |
| because your new aquarium looks clean and shiny, | | | | and decorations. One of the most convenient |
| your fish might die due to left over contaminants | | | | ways of filling your aquarium with water is to |
| that become dissolved in the water. A previously | | | | place a place on top of the gravel and pour |
| used aquarium also needs a good scrub to | | | | dechlorinated water onto that plate. With this |
| remove unwanted parasites and diseases. Many | | | | method, you will disturb the gravel as little as |
| microorganisms are remarkably resilient and can | | | | possible. Try to direct the flow to the sides of the |
| stay dormant even in an empty aquarium. | | | | tank. By using a plate and adding water at a slow |
| Normally, it is unadvisable to use detergents when | | | | pace, you can have your water pretty clear from |
| cleaning aquarium equipment, but during this first | | | | the start. It is normal for the water to look a little |
| wash you can use a small amount of dish washing | | | | cloudy after being poured into the aquarium; it will |
| liquid in warm water. It is of imperative | | | | settle after a day or two. |
| importance that you rinse away all traces of | | | | Attach the equipment to their proper places in the |
| washing liquid as soon as possible. Use warm | | | | aquarium. For most beginner aquarists, this means |
| water to thoroughly rinse the aquarium several | | | | the heater, the thermometer and the filter. A |
| times. Fish can die from even tiny amounts of | | | | heater should be placed somewhere in the |
| dish washing liquid. | | | | aquarium where the circulation will be potent, since |
| When you have cleaned your tank, you should | | | | this will spread the heat evenly in the tank. The |
| clean all the items that will go into the aquarium, | | | | thermometer should be placed where it is easy to |
| such as equipment and aquarium décor. If | | | | read. Do not connect the equipment to the |
| you use a bucket when cleaning your equipment, | | | | electrical outlet yet. |
| you should use a bucket that has not previously | | | | Place aquarium decoration at their desired places. |
| been contaminated with any form of detergents. | | | | Try to create plenty of good hiding spots for |
| Gravel should be washed under warm running | | | | your fish, since this will make them feel more at |
| water while being stirred. Continue to stir until the | | | | home in the aquarium. A fish that is relaxed is less |
| water is clear. If you plan to include bogwood in | | | | prone to diseases. Aquarium decoration is also a |
| your set up, you might have to keep it in a | | | | good way of hiding ugly cable cords, tubes |
| bucket for a few weeks before you can place it | | | | etcetera. Make sure that the decorations are |
| in the aquarium. Bogwood can not sink until it has | | | | safely a secured. Caves should not be able to |
| been water drenched. If you are lucky, your | | | | collapse, stones should not topple, and artificial |
| bogwood has been properly drenched before | | | | plants should be anchored in the substrate or |
| entering the store shelves. | | | | attached to aquarium decoration. |
| You should be very careful with items from the | | | | Live plants are a nice addition to the aquarium and |
| wild, since they might affect the water chemistry | | | | sturdy plant species can be successfully kept |
| in the aquarium. If you still want to use aquarium | | | | even by beginner aquarists. If you want to keep |
| decoration from the wild, you must make sure | | | | live plants, you can add them now. If you are in |
| that the items free from undesired | | | | no hurry, you can instead wait a few days and |
| microorganisms. Place them in a bucket filled with | | | | allow the water to stabilize since this is more |
| water and chlorine bleach. All traces of chlorine | | | | beneficial for the plants. It is advisable to read |
| bleach must naturally be removed afterwards by | | | | more about aquatic plants before you choose |
| repeated rinsing and soaking in fresh water. | | | | plants. This way, you will find out which plants that |
| Before you begin to fill your aquarium with water | | | | are ideal for you and how to care for them. |
| you should check that the spot that you have | | | | Some plants should be planted in the substrate; |
| chosen is suitable. The floor must be flat and the | | | | others attached to aquarium decoration, and a |
| room should ideally not be subjected to shakings. | | | | third type is simply left floating at the surface. |
| A special type of aquarium matting can be used | | | | When you have gotten this far, you should turn |
| to decrease unevenness between the aquarium | | | | on the equipment and make sure that they work. |
| and the thing that is stands on top of. A special | | | | Always read the manuals that come with |
| aquarium stand is recommended, especially for | | | | aquarium equipment before you begin to use the |
| larger aquariums since they can become too | | | | items. Fill the aquarium full with dechlorinated |
| heavy for ordinary furniture. | | | | water and wait 30 minutes before you turn on |
| If your tap water contains chlorine, you need a | | | | the heater. Install the air supplying equipment, e.g. |
| purchase a water conditioner from the fish store | | | | air stones or the air pump. Also turn on the |
| to remove the chlorine. In many countries, | | | | mechanical filter, if you are using this type of |
| chlorine is added to the tap water to reduce the | | | | filtration. Always follow the manufacturers |
| growth or bacteria and other micro organisms. In | | | | instructions, since different equipment have |
| an aquarium, chlorine is naturally unwanted. | | | | different requirements. The temperature in the |
| Now it is time to test your aquarium for leaks. | | | | aquarium should be closely monitored for a day or |
| Mending leaks is much easier now, then when you | | | | two to make sure that everything works |
| have filled your aquarium with gravel, equipment, | | | | properly before you add any fish. The filter should |
| fish etcetera. Fill your aquarium with water and let | | | | run for at least one day. |
| it stay like that for at least half a day. If there | | | | Now you are ready to begin the so called 'cycling' |
| are no signs of leaks, you can remove the water | | | | of the aquarium. This is an important step that |
| and begin to decorate your aquarium. | | | | should never be skipped. I suggest that you read |
| The first thing that you should add to your | | | | about aquarium cycling before you add any fish, |
| aquarium is the gravel. If you want to use an | | | | since this can save you a lot of trouble and |
| under gravel filter, the necessary plates must be | | | | prevent fish death. |