| While visiting your friend you could not avoid | | | | times, For example 100 gallon tank will weight |
| noticing a beautiful fish tank standing in the living | | | | 1000 pounds (including water), and 20 gallons tank |
| room. You want to have one too? In this | | | | will weight approximately 200 pounds. Wash out |
| freshwater setup article I would like to help you | | | | your tank with water only, using chemicals or |
| to setup your own freshwater tank, starting with | | | | soap can poison your tank, same thing with your |
| the necessary fish supplies. | | | | gravel. Be sure to wash it with water only in |
| Equipment list: | | | | order to remove dirt, do the same with other |
| 1- Aquarium- bigger tanks will be easier to | | | | decoration such as rocks and fake plants. Now it |
| maintain then smaller tanks. In small tanks any | | | | is time to place your gravel in the tank, after |
| water parameters change or drop in temperature | | | | everything stands where it's suppose to stand it |
| will lead to disaster while large tank is more | | | | is the right time to fill your tank with water. Place |
| tolerating. | | | | a plate on the gravel while adding water in order |
| 2- Aquarium gravel. | | | | to avoid messing the gravel, direct the water flow |
| 3- filter- internal, hang-on or external filter it all | | | | onto the plate carefully. While adding water add |
| depends on your fish stock, fish type and tank | | | | your water conditioner, after the tank gets near |
| size. | | | | to the top water level you can place your plants |
| 4- Filter media. | | | | and other decorations. Now it is time to hook up |
| 5- Fish net. | | | | your filter and other equipment, check your tank |
| 6- Fish food. | | | | lights and install your heater without plugging it in |
| 7- Heater. | | | | till the thermostat has adjusted to the water |
| 8- Other decorations such as rocks, fake plants, | | | | temperature, this process takes approximately 20 |
| woods etc.... | | | | minutes and then you can plug it in. |
| 9- Aquarium test kits- ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, | | | | The last step before adding fish is maybe the |
| phosphate.... | | | | most frustrating step-waiting till the water is |
| 10- Aquarium vacuum- very important stage while | | | | "ready", in order to success and to setup the |
| changing water. | | | | tank as it suppose to be you must wait until your |
| 11- 4-5 gallon bucket- use to change water. | | | | tank has cycled before adding any fish, check |
| 12- Water conditioner to remove chlorine and | | | | your tank water with test kits in order to know |
| chloramine. | | | | when the process is done. The big moment has |
| First thing before entering the hobby is the need | | | | arrived, the smart move is to add fish slowly in |
| to understand that fish are animals just like a cat | | | | order to let filtration system to built up, only add |
| or a dog and responsibility comes along, | | | | one or two strong fish from your fish list, Then |
| responsibility expressed by the need to perform | | | | wait a week and add 2 more fish, Do the same |
| water changes once a week, feeding the fish on | | | | process all the time to avoid filtration crush. When |
| daily basis and spending money on them (food, | | | | you bring the fish home let the bag float in the |
| media, and medicine). Before you purchase an | | | | tank for 15- 20 minutes so that the fish can |
| aquarium you should do your homework and | | | | become acclimated to the temperature of the |
| make your self a list of fish that you desire; if | | | | aquarium water. After 15 minutes you should add |
| you will know what kind of fish you want it will be | | | | some of your aquarium water to the bag to |
| easy to match a tank. Some fish (small ones) | | | | acclimate them to your PH and temperature |
| need tiny tank while others can grow to 10-12 | | | | water, you can use a cup to do so. Repeat this |
| inches or even more and will need big tank. | | | | process after 5 minutes, now it is time to take |
| After deciding what size tank you will need it is | | | | the fish out from the Bag with your fish net do it |
| time to think where to place it, you should place it | | | | carefully to avoid any stress to the fish, |
| away from windows because you don't want | | | | sometimes stress can lead to disease, there is no |
| temperatures and light affect your tank. Sunlight | | | | need to feed them on their first day in the tank. |
| that enters the room can cause to algae | | | | Now it is time to lay down and enjoy your fish |
| problems and affect the temperatures it will be | | | | tank, but never forget, if you want your tank to |
| smart to avoid it. It is also recommended to place | | | | look good as it looks right now you need to |
| your tank on a massive stand that will be able to | | | | perform water change at least once a week, |
| hold the tank weight, to know your total tank | | | | Along with that you also need to test your water |
| weight you just need to multiply gallon tank 10 | | | | once a week. |