Setting Up a Tropical Fish Tank

I'm not trying to write a detailed instruction on				else.
setting up a tropical fish tank. There is a huge				First off the size of the tank. If you are starting
amount to find out about fish and plants which I				out and this is your first aquarium then I would
haven't covered here, but this article does give				resist the temptation to go for anything too big
the basic information on how to go about setting				or too fancy. Large tanks and tanks that are an
up a tropical fish tank.				unusual shape have their own set of rules. You're
The first thing to consider is the size of the tank.				far better off getting to grips with the basics in a
If this is your first aquarium then I would resist				medium sized standard tank and then moving on
the temptation to go for anything too big or too				to something more involved when you are ready.
fancy. Large tanks and any tank that has an				So choose a tank somewhere between ten and
unusual shape are difficult to look after and have				thirty gallons to start. Get a tank that is longer
their own set of rules to think about. The small				than it is tall as tall tanks present problems of
micro tanks are equally difficult as the small				their own when it comes to lighting. Get enough
amount of water in them means that any water				good, new fluorescent lighting to be able to
quality issues are exaggerated and cause				provide at least two watts per gallon. Most tanks
problems for the fish				can be well lit with two strip lights that run the
So when you're looking for your first tank stick				length of the tank but it is a simple calculation to
to something between twenty and thirty gallons,				check.
stick to the standard shape tank and avoid				Always remember with all calculations that involve
something too tall as this causes potential				water that the tank when filled with substrate
problems with lighting. If you are planning on a				plants, decorations and fish will not hold as much
planted aquarium you need to be looking to				water as it says on the label.
provide around three watts per gallon in lighting. If				For any stand I would always recommend getting
you buy a standard off the shelf aquarium, you				a purpose built stand. Water weighs ten pounds a
will be looking at upgrading the lights as they are				gallon and once you start getting to twenty and
usually set up for unplanted tanks.				thirty gallon tanks that is a lot of weight.
Always remember with all calculations that involve				You will need a heater of between 150w and
water that the tank when filled with substrate				200w depending on your tank size. I would say
plants, decorations and fish will not hold as much				that with this one area of setting up it is
water as it says on the label.				important to spend as much as you can
As far as the stand is concerned, stick to the				comfortably afford and get the best heater that
purpose built ones. They tend to look better than				you can. Imagine going away for a weekend only
anything that you can improvise and are designed				to find that the thermostat has broken and all
to take the weight of a full aquarium. If you think				your fish are floating when you get home. It is
that forty gallons of water weighs in at 400				definitely a false economy to skimp on the
pounds plus the weight of the aquarium, you are				heater. To go with the heater you need a
asking a lot of any piece of furniture that you				thermometer, which gives you the chance to
use.				spot temperature problems while there is time to
With heaters, get two of between 50w and				do something about it.
200w depending on your tank size. The idea of				When it comes to the filter make sure that you
getting two is that if one fails and stops working,				get an internal or external power filter otherwise
the second can take the load and keep your tank				you are likely to cause problems with your
up to temperature. Don't scrimp on the heater. If				substrate and plants. You can either get one with
you get a cheap one you may end up paying the				reusable filters or one with disposable filters. In
price later on when your heater packs up and				this day and age most of us will opt for anything
your fish get too cold or worse still too hot.				reusable as every little helps with the
Imagine coming home from a long weekend to				environment.
find that your thermostat packed up and all your				The substrate and gravel need to be considered.
fish are floating when you get home. It is				Unless you are going for a particular biotope in
definitely a false economy to skimp on the				which case you need to get advice on the
heater.				substrate, I would suggest just using a fine natural
Don't relay wholly on the thermostat, get a				colored aquarium gravel with a base of something
thermometer and check the temperature as a				like laterite for the plants.
part of your daily routine.				When setting up make sure that your tank is
When it comes to the filter make sure that you				level and supported across its entire width. Install
get an internal or external power filter, steer clear				the heater, filter and thermometer, set the
of under gravel heaters for planted tanks				thermometer to the right temperature for your
otherwise you are likely to cause problems with				intended fish.
your substrate and plants.				Next you need to put in the gravel. But before
You need to think about the gravel or substrate				you do rinse it thoroughly until the water runs
before you set up the tank. Unless you are going				clear. Put some it into a bucket and mix in
for a particular biotope I would suggest just using				whatever you are using for the plants. You need
a fine natural colour aquarium gravel with a base				enough to put a bed of about one to one and a
of laterite for the plants.				half inches in the bottom of the tank. Cover this
When setting up make sure that your tank is				with enough gravel to bring it up to about two
level and supported across its entire width. Install				and half to three inches deep. Add any
the heater, filter and thermometer, set the				decorations at this point such as rocks.
thermometer to the right temperature for your				It is now time for the water but gently does it to
intended fish but don't turn it on yet.				avoid ending up with cloudy water. You can
When it comes to putting in the gravel make sure				always put a plate or saucer in the bottom of the
that you rinse it thoroughly until the water runs				tank and aim at this when pouring. Fill the tank
clear. Otherwise you will end up with cloudy water				about three quarters full.
that your filter will struggle to clear Put some it				Next the fun part planting the freshwater fish
into a bucket and mix in the laterite for the plants.				tank. Think about how the plants will grow. You
You need enough to put a bed of about one to				don't want tall ones at the front obstructing the
one and a half inches in the bottom of the tank.				view. Finally top up the tank and set it running.
Cover this with enough gravel to bring it up to				You'll need to cycle the tank before you start
about two and half to three inches deep. Add any				adding fish. Add the fish gradually a few at a time,
decorations at this point such as rocks.				letting the biological filter adjust after each addition.
It is now time for the water but gently does it to				Don't be tempted to add too many fish. A rule of
avoid ending up with cloudy water. This is a very				thumb is one inch of fish per gallon, but think
brief introduction to the subject of freshwater				about their full grown size and remember that
Aquarium Set up aimed at the beginner. Some of				your tank is not full of water only when doing the
the information will need to be researched further				calculation. Always err on the side of caution. An
such as the types of plants and fish to choose				under stocked tank will seldom go wrong but an
but these instructions cover just about everything				over stocked tank will always go wrong.

BioFilter

Setting Up a Tropical Fish Tank