So, you have decided that you want to set up an aquarium and keep fish. You have done a bit of research, and you understand what it takes to take care of fish, and you are prepared to take the responsibility of having their little, fishy lives in your hands. Good, so now what? Where do you start? That's where I come in, I am here to explain to you the step by step process of assembling a freshwater fish tank, from purchasing your equipment, to adding water and decorations, to adding your first fish. By following this set of instructions, you will successfully set up a small ecosystem, and have a beautiful addition to your home.
Start with the tank.
If you are just starting out with keeping freshwater fish, do not go crazy and buy a huge 75 gallon tank. Bigger tanks require much more maintenance, you are better off starting with a smaller tank, 20 gallons is perfect, it is big enough to allow you to keep a wide variety of fish, but it is not too big that maintenance will be a chore.
Next, you need a filter
The filter is a very important part of the fish tank, it is what keeps the fish in your tank alive, so it is not wise to go for the cheaper filter. I personally recommend the Bio-Wheel filters. They are an excellent filter, silent in the water, and very effective. They are also not overly priced.
Now that you have a filter, you need a light for your tank
This is one of the less important parts of your tank, unless you are planning on keeping live plants in your tank. So pick on out that looks pretty, the wattage is not important, and it will not harm your fish.
Time for a heater
The heater is another very important part of the tank if you are planning on keeping tropical fish, which, unless your planning on goldfish, then you are most likely going to have tropical fish. So again, don't go cheap here, get a good heater like the stealth heaters they carry at Petco. It is also a good idea to get a stick on thermometer, to make sure that your heater is working. This would also be a good time to mention that you should get a net, make sure it is long enough to reach the bottom of your tank.
Now the fun part, Decorations
OK, so now it is time to purchase the decor for your tank. You need gravel, about one pound of gravel per gallon your tank is, and try to stay away from the popular blue hues, a nice white or cream or even black would look very nice. Then, you need decorations like a sunken ship, or a roman Colosseum, and some plastic plants.
You also need Chemicals
You need to pick up a bottle of water conditioner, it will tell you on the bottle how many gallons the bottle treats, this will be used to make the water in your tank safe for fish.
OK, so now you should have everything you need to set up a tank, unless you don't have a clean bucket in your house, because you will need one of those.
Now, take your tank home, put all your other supplies aside, and rinse the tank out with tap water in your bathtub, wipe the sides with a clean sponge, and remember, NO SOAP!
Now that your tank is cleaned, pick a good location for it, it should be out of direct sunlight, and very stable, remember one gallon of water weighs about ten pounds in the tank once it has gravel and decorations, so a 20 gallon tank is the equivalent to 200 pounds.
Now that your tank is in a sturdy spot, you can begin adding the water, but not to much, about two inches of water should do it.
Now that you have a bit of water in the tank, you can add your gravel, first pour the gravel into the bucket, then rinse it out until the water coming out is relatively clear, then you can add it to the tank. You only need about an inch to two inches of gravel on the bottom of the tank, spread it out and make sure it is even.
Once the gravel is in you can set the filter up on the back on the tank, and you can also stick your heater onto the side glass, don't plug anything in yet.
Now, place a bowl upside down on the gravel, and begin to pour room temperature water into the tank, right onto the bowl, this will keep from making a big dip in the middle of your gravel bed.
Fill the tank up to about half way, then you can add your decorations, your plants, your ship, and anything else that you choose to buy for your tank. Once that is all in you can continue adding water until your tank is full.
Now is an excellent time to take a look and make sure that everything looks good, and all your decor is where you want it. If you are happy with your tank, then you can add the water conditioner, the dosage information will be on the bottle.
Now plug in your filter and your heater, if your filter is making noise, pour water into the canister that hangs over the tank. Now, plug in your light and PRESTO! You now have a tank full of cloudy water. Let the filter run for 24 hours, and the water will clear up.
OK, so now you are ready to start adding fish. I recommend you start with a small fish, like a tetra or a danio, and buy two or three. Also, while you are at the fish store, pick up either Tetra SafeStart or Stability, both are products that contain bacteria that will help keep your fish alive while an ecosystem builds in your tank.
Once you are home with your fish, float the bag in the water for about 15 minutes, then open the bag, get a cup, and add a small amount of water to the bag every 5 minutes for a half hour. This process is called Acclimation, and it helps your fish get accustomed to the new water in your tank. After the half hour is up, get your net, and net the fish out of the bag then place them in your tank. DO NOT dump the bag water into your tank! It is from a different tank, and you don't know what the fish store tank has been treated with!
Well, that is about it, your fish should be living happily, wait a day before feeding them, so that they have a chance to get used to the new tank.