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Setting up an aquarium isn't hard. All you need is a little
patience. Once you have everything you need, which is listed in the box to the
right, you can begin setting up your aquarium.
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Decide where you want to put your aquarium. You have to
think of a few factors before placing your aquarium. Will the floor hold it?
Will direct sunlight hit the tank? Is this exactly where you want the tank?
Consider these questions before just placing your aquarium anywhere.
Aquarium under 75 gallons will usually hold, but you make want to make sure
first.
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When you have chosen the spot, look it over to make sure
this is the exact spot that you want it. If the stand has legs, you will
want to put a big board under the whole stand so the weight will be
distributed evenly. Now use a level to level the tank. You can use wooden
levels from hardware stores or if your stand is on a board, sand the areas
down where the legs are to level the tank. If the tank is greatly unleveled,
you should use wooden levelers.
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Now that the tank is level, take it outside to check for
leaks. Fill the tank with a hose. Take extra care not to splash the outside
of the tank because you are going to need to see if any water comes out.
Once the tank is full, check around the corners and top and bottom rim for
leaks. If there are leaks, you will have to take the aquarium back and get a
new one. If there aren't any leaks, siphon as much of the water as you can
out. Once empty, or at least almost empty, take the aquarium back to the
stand and place it where it needs to be.
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Clean the decorations. This step can be done any time before
they are put in. To clean gravel, put the gravel in a bucket and rinse all
of it. DO NOT USE SOAP. Soap is very deadly to fish and very hard to
completely remove to a safe level for fish. To clean fake plants or
decorations and driftwood, put them in the tube and rinse them off with the
hottest water you can take. Be careful not to burn yourself.
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Take the gravel and use your hand to take the gravel from
the bucket to the tank. Once there is a pile about 3 or 4 inches high, you
can SLOWLY start to pour the gravel onto the pile. The bucket should only be
about 3 inches above the pile when pouring. If you are to use an undergravel
filter, go ahead and set it up BEFORE putting in the gravel.
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Once all the gravel is in, slope it from front to back. The
front should be at least 2 inches and the back at least 3 or 4 inches.
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Now you can now put in any fake or non-living decorations.
If you have any bubblers or aerating decorations, connect the air line to
the air pump, the air line should be buried under the gravel. There are air
lines that have fake plants around them to look like they are just plants
and have a better look.
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Fill the tank until it is 75% full. Set up the heater(s),
filter(s), and other equipment other than lighting. DO NOT PLUG ANYTHING IN.
Remember to read all the equipment directions to make sure everything is set
up properly. Look at your decoration, if you want to move anything, do it
now. You can now put in live plants if you have any.
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Fill the tank up completely now and put the hood (if needed)
and set up the light(s).
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If the heater has been in the water for about 20 minutes,
then you can plug it in. If not, let it be until it has been in the water
for 20 minutes. If the filter's owner manuals say that they need to be
primed before starting, do the following for each filter that applies to
you:
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Power Filter: Get a large cup and fill it with water,
pour the water into the filter itself until the water overflows into the
aquarium.
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Canister Filter: Fill the chamber about 75% full. Make
sure to see if the filter does need to be primed, some are self priming.
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Wet/Dry Filter: These filters differ greatly from
producer to producer. Read all directions carefully in the owner's
manual.
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Fluidized Bed Filter: These usually attach to a canister
filter, but if alone with a pump, usually don't need priming, but check
your owners manual to make sure.
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Adjust your heater to the right temperature. Do the
following for each heater that applies to you:
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Hang-on-Rim Heater: These usually have a light that
shows when the heater is on. If the aquarium water is under the desired
temperature, turn the adjustment knob so the heater is on. When the
temperature of the water gets to the temperature you want, turn the knob
until the light just goes off.
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Fully Submersible Heater: Many have thermostats built
in, adjust those to about 78º F (25º C). This may have to change
depending on what fish you plan on keeping.
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Other Heater: There are many different types of filters
with many different types of temperature controls. Read the owner's
manual carefully to see how you need to adjust them.
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Let the aquarium sit for a day. Then you are ready to cycle
your tank.
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