Setting up your Freshwater Tropical Aquarium

Setting up your Freshwater Tropical Aquarium fish tank

How set up your Freshwater Tropical Aquarium

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Six easy steps for setting up your Aquarium

What to do with all the parts...
Setting up your new freshwater tropical aquarium is very simple. Just follow these six easy steps and you'll be on your way to becoming a successful aquarist with a beautiful fish tank.

Step One...
Wash everything that is going into the tank with hot water.

Place your aquarium stand in an area that is level, out of direct sunshine and drafts. Direct sunshine will help promote algae growth and possibly over heat your tank during the summer months.

Next place your tank on the stand. Sponge out the tank with as hot of water as you can tolerate. If you want a background on the back of the tank, tape it on before you set the tank on the stand.

Step Two...
Place the undergravel filter (UGF) in the bottom of the tank. Depending on tank size, this may be one, two or more plates.

Insert the riser tubes in the riser fittings on the UGF. Be sure the the riser tubes have seated to the bottom of the UGF riser fittings.

Add the substrate to the tank covering the UGF to a depth of 2" or so. Be sure to wash the substrate before putting it in the tank. A kitchen colander with a piece of window screen in it works well for washing gravel in the kitchen sink.

Step Three...
Set each of the Powerheads on top of the riser tubes. Gently press them down to seat them on the riser tube and attach the external air tubes.

Attach the mechanical filter to the back of the tank and fill it with water. Wash the filter pad and place it in the filter.

Attach the aquarium heater to the inside of the tank with its suction cups.

Step Four...
Place your decorations where you want them and fill the tank with 74 degree water.

You can fill the tank one bucket at a time or purchase a sink hose adapter fitting and fill the aquarium with a hose that you'll use only for your aquariums. Place a large bowl in the bottom of the tank to break the force of the water flow.

As the tank is filling keep an eye out for leaks. Leaks are very rare... but it does happen. Leaks are easily repaired with aquarium silicone. Do not use household silicone.

When the aquarium is full... you'll notice a bunch of little bubbles stuck to the sides of the tank. You can wipe them off with an aquarium cleaning brush if you wish. Add a sufficient amount of de-chlorinator to the water to remove chlorine if you use city water.

Step Five...
Set the tank top on top of the aquarium and place the light on the top.

Plug in the power heads, the mechanical filter, the tank heater, and the light to your GFI strip.

Next let the water in the tank stabilize for a few days. Make sure the tank heater is keeping the tank at the proper temperature for the fish you intend to keep. Clean the mechanical filter pad every day for the next three days.

Step Six...
If everything is working properly your ready to buy two or three hardy fish, like Swordtails or Mollies to start the biological process... but first let's learn a little about Starting the Biological Cycle in your Aquarium

Six easy steps for setting up your Aquarium

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