How to Set Up a Freshwater Aquarium

  1. Clean the tank, gravel and decorations with water only.
  2. Set up your tank stand in an appropriate location.
  3. Install the filtration system. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, since models vary in their installation.
  4. Add clean gravel.1 pound of gravel per gallon the tank holds.
  5. Put the plants in, anchoring the bottoms in the gravel.
  6. Fill your tank with water, leaving about an inch at the top. Tap water generally has chemicals in it that aren't good for tropical fish. Ask at the fish store if you'll need special conditioners, since they will be familiar with the composition of the local water.
  7. Start the filter system.
  8. Let everything run for at least 24 hours and get the temperature settings right and the water moving.
  9. Put the new fish in when the chemical levels are all OK and the tank temperature is within tolerances.

    Tips & Warnings

    • If a tank isn't level, put a 1/4-inch sheet of Styrofoam under the tank to help distribute the weight more evenly. Stress will be put on the seams and could cause an eventual leak.
    • Gravel can be boiled as long as it isn't plastic.
    • Remember that it will need to be positioned near an electrical outlet and away from direct sunlight or drafts.
    • Ask an expert about cycling your the tank. A just-set-up fish tank lacks the bacteria that it need to form a steady biological cycle.
    • Never use soap or detergent to clean your tank or gravel - if you don't get rid of all traces of soap, you will have to buy new fish.

 How to Maintain Your Freshwater Aquarium

  1. Check your tank daily to make sure none of the fish are dead or dying.
  2. Observe all of your fish individually. This will familiarize you with their behaviors and it will be easier for you to identify a sick fish.
  3. Feed your fish every other day. Be sure to vary their diet.
  4. Top off the tank's evaporated water with dechlorinated water.
  5. Remove 5 to 10 percent of the tank water and replace it with fresh dechlorinated water once a week. This helps dilute unwanted chemicals in the tank and helps keep the tank's chemistry close to that of your own tap water. This means that you'll have fewer problems if you ever need to do an emergancy water change.
  6. Scrape the algae from the tank walls once a week.
  7. Check the filter pads every two weeks. Clean or replace them as necessary.
  8. Test the water every two weeks. Wait at least a day after a water change.
  9. Siphon the debris from the gravel once a month.

 How to Set Up a Saltwater Aquarium

  1. Check the tank for leaks.
  2. Clean the tank with a solution of 1 tsp. pure bleach for every 5 gallons of water. Scrub the tank, plastic plants, decorations and rocks. Rinse everything thoroughly several times with clean water.
  3. Install the filtration system. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully since models vary in their installation.
  4. Wash the substrate thoroughly before you put it in the tank.  1 lb. of gravel per gallon the tank holds.
  5. Put the plants in, anchoring the bottoms in the substrate.
  6. Fill a large bucket with clean, dechlorinated water.
  7. Using a hydrometer (a device used to read how much salt is dissolved in the water), add salt. Your goal is a specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.023.
  8. Fill your tank with the saltwater, leaving about an inch at the top.
  9. Start the filter system.
  10. Add the heater and thermometer. Most marine fish do best between 75 and 80 degrees.
  11. Let everything run for at least 72 hours and get the temperature settings right and the water moving.
  12. Cycle the aquarium. A just-set-up fish tank lacks the bacteria that it needs to form a steady biological cycle.
  13. Add your fish when the chemical levels are all okay and the tank temperature is within suggested limits.
  14. Buy a powerhead. In saltwater aquariums, water movement is an absolute must. Be careful not to get one so big that it causes a whirlpool effect.
  15. Get a protein skimmer, which is a necessity for marine tanks. This removes organic debris from the water before it has time to convert to nitrates.
  16. Keep in mind that you'll also need an external water pump and possibly an air pump for your skimmer.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Remember that the tank will need to be positioned near an electrical outlet and away from direct sunlight or drafts.
    • Never use soap or detergent to clean anything that will go into your tank.
    • Avoid using any equipment made of metal. Saltwater will cause it to rust.
    • Put a 1/4-inch sheet of Styrofoam under the tank to help distribute the weight more evenly. If a tank isn't level, stress will be put on the seams and could cause an eventual leak.

 How to Maintain Your Saltwater Aquarium

  1. Check your tank daily to make sure none of the fish are dead or dying.
  2. Observe them for a few minutes, checking each fish. This will familiarize you with their behavior, and will make it easier for you to notice if one is sick.
  3. Feed your fish every three days. Be sure to vary their diet.
  4. Top off the evaporated water with dechlorinated water and add calcium.
  5. Add iodine twice a week.
  6. Scrape the algae from the tank walls weekly.
  7. Schedule a weekly chore: Once a week remove 10 to 15 percent of the tank water and replace it with fresh dechlorinated water. This helps dilute unwanted chemicals in the tank. It also helps keep the tank's chemistry close to that of your own tap water. This means that you'll have fewer problems if you ever need to do an emergency water change.
  8. Siphon the debris from the gravel when you change the water.
  9. Test the water every two weeks. Wait at least a day after a water change. Check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, pH levels and copper if you have invertebrates.
  10. Check the filter pads every two weeks. Clean or replace them as necessary.
  11. Test the alkalinity monthly.
  12. Do a water change of 25 percent once a month.

 How to Add Fish to a Fish Tank

  1. Purchase fish that are from a fish farm. Stay away from fish that are captured from the wild. Make sure the temperaments of your fish are compatible.
  2. Keep the chlorine level is at zero. Maintain the correct pH balance and temperature level for the specific type of fish.
  3. Place a sealed bag with the fish into the aquarium, and let it float for about ten minutes to acclimate the fish to the new water temperature.
  4. Add small amounts of the tank water to the bag containing the fish, and allow the tank water to mix with the bagged water for ten more minutes. Repeat the process at least one more time.
  5. Use a net to transfer the fish one at a time into the tank.
  6. Dispose of the water from the bag into a sink not the aquarium.

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