A tropical fish tank is ideal for beginners and is very easy to set up. Tropical fish are relatively hardy and quite cheap. Leave the salt water aquariums for the experts! What you Will Need
* The tank
* A filtration system
* heater
* Lighting
* Gravel - 2 pounds for every gallon of water
* Plants (real or artificial)
* Decorations
* Water and water conditioner
* Fish
1. Clean the tank and check it for leaks somewhere outside. A new tank will almost certainly not leak but if you have purchased a secondhand tank this step is more important. If there are any leaks seal them with a 100% silicone sealant sold for repairing aquariums. Make sure you allow enough time for the sealant to dry.
2. Clean the gravel, artificial plants and decorations thoroughly. Place the gravel in a sieve and run water from the tap into into, stirring until the water is clean.
3. Place the tank on its stand and secure and background.
4. Add the gravel and aquarium filter. If you are using an underground filter you will need to place that first then add at least 10 cm of gravel at the back sloping to about 5cm at the front. Add your aquarium decorations.
5. The water that you use should be free of chlorine. Either leave it standing for a few days for the chlorine to evaporate or use a chemical sold at your pet shop. Many authorities also add chloramines which will not evaporate so either make sure your water is chloramine free or use a water conditioner designed for its removal to be on the safe side. Add lukewarm water halfway carefully so as not to disturb the gravel. Do not use hot water as it may crack the glass. You could use cold water, it will just take longer to reach the desired temperature once you turn on the filter.
6. Add the plants. Group similar plants together for a natural effect and place larger plants towards the back covering any tubes or filter. Smaller plants can go at the sides or near the front.
7. Add more water until the hood hides the waterline. Now you can hook up the tubing for the filter and turn on the pump and thermometer. Even out the air flow by adjusting the gang valve, making sure enough air is flowing through the lift tube of the undergravel filter or through other types of filters.
Your tank is now ready for the fish but first we need to ensure that the conditions are correct for your fish to stay healthy. Once you have your aquarium set up you’ll need to prepare it for the fish by cycling the aquarium.
