Setting Up a Freshwater Fish Tank

Keeping fish is one of the most rewarding and common hobbies. Unfortunately, many beginners are not informed enough, and lose their fish within a few weeks of getting them. I am aiming to change this with this detailed, but simple instructable.

Things To Buy:

API Master Freshwater Test Kit - super expensive at pet stores

Chlorine Neutralizer - pet stores will have this, lasts for a while

Seachem Stability - Get a 50ml bottle in preference of 100ml bottle, as you won't use it all.

Fish Tank - look for kits that also include; heater, filter, and light.

Substrate - Enough potting soil to create a one inch layer, and enough sand (propagating sand) to create a two inch layer.

Plants - If you are wishing to plant your aquarium. For a small tank, look for varieties that grow horizontally rather than vertically, such as Hairgrass.

Decor - Get a large hideout or a few smaller ones. This is to provide your fish with a place to hide if they need.

Tweezers - Very handy for removing uneaten food scraps, placing food in aquarium, and general care for your tank.

Pipette - Super cheap. Use for testing your water, and soaking your fish food.

Fish Food - Get at fish store. Note: You will not have to feed snails if you decide to get any, they will eat up fish poop and uneaten food scraps.

Things To Use:

Cup - A cup is handy for small tanks, where a hand held pump would be impractical to use in water changes. It also is perfect for acclimatizing new fish.

Container (medium) - A container to contain all your bits and pieces. If your going for the aesthetics, look in second hand shops for an old fashioned photo box, like this one here, just remove the photo bits and you're good to go

Container (small) - a small deli cup is perfect for soaking your fish food.

Before setting up your tank, make sure you have everything you need. Purchase everything (except the plants, substrate and fish food), and place it all into your medium container. Also add the items you don't need to purchase, like the cup, and the small container. The API Master Freshwater Test Kit may not fit, but it can easily be stored out of sight.

Don't overlook this step, as creating a plan of how you want your aquarium will help you in the long run. It also allows you to completely research before buying plants, substrate, and food. I used Word for this, which made it easy to set up. In your plan, you will need to include; a background (if you want), any decor you will use, plants, substrate, and your planned fish or snails you wish to get. As you will see in the finished product, it differs a bit from my original plan. However, this is ok, as this plan is mainly to help you get the idea into your head.

This step is made much easier by the plan you did in the previous step. Make sure you purchase; your fish tank (+ heater, filter, and light), your substrate, plants, and decor. Set it up completely, including your substrate, playing around with it until you're happy. You also can add your background at this stage.

Tips:

• Do this step outside, as potting mix and sand can create quite a mess. Then bring the tank back inside for the next step (make sure you place it in its forever home before continuing on)
• Keep the plants in their plastic containers you bought them in, then remove once you have decided on the layout.

As stated above, this step consists of adding water. However, there are a few precautions you must make when doing this. Make sure to dechlorinate your water first (add the dechlorinate in the dose mentioned on the bottle) then fill up your tank. Turn on your filter, and your heater (to the right tempeteture you want for your fish), and let the tank settle for a day or so.

Tips:

• Use a bit of cling wrap, and pour water on to that, to prevent your substrate being stirred up.

You've probably heard of the term "cycling" your tank, and may have disregarded it as too hard. It doesn't have to be. It consists of three stages;

Stage 1 - Ammonia (toxic to fish)

Stage 2 - Nitrites (toxic to fish)

Stage 3 - Nitrates (toxic to fish only in high numbers)

This process is made possible by bacteria, which ultimately converts ammonia to nitrites, then to nitrates. You want to have a good lot of bacteria in your tank before adding fish, so they don't die. Follow these steps to start your cycle;

Day 1 - Add daily fish food to tank. Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 2 - Add daily fish food to tank. Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 3 - Test for ammonia and record. Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 4 - Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 5 - Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 6 - Test for ammonia and record. Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

Day 7 - Add Seachem Stability in required dose.

By the end of week 1, your ammonia should have peaked at 3ppm. This means your tank is ready for the next stage, nitrites. Once these start forming, it means your tank is only one stage away from being cycled. This is the schedule for week 2;

Day 1 - Nothing

Day 2 - Test for ammonia and nitrites and record.

Day 3 - Nothing

Day 4 - Nothing

Day 5 - Test for ammonia and nitrites and record.

Day 6 - Nothing

Day 7 - Nothing

Setting up your tank requires a lot of patience, but it is well worth the wait. Why don't you borrow a good book to read on the "boring" days?

By this week, your tank is nearly cycled. You should have passed the first two stages, and you are now onto the last stage. Test every three days for nitrates until they appear. Once they appear on your results, you are ready for the next stage.

Depending on a variety of factors, your tank will be cycled by either week 3 or 4. Knowing when your tank is cycled is easy. Once ammonia and nitrites both reach 0ppm, your tank is cycled.

This step is most likely why you started your tank in the first place. It is now time to add your fish and snails. Luckily, I only needed to add a fish, as some bladder snails hitched a ride on my plants. To add your fish/ snails, you will need to acclimate them first, which basically means to get them used to the water. Follow these steps:

1 - Float the bag it came in, in your tank for 30 mins.

2 - Gently pour the bag (and its contents) into a large enough bowl, so the fish can't jump out.

3 - Add half a cup of water into bowl, and wait 30 mins. Repeat this (about 2 or 3 times), until the water in the bowl is close to the temperature in the tank.

4 - Scoop the fish out of its bowl with the cup, and gently add to your tank.

5 - Turn the lights off both in your room and your tank, and leave them for a few hours.

6 - Come back and check on them, if they are frightened by you, turn the lights back off for an entire 24 hours.

Tips:

1 - Don't feed your fish for the next 2 days, as they will be still getting used to their new home, and the food will most likely be wasted.

I hope this instructable helped, you, and if it did, please leave a comment below. See you next time!