Tropical Fish Keeping

Setting Up

To begin with, place your fish tank where you have decided that the conditions are right as mentioned previously as a suitable location (see Finding the Parts).  Next assemble the outside power filter and the undergravel filter plate(s) per their instructions.

 Hang the power filter on the back of the tank and fill it with water.  Attach the lift tube that will align with the hanging power filter inlet tube and attach them together using a piece of flexible piping sized accordingly (usually you can obtain such a piece from a local hardware store or do-it-yourself hardware outlet).

Take the gravel and rinse it thoroughly with some cool water, removing any fine particles and sand.  I suggest that this is done one small bag at a time, perhaps no more than five pounds worth.  After this rinsing, place the gravel gently into the bottom of the tank covering the bottom evenly with about one to two inches of gravel (remember the bottom of most fish tanks are made of glass and this is not always tempered glass).

Slowly fill the tank with water until it is about half full, add the water-conditioner and one tablespoon of household salt (the kind without the added iodine) per ten gallons of water.

Then hang the aquarium heater inside the tank against the side glass, with the top just out of the water and the built-in thermometer facing towards the outside (this is so that you can easily see and adjust the temperature without immersing your hands into the water).

Next, check your aquarium hood.  Make sure the bulb(s) are securely seated in their sockets.  Place the hood upon the top of the fish tank.  You usually will find a hard plastic sheet at the back of the hood.  This sheet is provided to keep your fish from jumping out of the tank, and may be cut to accommodate the outside power filter and other airline hoses or electrical power cords leading into the aquarium.

Add any decorations that you like at this time, including the airstone and air pump assembly as mentioned in Finding the Parts (if you do decide to add an airstone, presoak it in water for about one hour beforehand, otherwise it has a tendency to float to the surface when placed in the fishtank). Make sure that the check valve is placed between the pump and the airstone with the narrow end of the rubber inside the check value facing towards the airstone (the check valve prevents water from being drawn back into the airpump during power failures, which can ultimately ruin a air pump).

Add the rest of the water, bringing the level up to within three inches of the top.  Add the rest of the water-conditioner and the table salt to the water.

Plug in the outside filter, heater and the aquarium top (and the airpump if you have one) to the surge suppressor.

Place the thermometer on the opposite side wall from the heater. Adjust the heater setting to about 75 degrees F. .

DO NOT ADD THE FISH YET!! The tank is not quite ready and this will be covered in the next section....

Adding the Fish.