Tank

First, you’ll need to acquire your desired new aquarium. Tanks come in various styles, such as traditional rectangles, or more elegant hexagonal and bow front, and gallon sizes, ranging anywhere from one to well over 500 gallons.  If you are looking for a new tank, we recommend shopping the ads for the big box stores as they always have the best prices possible (we really wish we could compete, but take our word for it, we’d rather focus on selling you the fish). If you are interested in larger tanks and don’t mind it being used, check craigslist as there are always people moving or upgrading their own tanks and you can get great deals on what they’re trying to clear out. Always be sure to check used tanks for leaks and for the condition of its silicone, glass, and plastic frames.

Filter

Next comes the much necessary filter. There are so many different brands and types, so let us break a few of them down. For most regular tanks from 10-55 gallons, a hang-on-back filter is sufficient. Some of the most reputable brand names are Tetra and Marineland, which come with both mechanical and biological filtration methods. If your setup doesn’t have space for a filter hanging on the back, or if you just want a different style, there are also canister filters that get placed underneath the tank and circulate the water through it via hoses that you can place strategically in the tank so they are hidden from view. Most filters come ready to use from the box with just some minor assembly.

Gravel/Sand/Substrate

Next you get to plan out what type of substrate you want to have for your new aquarium.  This consideration depends on a few factors, like what type of fish you will be keeping, and if you want to have a heavily planted tank.  If you plan to have live plants in your tank, you’re going to want to use plant substrate such as Eco-Complete which comes loaded with important nutrients and minerals that will help your plants grow strong, tall, and healthily. The Eco-Complete will be the base layer which goes below the gravel of your choosing. Most tropical community fish and goldfish do best with gravel (there’s many colors available, including natural tones, or vibrant rainbow colors, depending on the look you’re going for). For African Cichlids, they can do well with a sand bottom that somewhat recreates their wild environment and allows them to show their natural behaviors.

Decor

While for many fish, decorations are not a necessity, they can give your tank a unique personality and your fish will surely appreciate the dimensions that they add to their home.  For more aggressive fish, decor plays a more important role. You will want to include strategically placed decorations so that different territories can be developed, which will limit aggression between the fish in the tank.  There are many options when it comes to how to decorate your tank. There are the traditional ceramic and plastic items like castles, caves, treasure chests, boats, divers, etc. that you can find at most pet shops, or you may decide to have a more naturally themed decor by incorporating live plants, driftwood, and natural rocks like slate, carved stones, tufa, or rainbow rocks. When considering driftwood, be aware that for certain types (such as Malaysian driftwood), it is advised that you soak the piece in hot/boiling water for a certain amount of time to loosen the tannins that would otherwise turn your aquarium water a reddish hue.

Water

After you have the gravel and decor the way you want it in the tank, you can add the water.  If you are using tap water, you must condition it to make it safe for your new fish friends. A common misconception is that you can just leave the water for a few hours and the chlorine will evaporate and the water will be safe. While that is half true, the chloromines, an additional chemical added to the water in many cities, does not naturally break down and stays in the water forever. There is only one way to remove that and its with a dechlorinator like Kordon’s AmQuel. Follow the instructions on the label of the product you use and let it work its magic for as long as the directions say to wait before introducing any fish.

Cycling

While it’s not immediately necessary, we always recommend putting beneficial bacteria to speed up the process of tank cycling, where the water is naturally building the bacteria. Here, we recommend any TLC products such as this Start Smart or Microbe-Lift’s Special Blend, ideal for first starting a tank. Because the cycling process can take some time to complete, we advise our customers to let the tank sit with the filter running for about a week. Then you can bring the water to us (or your local fish store) where we test it out and see if it is safe to put fish in.

Fish

Once your water is set, the tank is how you want it to look, its time to put your fish in! Remember to always ask the temperament of the fish to make sure they aren’t too aggressive. And read up on the fishes you choose to buy to make sure you know how to take care of your new pets.

Closing

Thanks for reading. We hope this guide has helped you out and answered most of your questions on setting up a new aquarium. If you have any problems, or have further questions feel free to call us at our number below, or visit the farm any time.