It’s important to choose a good quality, well made tank that is right for the kind of fish you want to keep. A good size tank for beginners is a 60 litre square tank – this is big enough to house a nice selection of community fish, but not too big for the average sized living room. Manufacturers like Tetra and Juwel sell excellent start up tanks that come complete with filters, lights and heaters – everything you need for your first community of tropical fish.
Where to Put Your First Tropical Fish Tank
Once you’ve chosen your tank, the next important thing to decide is where to put it. It should be placed out of direct sunlight, away from direct sources of heat and away from things like TVs and stereos. Fish are delicate little creatures and are not fans of loud noise or heavy bass! Make sure you place it on a solid base that won’t wobble or move around easily and is solid enough to take the weight.
Now comes the fun part – setting up your tank. The first thing you’ll need to do is wash the inside of the tank to remove any dust or grime from the shop. Use clean water only and a new sponge or cloth and never ever use any kind of detergent or bleach as this will poison your fish.
The next thing to do is lay down your substrate. Substrate is not essential for a tropical tank but it looks much prettier, and if you are going to have live plants you will need a good layer of fine substrate as well as pebbles so they can take root. It’s also a good idea if you plan on having bottom dwellers like loaches and catfish, as they prefer to have something to rummage around in. Bags of substrate can be bought from your local stockist and these days you can choose fancy fluorescent colors as well as natural stone. Take the substrate out of the bag and wash it thoroughly in a sieve or colander to remove any dirt or grit. Then place at least two inches of it in the bottom of the tank, starting with the finer sand and finishing with a layer of pebbles.
Adding Water Conditioners to your Tropical Fish Tank
Now your tank is ready to be filled with water. Make sure you have placed it exactly where you want it, as you will not be able to move it afterwards. 60 litres of water weighs a lot! Fill the tank up with a bucket until it has reached the level recommended by the manufacturer. Next you will need to add water conditioners to remove the harmful metals that are poisonous to your fish. Your stockist will recommend a good product for you but some to keep a look out for are Aquasafe and Stress Coat and they should be added every time you do a water change.
Now comes the not-so-fun part of your aquarium set up – the waiting! Before you can add any fish to your tank you need to let it settle for at least two weeks. During this time you can add products that will encourage the growth of the good bacteria needed to break down fish waste, but these should not be seen as a replacement for the natural process which begins to take place in your tank when you add your first fish. This is known as the nitrogen cycle and it can take anything from six weeks to a number of months before it is complete and your tank has become a balanced healthy environment for your fish. The secret to a healthy tank is patience. Give it the time it needs to develop, don’t add too many fish at once and you will be rewarded with a tank full of brightly colored healthy fishy friends!
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