Setting up the aquarium

Before you can actually start filling up your aquarium, you will need to give it a thorough
clean up. This will help to remove any traces of dirt, dust or contaminants. Using a very
small amount of dish washing liquid along with warm water to clean your aquarium is
ideal. But, follow this up IMMEDIATELY with a rinse in warm/hot water. This will
remove all traces of the detergent from the glass surface. Remember to RINSE
THOROUGHLY and than rinse again and again. Even a slight residue will harm your
fish.
The next step is to wash ALL the things that will go into your aquarium. Begin with the
gravel or sand. Wash half a bucket of sand or gravel under running water. Do not use
anything other than water and make sure that the bucket that you use has not been used to
hold detergent solutions of any kind. Stir the gravel around and keep changing water until
it runs clear.
Then wash all the décor thoroughly and individually. If you intend to use under gravel
filtration, you must wash the plates before adding them to the aquarium. If you are using
bogwood to decorate your aquarium, you might have to soak it for a few weeks before
you use it. Some bogwoods immediately sink while other has to be water drenched before
sinking.
Any natural materials found in ponds, like rocks or driftwood, should first be treated
before they are used. Soak them first in a mixture of chlorine bleach and water. Rinse in
fresh water. Soak them again in fresh water and dry thoroughly. This can prevent
undesirable elements like snails, parasites and other malevolent organisms from getting
into your aquarium. It his however recommendable that you buy all your decoration at a
reputable aquarium shop if this is you first aquarium as it can be hard to know what is
suitable for use in your aquarium and what’s not. Some items will emit unsuitable
compounds regardless of how many times you soak them in bleach.
When you set up the aquarium, make sure that the spot that you have choose have a
completely flat floor, and that there is no shaking. Keeping a layer of specialist matting
between the aquarium and what it stands on is a good idea. This will help to reduce any
unevenness. Before you start filling the aquarium, make sure that you have a water
conditioner that removes chlorine. In many countries chlorine is added to tap water in
order to kill off micro organisms.
The first step while setting up your aquarium is to test for leaks. This may seem to be a
waste of time if you feel that you have already checked your aquarium thoroughly. Leaks
will however be very annoying and much more difficult to plug after your aquarium isfully functional. So, fill up your aquarium with tap water, and wait for half a day. If there
are no stains or indications of leaks, pump the water out, and rinse the aquarium.
Then, add the gravel into the aquarium. Underwater gravel filter along with its plates
need to be put in before the gravel if you intend to use an under gravel filter. Gravel
should be put in slowly to a height of 1-3 inches, depending upon the under gravel
filtration, if you are using one. While putting the gravel in, see that you slope the gravel
from back to front. The higher area should be towards the back. This will give the front
part a better view.
Fill half the aquarium with water by pouring the water on to a plate that you put on the
bottom of the aquarium to prevent disturbing the gravel. It is also a good idea to direct the
water flow to the sides of the aquarium. If this is done slowly and carefully, your
aquarium will be clear from the very beginning. In case your aquarium looks a bit cloudy
and the particles have moved, allow the water to 'rest' for a day or two until most of the
debris has gently subsided to the bottom again.
It is now time to install the thermometer, heater and filter. You should however wait until
later before you plug them in. At this stage, you should only safely attach the equipment
at suitable spots in the aquarium. The heater should be placed in an area where water
circulation is the maximum. This will maintain an equal temperature in all parts of your
aquarium.
You should also put in any decorative material at this stage. Rock formations, plastic
plants etc can be put in and arranged more easily now than when the aquarium is
completely filled. Remember to fix these materials in the substrate material so that they
do not topple or float away later. As mentioned earlier, it is very important to wash each
of these items before you place them in the aquarium. Position the decorations in such a
way that your tubes and other accessories are well hidden behind them and in such a way
that you find it ecstatically pleasing. A lot of fish species will appreciate if you create
caves, crevices or other forms of hiding spots where the fish can feel safe.
You may want to put in your live plants now too. Care should be taken to keep the plants
in areas that get good oxygen supply. Plants should be gently stuck into the substrate. If
time is not a factor, it is a good idea to let your water stabilize for a few days before you
add natural plants since this will be healthier for the plants. While choosing plants, do not
simply go for the prettiest and most exotic plants. Many aquatic plant species will not
survive long even in controlled conditions and are only suitable for experts. One such
beautiful but sensitive plant is the popular Rotala macranda. Colorful plants are nice to
look at, but they will usually require very strong lighting to survive. Plants that are not
healthy will add to the debris and waste in your aquarium. Good sturdy plants like Java
Moss and Water Sprite are therefore best for a beginner. Both Water Sprite and Java
Moss can be left loose on the top, stapled to decorations or plugged to the bottom. One
trick that comes in handy is to leave the plants floating in the water for a few days. They
will start developing roots in about 3-4 days. Once the roots have come out, it will be
easier to attach the plants to the substrate. Place some heavier stones around plants thatotherwise tend to float away. Don’t leave plants floating on the surface to long as they
will grow very strangely. When plants are floating, the aquarium lights will light up the
side of the plant, and when the plant is later turned vertical and planted it will look very
uneven. Growing sideways is unattractive in most plants.
Once the plants are in place and you checked that you didn’t forget to add anything else
it’s time to fill the aquarium full with water. Once you have filled your aquarium to its
optimum capacity, you will need to start the heater. Allow the heater to stay in water for
half an hour before you turn it on. Before you plug it on, make sure that the thermometer
is placed where it is easy to read. Read all the instructions in your operator's manual since
these can vary between different heaters. Once you turn the heater on, the water
temperature and the heater needs to be closely monitored for a day.
Sufficient and proper aeration comes next. When using air tubing for decoration, the risk
of water back siphoning into the tubes are high, especially if they are placed lower than
the water in the aquarium. So, the air pump should preferably be placed higher than the
water level. Anti-siphon valves are also easily available. If you are using more than one
air stone, a gang valve that has multiple outlets is very handy. The air pump should have
enough power to supply air to the multiple items.
Next, you can turn on the power filtration or mechanical filtration, if you are using such
appliances. After reading the instructions properly, set up the filter so that the flow of
water is concentrated to the center of the aquarium. After plugging it in, allow it to run
for a day. Never shut it off except for shorter periods for maintenance. The motor should
not run dry and will get damaged if it does. Turning on and turning off the filter
constantly will cause unnecessary wear and tear to the filter and more importantly will
cause toxins to build in the filter which are released into the water when the filter are
started again. It will also damage the biological filtration in the aquarium. In short, you
should never turn off the filter ones it’s on, except when you clean it.