How To Set Up An Aquarium For Your Tropical Fish

"The Tropical Fish Aquarium needs to be positioned away from direct sunlight, drafts and heaters." Here is but one thing you need to bear in mind when starting to care for tropical fish. At CD Aquatics, we know everything there is to know about caring for fish, so we wanted to ensure that you knew the basics, too. Owning tropical fish sounds like a lovely idea, as they can really bring your home together and brighten up any room. It is definitely a good idea to invest in tropical fish, but we encourage you to know the ins and outs of tropical aquarium maintenance before getting started.

Here, we have devised a guide for starting to care for tropical fish aquariums. When deciding to care for tropical fish, you will need to be informed about all the key things needed to keep them healthy and happy, so here is how to get started.

How to start...

Rinse your tropical fish aquarium in clean water. Never use soap or detergents as any residue left on the tank is toxic to fish. Dry the tropical fish aquarium with a clean cloth then place in position. Standing the tropical fish aquarium on a layer of polystyrene will help to ensure it is level, however new types of tropical fish aquariums do not need to be, as they have a plastic boarder around the base for support.

Wash the gravel using a bucket and running water, until the water runs clear. Any décor, such as plastic or silk plants, ornaments, rocks and all accessories, should also be washed in clean water - once again, do not use any soap or detergents. Bogwood or Mopani wood may have to be soaked in water for a number of hours before use.
Add a 6-8cm depth of gravel, sloping it gently up towards the back of the tank. If an undergravel filter, which is powered by an air pump, is being used, it should be positioned in the bottom of the tropical fish aquarium before the gravel is added, where it can be hidden from view using gravel.

You may choose not to use an undergravel type filter and wish to use a self-powered internal filter, or a powered external filter which will give more movement of water in the tank. Fluval Filters and Aqua One Filters are both good choices. Fill the tropical fish aquarium to about one third full, using water from the cold tap. Pour the water carefully over a plate so that it doesn’t disturb the display.

Setting up...

Position the heater horizontally near the bottom of the aquarium, setting the thermostat to 26ºC, although most are pre-set when purchased; also, put a thermometer inside the tank, this will monitor the temperature of the water. Do not switch on the heater until the aquarium is filled with water. All aquariums need a set size heater; if you buy a complete setup, it should come with the right size for that tank. Interpet offer a good range.

Position plants, rocks and bogwood. Arrange them to hide the filter and give a feeling of height and depth to your display. Do not block the filter inlets or outlet. Allow an open swimming space at the front so you can see your fish.

Complete filling the aquarium with water. Although tap water usually contains the correct minerals for fish, it also contains chlorine, which is not healthy for fish. You therefore need to use a water De-Chlorinator; this not only removes chlorine, it also removes chloramines, toxic heavy metals and contains soothing Aloe Vera, either King British De- Chlorinator,  Tetra Aquasafe or Api Stess Coat are ideal to use.

Once the tropical fish aquarium is full of water, the equipment should be switched on. Any cloudiness, or bubbles on the aquarium decorations will disappear within a short period of time. The Aquarium Heater and Aquarium Filter can be left switched on to allow the water to warm up and the aquarium filter to start its maturation process.

Add some filter starter to your tropical aquarium. This will help to get your filter going if one has been fitted, and contains a unique blend of good filter bacteria that will ensure that the filter is effective in de-toxifying the waste. If using live plants, add some Plant Food such as Flora Boost Plant Food; or you can even add a CO2 unit to the tank, which will help feed your plants and keep them healthy.

After a few hours, the water temperature should be stable and the water clear. Ideally, you should run your tropical aquarium for a week or so without fish. However, if you carefully monitor the water chemistry, you can introduce 1 or 2 hardy fish. Take your retailer’s advice on which species to choose. (Allow a 2-3 week interval before adding any more fish). Never add large numbers of fish at one time, otherwise the filter and tropical aquarium will be overwhelmed by the amount of waste, and fish may die from ammonia or nitrite toxicity. It is better to allow the good bacteria to build up at a steady pace in the filter.

Last points...

Monitor your fish & the water quality regularly (particularly pH, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia) for at least a week, also checking the filter is working.

In the first few days, the fish are unlikely to eat. Try to give them a small amount of tropical fish food, but if they do not eat it within a few minutes, scoop the food out with a net. If the fish food is left, it will clog up the aquarium filter and cause water quality problems. There are many types of tropical fish foods available for different types of tropical fish, such as tropical flake food, tropical sinking/adhesive tablets which can be stuck to the glass, enabling you to watch the fish feed. Catfish pellets, Plecostumus tablets/wafers, Algae wafers, Sticks, various frozen and freeze dried foods work well too. There are also fish hatching devices that enable you to breed your own live food, such as a Brine Shrimp hatchery.

Depending on the type of tropical fish you wish to keep, your local supplier should be able to advise you on their specific requirements like hardness, pH and climate. There are brackish water fish, which require an element of salt added to the water, and sometimes lighting and heating conditions.

We hope that you found this guide useful for starting your tropical aquarium. Everything you need to get going can be found right here at CD Aquatics, so browse today to find affordable, industry-approved tropical aquarium equipment.