So, you've decided to start an aquarium. You've researched and read and you're ready and raring to go. Well, are you ready for your first step? You sure? Ok, here it is….SLOW DOWN! The most important quality for a fish keeper to have is patience. Without it, you're much more likely to make a mistake that could be fatal to your fish. Setting up an aquarium takes time, and so does maintaining it. If you're going to start on this venture you have to be prepared to invest time, money, and commitment. If you think you're capable of and willing to do this, then read on.
The first thing you need to do is decide what size aquarium you want. While a large aquarium is nice to have, you may want to start with something smaller and move your way up once you know what you're doing. It is recommended for beginners to start with a 10 to 20 gallon aquarium. That way you will be fully prepared when you take on a larger tank. You also need to be aware of what fish you want and the amount of space they require.
The next step is to decide where to put the tank. The area should have fairly easy access to water (near a sink is usually a good idea, but not always practical). Also, make sure your tank is near an electrical outlet. That way you won't have extension cords all around the house to cause you trouble. Be sure the area you're putting the tank in and whatever you're putting the tank on are appropriate for holding a large amount of weight.
The next step is to go buy all your equipment. By this point you should have done lots and lots of research and know what kind of fish you're getting, what requirements those fish have (and if they can safely live together), and what equipment you need to provide them proper living conditions. You'll need to buy: an aquarium (of course); gravel (about 1 pound per gallon of water, more if you want plants); a filter and pump; a heater; lights and hood; a power strip; and decorations. You also probably want to pick up care items like water treatment, a net, buckets, algae scraper or scrubber, and a gravel vacuum. In case you were wondering, this is not the pet store trip when you get to buy your fish (remember, patience). You can buy live plants at this point, but you may want to wait a day or so until you've tested your aquarium for leaks.
The next step is to wash out your aquarium and set it up on the stand. Use only water to wash out your aquarium (new or used, they both need a good washing). If you feel soap is necessary, use a small amount of dish soap. If you use dish soap, be sure to rinse it thoroughly. When you are sure you've washed all the soap away, rinse it a couple more times. Even the smallest amount of soap in the water can kill your fish. After you have finished washing your aquarium, set it up on the stand and fill it with water. Leave the aquarium to sit for a while (a day or so is best) and make sure it doesn't have any leaks. When you know your aquarium is leak-free, remove the water. Now you're ready to get your aquarium up and running.
The next step is to wash everything that is going to go into your tank, including gravel, rocks, decorations, and all equipment. The same rules apply as with washing the tank. Don't use soap unless it is absolutely necessary. And if you do, rinse, rinse, and when you're done rinsing, rinse again. The best way to clean gravel is to put some of it into a colander and rinse it with water. Swish the gravel around so you're sure to wash in all the cracks and crevices. Do this until the water runs clear. Then put the gravel in a bucket and keep washing until it's all clean. If you use decorations from the wild (which I wouldn't recommend), be sure to soak them in a bucket with bleach solution. After this, you must soak them in clean water and rinse them thoroughly to be sure the bleach is all washed out.
Now, you are finally ready to make your aquarium look like an aquarium. First, add the gravel and decorations. Then start adding treated water to your aquarium. Be sure to put a plate in the bottom for the water to splash on so it doesn't disturb the gravel. Fill the tank about halfway. At this point you want to add your plants and make sure everything is arranged to your liking. It's much easier to move things around when the aquarium is only half full. At this point you also want to make sure that all the decorations are secure and aren't going to fall or collapse on any fish. Then set up the equipment (filter, heater etc), but don't plug any of it in yet. At this point you can then finish filling the tank with water, add the hood and lights, and plug all the equipment into the power strip. Make sure the thermometer is reading the temperature properly before you turn the heater on. So you might want to wait 15 minutes or so, then turn on your power strip and your aquarium is ready to go, almost.
The aquarium looks ready for fish now, doesn't it? Well, sadly, it's not. Besides needing to wait to make sure all your equipment is functioning properly, you also need to wait until good bacteria has grown in the water and it is considered "mature." Many people will tell you this takes about a week, but I would recommend waiting two weeks to be sure. You can take a few steps to speed this process up, such as adding a small amount of flake food to the tank or a maturing agent bought from a pet store. You can also use this time to go research the nitrogen cycle so you know exactly why you're waiting so long.
Congratulations, your patience has finally paid off! You can now add fish. But remember to keep that patience. Fish should only be added one or two at a time. Adding too many fish can throw off the water chemistry of your tank and make your fish sick. If you wait a week or so for the system to balance, you can then add a few more fish until you're at full capacity.
You thought adding fish would be the last step didn't you? Well, it isn't. Be prepared to regularly clean your tank and provide other maintenance. Also, as a warning to beginners, don't be surprised if you lose some fish in the beginning. It is very common for the first fish in a tank to die. You may try researching hardier varieties of fish to put in your tank to start off with. This will help prevent this problem. Good luck and have a great time with your new tank!
