Aquarium Setup

If you are a beginning aquarist thinking about setting up an aquarium you have probably looked at all the tanks, pumps, plants, tubes, decorations, lights and fish in the local fish store and thought that this process must be quite difficult. While the process of setting up an aquarium, whether freshwater, brackish or saltwater may seem complicated, it is not that difficult if you exercise patience and attention to detail.

The information that follows are my personal recommendations for a beginning hobbyist. You can find many types of equipment on the market and spend as much money as you want on your setup. My goal here is not to give you all the possibilities but to lead you through simple steps to put together a basic system that you can enjoy. What follows are the basics that will get you going and hopefully get you as addicted to maintaining aquariums as I am. Later on you can always perform some extra research and add on extra equipment if you so please.

Getting Started

I just want to make sure you are following the correct path for the system you want to setup. If you are setting up a freshwater aquarium system you will only need to follow the instructions labeled “for all aquarium systems” and skip on any of the items labeled “Marine” or “Brackish.” If you are setting up a Brackish Aquarium system, follow the instructions and add in the items labeled “Brackish.” If you would like to set up a Marine Aquarium System you will follow the general directions and add in (you guessed it) the items labeled “Marine.” See how simple we are making this?

Setting Up Your Aquarium

1) Find an appropriate location (for all aquarium systems):

Find a spot where the flooring is solid (full aquariums are heavy!) and is not near doors, windows or in a very high traffic area. You will need to be close to a good electric supply and not too far from an easy source of water.

2) Assemble the stand (for all aquarium systems)

Ensure that the aquarium stand is stable and will not move or tip over. Be sure to leave enough space on the back for the equipment that will hang off the back of the aquarium and give yourself enough room for cleaning and maintenance.

3) Clean out the tank (for all aquarium systems)

Clean out the aquarium with clear water and a soft sponge. You do not want to use any chemicals (not even Windex). The residue will kill your aquarium fish. Most sponges that you but in the supermarket have chemicals imbedded in them that can harm your aquarium fish. I prefer to use the Scrub and Wash Sponge from Hydra Sponges.

4) Place the tank on the aquarium stand (for all aquarium systems)

Be sure that the tank fits the stand properly. Do not allow any of the tanks edges to hang over. This will cause stress to the tank and will eventually cause leaks or breakage.

5) Add an aquarium background (for all aquarium systems)

Now is the time to add a background to your aquarium. It will be a lot easier to add before adding additional equipment. You can use one on the decorative ones available from pet stores or try a piece of solid colored poster board (no neon colors please).

6)Install the under gravel filter (for all aquarium systems)

Place the perforated under gravel filter plates on the bottom of the tank. Insert the plastic uplift tubes on the large holes in the plate. Place an air stone (with air tubing attached) down each uplift tube. Connect the air tubing to the air pump. Do not plug the pump in yet.

7) Add your substrate (for all aquarium systems)

Put two to four inches of substrate on top of the under gravel filter plate. Slope the substrate so that it is about an inch higher in the back of the tank. Use the following:

Continue to the next page.