Setting up a tank

First, think about these questions before you set up your tank:

1. Can you afford to buy and maintain an aquarium?

2. Can you afford to buy and care for fish (freshwater fish are usually less expensive (and not to mention, easier to care for) than marine fish)?

3. Do you have small children that may put their hands in the tank (for example, don't get rays or electric eels if you have small children)?

But there are advantages to keeping fish over keeping other pets, like cats, dogs, or birds. Here are some of them.

1. If you live in an apartment fish would probably be better than a dog or bird because fish don't make noises and plus, they don't shed fur.

2. Cats and dogs can escape and maybe get stolen, get lost, or even get run over by vehicles. Fish can't walk across the street or get lost in a city (of course).

3. If dogs or cats are not allowed in apartments, fish can be an alternative.

4. Fish can be relaxing!

If you decide to keep fish, try to keep their tank away from heat ducts, sunlight, audio speakers, etc. Also, I suggest having a lid for your tank. That way, cat hair, bird dander, children's hands, etc can't get in the tank. Well, on that note, let's learn how to set up a fish tank!

Okay, now, this is the way to set up a tank with a filter that hangs on the side of the tank. These instructions include no tank boards. Let's get to it.

Step 1. Before you set up the tank, fill the tank with water (no gravel or water conditioners necessary. Regular tap water is fine for this test) in a bathtub to make sure it doesn't leak. Let the water sit for a few days. After the few days, run your finger along the outside corners of the tank. If you feel water try to return the tank (unless of course, water just some how splashed on the outside of the tank). If the edges are dry, you have a good tank!

Step 2. Cleaning the tank before you set it up is a good idea too. DON'T use soap of any kind when cleaning a fish tank!

Step 3. Now clean the gravel for the tank (again DON'T use soap of any kind). Here's how to do it. Put the gravel into a big bucket, fill the bucket up with water, then pour the bucket down a strainer. Make sure that no gravel gets into your water or sewage pipes because fish gravel is not biodegradable.

Step 4. Once the gravel is clean, put the gravel in the bottom of the tank. Swish the gravel around until you get the desired setup of gravel. Just have enough gravel to have an inch from the bottom of the tank up to the top of the gravel.

Step 5. Fill the tank with water! Put in water conditioners according to their instructions.

Step 6. Now for attaching the filter and heater to the tank (remember that my instructions go for filters that hang over the side of the tank. Look in other websites or books on how to attach other filters.). Assemble the filter as you are told to by a pet shop owner or by books. Here's how to put in filter media (filter media is the sponge, carbon, etc. in the filter). First, put the filter cotton into the filter tray. Then put the carbon on top of that, and then so on. Then attach the filter to side of the tank and plug it in! Fill the filter with water until it starts pouring water by itself. Never run a filter dry, that could damage it! Attach the heater as well. Some heaters allow you to just clip it on to the side of the tank.

Step 7. Put the tank cover on. You may need to adjust the cover with scissors so that it can fit on the tank.

Step 8. Some thermometers can be stuck to the front of the tank as simple as sticking a sticker on the front tank. Others are like regular thermometers. But the stick-on ones are probably safer for you and for the fish because you and/or the fish can't get mercury poisoning with those ones.

Adding Fish to the Tank

Notice that when you buy fish, the person selling you the fish will catch the fish and put it in a bag. Why put the fish in the bag? Because, when you get to your tank, you will put the bag into the tank so that it can float. Let it float for about 10 (ten) minutes to even the temperatures in the tank and the bag. Now it's safe to let the fish into the tank. Open the bag, and gently let the fish into the tank. It may take a while, but be patient! You will be rewarded.

Remember that fish that may have been in the tank before introducing the new fish may attack the new fish. Just be warned about that. One way to help is to get big and almost-grown or grown fish if other fish are in the tank are in their already.

Enjoy your fish!

The music being played now is "I am King Henry the First I am" done by the Herman's Hermits.