2219 Setting Up My Fish Tank

If you read last week’s post, you will be aware that I splurged and got me a fish tank. My first disclaimer… is not cheap, my second disclaimer… is harder than I anticipated. There is a lot more to setting up a fish tank than I thought.

I would like to state here and now… I AM NOT AN EXPERT. I am a complete beginner when it comes to having a fish tank and owning fish. This is the first time I have set up a tank. I can confirm. All of my fish are still alive, and my local fish store tested my water before I bought fish.

This post is just simply telling you how I set up my fish tank. It is at your discretion if you choose to follow how I have done it.

Now, to set up a tropical fish tank you will need:

• A fish tank

• A filter

• A heater

• Stones

• A bucket (chemical free)

• An extension lead

• Water

• Water Conditioner

• Substrate (Rocks/Sand)

• Ornaments (at least one or two)

Once you have all of these things you can set up your fish tank.

Get it all unboxed and ready to use, this will make it easier later on. Next, you want to rinse/wash everything. I found it easiest to do the tank first. If it is a small one. You can place it in your sink or bath and just rinse it out. If it is a bit larger. You can either get someone to help you place it in the bath. Or do what I did. Place it where I wanted it to live. Get some warm water on either a piece of kitchen roll or an unused, brand-new cloth. And just wipe over the entire inside (then do the outside).

Anything you can hold, rinse under the tap or shower (whichever is easier for you). But remember no soap. The next thing is washing the substrate. I am unsure how you can rinse sand… but the rocks/stones. I just placed them in a sieve. Run them under the tap. Shock them around making sure I got all of them and then plonked them in the tank. I had to do this a few times because I used about 8kg of stones. (I have an 80-litre tank).

Next, get the heater and filter in place (but don’t put them on). I made the mistake of leaving them until last and it just was a bit awkward trying to put them in with the water in the tank. You can place them wherever you want to.

Then I’d place any of your ornaments in. It is a good idea to get at least one or two (or 100 like I did) because when you get your fish you want somewhere for them to hide if they want to.

If you have a large tank… you may want to find someone who can help you fill it up. I am not very confident carrying much more than 5-7 litres of water, so it took me around 15 trips from the bathroom to the tank to get it too full! I was quite bored by the time I got to 20 litres.

When you have finished the back and forth, you need to work out how much of your water conditioner you should put in the water. It will be different depending on what tank you have, the size of the tank and the product you bought so I am not going to give you an amount.

Once this is all done… all you have to do is wait. Good luck, and I want to hear about anyone who is now looking at fish tanks. Or if you have a fish tank and you want to show me… then yes, please. I’d love to see all of your fish tanks!