6 Steps to Setting Up Your Freshwater Aquarium

ByCarly K McGregor

As a fellow fish hobbyist, I understand the desire to want to have an aquarium at home. Although they can be beautiful, relaxing and therapeutic, they can be a lot of work. I am writing this article to share with you, my 6 step process to freshwater aquarium setup that will be easy to maintain and give you unlimited enjoyment for years to come.

So, let's get started...

1) Your first step is choosing which type of fish you want to keep in your fish tank. When choosing your fish, you will want to do some research on the types of fish you are interested in. If this is your first aquarium, I would suggest a hardy fish, like a black tetra as they seem to withstand varying ph levels, which can happen in new tanks.

2) After you have chosen the fish for your tank, think about whether you will have live plants or artificial plants. If you want live plants, you will need to choose plants that will thrive with your fish. Be careful, as if you choose a plant that is particularly tasty to your fish, you might not have aquarium plants for very long. You also might want to choose some plants that are native to your fish's natural environment as creating an environment for your fish as close to its natural environment will help your fish thrive that much more.

3) Your next step is choosing your tank. Typically, aquariums are made of either glass or acrylic. I prefer acrylic as they are much more durable, especially if you have kids. The will not shatter upon impact and you are able to drill holes in them with more ease, as you may be required to do for certain types of filtration system. The most important part of tank selection however, is the size. This is critical to the survival and success of your fish and other inhabitants. A rough estimation is about an inch of fish per gallon. Although this is a good estimation, there are still things you need to keep in mind like the size of your fish as an adult, not as a baby, as they often come in the pet store. Also, once you have your tank full of substrate, plants and décor, you can expect to have about 15% less water that what the tank holds. Last thing to keep in mind is that and inch long slender fish is not the same as an inch long full-bodied fish. The full-bodied fish will produce more waste thus requiring more space.

4) The next step will be to choose the type of filtration system you will use. There are three main categories of filtration; Biological Filtration, Mechanical Filtration and Chemical Filtration. I would suggest you choose some sort of biological or mechanical filtration. Chemical filtration is mostly used temporarily to remove toxins in your tank that biological and mechanical filtration systems can't remove.

5) Next will be to put your tank together add water and cycle your tank. All you need is fresh tap water that has been conditioned with a product like Aqua Safe or Start Right. I do not recommend distilled water as it lacks nutrients that fish need. Cycling your tank means to cultivate a bacteria colony in your filter. This is essential to maintaining healthy nitrate levels. Basically, when your fish expels waste it creates ammonia in your tank. These bacteria's turn the ammonia into nitrite which then turn it into nitrate. You can do this by using an old media from a tank that has an established bacteria colony in the filter. I.e. You could use and sponge or floss from another tank filter to establish the new growth in your tank. You will have to take repeated water tests to make sure that your water has stabilized to a safe environment for your fish. Remember to test the water before cycling to get a more accurate reading. The time for this process will vary. It is important to keep in mind that the bigger your tank, the longer this process will take.

6) Well, once you have completed all these steps, you are ready to introduce your fish into your tank. Remember to do this slowly. If you are planning on having multiple species of fish, try one species at a time and let them adjust before introducing another.

Well, that's about it, you should be up and running. Sit back, relax, and enjoy...

Happy Fishin'

Want to learn more about freshwater setup? Visit my website http://www.completefreshwateraquariums.com/ for more helpful tips and information on setting up and maintaining freshwater aquariums that are easy to maintain and ensure beautiful environments for your freshwater aquarium that promote healthy, happy fish that live longer lives.

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The Different Categories For Fish Tank Decorations

ByPaul De Vizard

People interested in setting up an aquarium will find a lot of accessory items available to use. The fish tank decorations are as diverse as the personalities of the people setting up the tanks. Synthetic plants can fall into this category, because they are used to enhance the visual appearance of the tank. These are different from live plants, but can be made to replicate the look of the natural products. Synthetic plants can come in different heights and widths to fit inside different sizes of aquariums. They provide spaces where fish can hide or sleep without being disturbed by other fish in the tank.

Another category for decorations includes statues. These items are usually made of ceramic and can come in an array of objects. People can choose to create a theme for their tank by selecting specific types of ceramic pieces. A sunken pirate ship can be used in combination with a chest full of treasure and an array of logs. An oriental bridge can be a nice addition to a tank containing exotic or tropical fish. Colored pieces of ceramic coral can accent the bridge as well as multicolored stones.

There are also a number of character statues available to purchase. These include various poses for the deep sea diver as well as many types of mermaids. There are also whimsical characters based on popular children's shows, that can be fun additions to tanks used in homes with children. Fish can also be found as sculpted pieces, which can add an interesting effect to some types of tanks. Some character images are used in combination with signs to create a humorous piece, such as the goldfish placed next to a sign stating No Fishing. Pirates, skeletons and skulls can be found in settings with boulders, logs or cliffs.

Buildings are also available to use as decorations in aquariums. The classic building is the castle. This item can be made to look like a fairytale item or one made out of sand. The entrance to the castle is usually made large enough to allow most small to medium sized fish to enter. A building can also be designed as a hut or a cliff side dwelling found on islands. These structures are available in different sizes and can be enhanced with the addition of small island statues. The buildings are created to give fish somewhere to hide or rest just like the artificial plants.

Paul de Vizard is a writer on many different subjects. This includes all manner of marketing, ideas and complex theories. He also likes to learn about Hobbies that interest him. To read more on his hobbies check out his article on How to chose a Fish Tank Stand and where to find the best Fish Tank Decorations from FishTankstands.org

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Understanding New Tank Syndrome When Setting Up An Aquarium

If you are a new aquarium enthusiast and are thinking of setting up an aquarium then you need to understand the dangers of new tank syndrome.

Many new aquarium owners become very excited about their new hobby and dive into it "boots and all" without a proper understanding of the science involved in their tanks. The result is some dead fish, money spent and time wasted without much reward having been received.

A freshwater aquarium setup is more about looking after the quality of the water in your fish tank setup, than the keeping of the fish! This is because the health of the fish is directly related to the state of the water in which they live.

To understand the new tank syndrome you need to be aware of the chemistry of your tank water and how the nitrogen cycle works in it. Fish eat their food and excrete ammonia as a by product of their waste and from their gills. As the tank is a confined environment, unlike the wild, the levels of ammonia build up and are toxic to fish as it affects their ability to breath and burns their delicate skin.

Present in the water are nitrifying bacteria which are beneficial because they convert the ammonia into nitrites which are less toxic to fish. The nitrites are further decomposed by another group of bacteria to nitrates which are even less toxic to fish. The nitrates are used by plants as a form of fertilizer and so they can reduce the levels in the water. The filtration system you install in your tank will take care of some nitrates but you will still need to make regular water changes to keep them at acceptable levels for your fish.

New tank syndrome comes in because a new tank does not have enough of the beneficial bacteria to keep the ammonia concentrations down. This means that if you introduce fish to your new tank before it is sufficiently cycled they may die.

There is a method by which you can get the water in the tank prepared for the fish. This technique is called fishless cycling. You can do this by adding small amounts of ammonia to the tank either with the bottled ammonia that you use at home or by using small amounts of fish food. You will need to allow four to six weeks in order for your tank to be correctly cycled.

Preparing the water correctly by following a fishless cycling method as part of your freshwater aquarium setup is well worth the investment of time that it will take.

Discover the freshwater aquarium setup secrets that will help you to achieve a stunningly beautiful aquarium by visiting Fish Tank Setup Guide

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