Tank and Inline Chiller Setup
Equipment list
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Bleach
Aquarium (min 10 Gal)
Chiller (there are several types)
Insulated box or some kind of tank cover (You may need to make this)
Pea gravel – Enough to cover the bottom of the tank 1 ½ inches deep.
Two clear hoses – Approximately 4 feet each (1/2 inch hose)
3 hose clamps – ½”
Chiller Pump and hose adapter
(Recommended model – Beckett 130 Gallons Per Hour Fountain Pump)
Air pump (bubbler), small air hose, air restrictor on end of small hose, water/air deflector
(Recommended model – AquaClear Powerhead for 10 to 30 Gallon Aquariums)
Under gravel filter with large tube/s for air pump (bubbler)
2 five gallon buckets (One is used for new water that has been gassing off for 24 hrs and
one is for waste water during water change)
1 bait bucket (bucket with air bubbler built in), D battery for bubbler
Surge protector with 3 available plugs
Thermometer, net, water siphon
Tap water conditioner (Still try to allow water to gas off for at least 24 hrs in 5 gallon
bucket when doing water change.)
Fish food (supplied when picking up eggs, don’t use old food)
Step 1:
 Disinfect everything with a bleach & water
solution. (1 cup per 5 gal should be adequate)
This includes:
 Aquarium
 Inline chiller (Use the chiller pump to run the
bleach solution through the chiller from a 5 gal
bucket to another 5 gal bucket. For
approximately 15 min. This will clean the chiller,
the lines, & the chiller pump. If you run this in
your tank make sure everything else is out of it.
Sometimes sludge and slime will come out of the
chiller)
 Air Pump – Bubbler (Run in bleach solution)
 Under-Gravel Filter And Tube/s
 Gravel & Any Rocks
 Thermometer, Turkey Baster, Net
 Buckets
Rinse thoroughly to remove all bleach
Step 2:
 When setting up tank make sure your
hands are clean and free of lotion.
 Setup the cover to keep eggs and fry in
the dark. Using insulated sides, bottom
and top instead of just a box will
reduce the amount of time the chiller
will need to run but it’s not necessary
with the new chillers.
 If using a cardboard box leave a gap of
at least 5 inches above the tank. The
bubbler will splatter and then the
toxins from the box will drip back in.
 Cut out an area where tubes and cords
will exit tank. Remember to cover this
corner with something to keep out
light.
Step 3:
 Place under gravel filter
in tank with openings
towards back of tank.
 Insert tubes for air pump.
The first one will twist
into place & the second
one will slide into the
first.
Under
Gravel Filter
Large filter tube (twists into place)
Second tube
slides into
first here
Step 4:
 Connect water/air deflector to
front of air pump first.
 Then connect small air tube to
same location in front of pump
Air restrictor
(Reduces bubble
size and noise)
Small
air tube Connection
point
Water/air
deflector
Connection
point
Cone shaped
adaptor for
gravel filter tube
Water/air
deflector
Small
air tube
Step 5:
 Connect cone shaped plastic piece
to bottom of the pump. This will
create a good connection to the
large tube going into the gravel
filter.
 Place air pump on large gravel
filter tube from previous step and
attach to corner of tank
Cone shaped
adaptor for
gravel filter tube
Gravel
filter tube
Step 6:
 There are two attachments. One is a
suction cup and the other is a clamp.
The suction cup is easier to install.
Clamp
adaptor
Suction
cup
adaptor
Step 7:
 Insert hose connector onto top of chiller
pump. This will attach to the hose that
enters the chiller, use a hose clamp on
both ends.
 Make sure the hoses are long enough to
reach the chiller when the aquarium is
inside the insulated or non insulated
box.
 Run the second hose from the chiller
into the tank. This can run along the
back of the tank and be covered by
gravel or rocks to hold in place.
 When hoses are aligned tighten the 3
hose clamps. (two on the chiller and one
on the pump)
 You will need to hold chiller pump into
position when aligning the hoses &
adding gravel.
Step 8:
 If you didn’t already place your
aquarium inside of the insulated
box you created, please do so now.
 Hold the chiller pump and return
hose in place while adding gravel.
If your using larger rocks in your
tank they can be used to hold these
in place. Try to use natural colored
rocks and pea gravel in your tank
to match a river system.
Step 9:
Cut a small hole about 4” X 6” in the
front of your box. This will be your
viewing window when watching the
eggs and fry. Limit light exposure to no
more than 30 minutes per day. Be sure
you can open and close this viewing
window. Add a handle made from tape
if needed. Make sure the hole is high
enough to see above and below the
gravel line.
Viewing Window
Step 10:
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Add tap water or drinking water.
Do not use distilled water as this will not hold oxygen.
Plug in the chiller, air pump (bubbler), and the chiller pump.
Verify chiller is set between 54° and 56°
Verify water is cooling to the correct temperature
Setup tank at least 2 weeks prior to receiving eggs. This way you can report
any problems or missing pieces.