Bradley Martens
September 29, 2009
How to setup and care for a tropical
freshwater fish aquarium
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewanrayment/300422145/sizes/m/ [1]
The following instruction set is a basic guide for setting up a freshwater aquarium for your
tropical fish and how to maintain it to keep a healthy environment. The first section will
describe the essential components necessary for a successful aquarium. What to obtain, how to
prepare the tank, and tips for selecting your fish, will be included. The sections following will be
broken down into daily, monthly, and yearly maintenance practices to ensure a healthy fish
environment is maintained. Finally, a list of referenced works and useful links are provided in
order to provide access to more information. The information presented is taken from these
references and my own personal experiences in taking care of tropical freshwater fish.
Set Up
1. Choose the location where you want to set up your fish tank and make sure that it is level
(Mills, 1993) and that it will support the weight for the aquarium size that you wish to
maintain when it is full with water.
2. Purchase all of the required equipment listed below and any additional materials such as
an underwater castle.
a. Aquarium
b. Filtration system
c. Air pump
d. Heating unit
e. Internal thermometer [2]
f. External thermometer
g. Fluorescent lighting
h. Distilled water
i. Gravel
j. Underwater Plants (If your freshwater fish are herbivores plastic plants can be
substituted)
Bradley Martens
September 29, 2009
k. Fish net [3]
l. Gravel Vacuum
3. Open up your equipment and clean the aquarium with water only. Never use detergents
or other cleansing components (Hagen, 2006).
4. Set up the aquarium where it will reside.
5. Add the gravel and smooth it out so that there is at least one inch at the bottom of the
tank.
6. Add the plants and any other decorations. Support these with some of the gravel as some
decorations and plants have a tendency to float when the water is added.
7. Place the filter, heater, and thermometers in position but do not add power yet.
8. Add the distilled water using a pan or plate to slow down the water flow and ensure that
the tank does not leak.
9. Place the top of the aquarium and lighting systems on and supply power to the filter,
heater, and lighting units.
10. Allow the tank to circulate and come to around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (24-27 degrees
Celsius) for at least a day to make sure all of your equipment is working properly.
11. Perform tests of the water including pH, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia level tests.
12. Select your fish. Find a local aquarium that you will be purchasing all of your fish from
and if setting up a community tank decide on what fish you will be getting and make sure
that they are all community fish by asking at your local fish store or by researching each
fish online. A site such as www.fishlore.com contains fish biographies and compatibility
information for common species. (2007)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/groovysuvi/2159952547/sizes/m/ [4]
Bradley Martens
September 29, 2009
13. Purchase the type of fish and the appropriate amount that you wish to add to your tank.
14. Keep the fish in the bag that they were purchased in and place them in your aquarium for
about 15 minutes (Mills, 1993).
15. Open the bag, pour some aquarium water to into the bag (about 1/3 of the bag volume),
and wait another 10 minutes. This step can be repeated twice more. (Hagen, 2006)
16. Net the fish out of the bag and place them in the aquarium. Discard of the bag and the
water in the bag.
17. Feed the fish in small amounts to determine the current amount of food needed for the
fish to consume in full in five minutes.
Warning: Over feeding the fish can cause food to sit at the bottom and rot elevating
levels of substances that are toxic to the fish.
18. Repeat steps 12-16 until the desired stocking level is reached.
Warning: Over stocking the tank can cause hardships on the fish including lack of
sufficient space, low oxygen levels, and waste and toxin buildup.
Daily Maintenance
1. Maintain about 12 hours of Darkness and 12 hours of light each day.
2. Feed the fish at least twice a day at regular intervals such as right after turning on the
light and a few hours before turning off the light.
3. Perform a visual check of all the fish ensuring that all of them are present and none are
behaving strangely or sick.
4. Check all equipment making sure that it is working properly and verify tank temperature.
5. Remove all dead plants and fish or any debris.
Weekly Maintenance
1. Ensure that the water level is topped off.
2. Clean the glass on the outside and if there is algae build up (more common if you do not
include fish that eat algae in your tank) then clean the inside of the glass.
3. Dust the lights and fixtures to help maintain consistent light levels.
4. Perform tests of the water including pH, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia level tests. (Foster
2009) Test kits that perform multiple tests at once are available and are usually less
expensive.
Bradley Martens
September 29, 2009
Monthly Maintenance
1. Change approximately one fourth to one third of the water by using a Gravel Vacuum.
This will also allow you to clean and remove dead material and waste from the gravel as
seen in this video.
<div style='text-align:center'><object width='560' height='450' id='FiveminPlayer'
classid='clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000'><param name='allowfullscreen'
value='true'/><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'/><param name='movie'
value='http://www.5min.com/Embeded/1287/'/><embed name='FiveminPlayer'
src='http://www.5min.com/Embeded/1287/' type='application/x-shockwave-flash'
width='560' height='450' allowfullscreen='true'
allowScriptAccess='always'></embed></object><br/><a
href='http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Start-a-Gravel-Vacuum-1287' style='fontfamily: Verdana;font-size: 10px;' target='_blank'>Gravel vacuum</a></div>
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Start-a-Gravel-Vacuum-1287
2. Check your supplies of food and testing kits and restock supplies as needed.
3. Replace filters in your filtration system as stated in the manual for your system and based
on results from your water quality tests.
References:
(2007). Freshwater Fish, Aquarium Fish, Freshwater Tropical Profiles. Retrieved September
30, 2009 from http://www.fishlore.com/freshwaterfish.htm
Foster and Smith. (2009). Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit. Retrieved
September 30, 2009, from
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4454&cmpid=aff-_-ls_-Fish-_-Master%20Test%20Kit&ref=3665&subref=AA&GCID=C12188x007
Hagen, Rolf C. (2006, January). Basic Aquarium Guide. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from
http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/bag.pdf
Mills, Dick. (1993). Aquarium Fish. New York: DK Publishing, Inc.
Picture References:
[1] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en
[2] http://www.weathershop.co.za/Sporthealth/19_1007pic.jpg
[3] http://www.petsathome.com/Assets/PetsAtHome/products/1/1/2/11282_l.jpg
[4] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en