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12 Nov 2018 - Setting up your new AquariumSetting up your new aquarium The original article was written by Sacha a few years ago, thank you Sacha. Setting up your new aquarium There are two major causes of fish deaths in an aquarium; new tank syndrome and over feeding. Aquarium Location When you choose a location for your new aquarium in your house it is important to remember the following points: Filling the Aquarium Adding the Electrical Equipment to the Aquarium What you need: Why Filtration for Aquariums? The Filtration Process: Importance of Checking Water Chemistry Choosing the right filter Top Tips: When to Add More Fish Filter Maintenance: Feeding and Filter Maintenance: Feeding Fish - The Dietary Dilemma: Energy: Proteins: Carbohydrates: In 30cm deep aquarium it may take up to 2 minutes for the first flakes to sink to the bottom. If the tank contains a high number of surface feeding fish then it can take considerably longer for the remnants to arrive at the tank base. Even if bottom feeding fish, such as Corydoras or loach, are fed with sinking pellets, the fish may have to wait for up to 5 minutes to ‘soften up’ before they can be eaten. Even this short period of time can lead to a dramatic decline in the nutrient content of food.
If you are unsure about the compatibility of the fish you have your eye on or their suitability for your aquarium set up ask a member of staff for advice. Any reputable shop will happily provide accurate information about the purchase/keeping of livestock and the correct use of products they sell and if your present equipment is suitable for those fish you intend to take home. Make sure you inform the staff of the journey time involved in transporting the fish home. They will be able to provide you with a purpose designed container to reduce the stress levels the fish are exposed to. It should also carry a sufficient amount of oxygen for the duration of the trip, an appropriate amount of water, and provide insulation for tropical or marine fish. Covering the fish up whilst in transit will be greatly appreciated by your new pets, direct sunlight will not only increase water temperatures it will also cause unnecessary stress Introducing your fish to their new home: Begin by floating the fish in their bags in the aquarium. At this stage once all the fish are floating in their bags, do a check on the tank temperature using a glass thermometer or similar instrument. The fish will need floating for around twenty minutes in their bags. This will allow the water in the bag to adjust gradually to the surrounding water temperature in the aquarium, of course with the fish in the bags they too will acclimatise at a steady rate which is safe to them. Once the fish have adjusted to the water quality and temperature, it is now time to release them into their new home. You may notice at this stage that some of the fish will swim straight to the bottom or hide behind some rocks or plants, do not panic this is only natural, in time they will adjust to their surroundings. We advise monitoring the fish carefully for the next 12 hours, and begin feeding around 24 hours after the move. Water Quality Testing your water quality will enable you to see that all water parameters are safe for the fish and that the filter has successfully matured to its previous state. If you are concerned by any of the results shown in the water test, consult your local aquatic retailer for detailed advice. Conclusion Provided you take care to follow the procedures mentioned above, we are confident that in a very short space of time you will be able to appreciate your beautiful aquarium. Happy fish keeping
About the author
Stephen registered at Tropical Fish Forums UK on August 05, 2013, 12:00:00 am and has posted 11555 posts in the boards since then. Last visit was January 22, 2021, 07:55:19 am.
Articles in « The Aquarium »
Comments
Written by Sacha
on January 01, 2013, 11:03:02 pm
Hi Hayley, 1) Yes, that's exactly what you need. 2) Mature filter media is anything that comes from an already established filter. So if someone has had a tank set up for a year, and they give you a sponge from their filter, then you put that sponge into your own tank, you are adding good bacteria from your friends tank, into your own tank. This speeds up a cycle. 3) It's very important not to shock your fish through temperature shock. You should match the temperature of the new water to the temperature of the tank. Your fresh water will probably be too cold, so maybe add some boiled water from the kettle, to bring the temperature up to the same temperature of the tank. Just fill a bucket of tap water and a bit of boiled water, to bring the temperature up a bit, then add the dechlorinator to that bucket. You should have some way of measuring how much water you're adding to the bucket. I have a big tub, and on it, I have labelled with a permanent pen "10 litres", "20 litres" and "40 litres", so I can see how much water I am adding to the tank. Also, your fish should always be in the tank during a water change. You shouldn't take them out of the tank. You should also never do a full water change. 50% should be the maximum amount of water you change at once. I hope this helps a bit but let me know if it isn't clear. Maybe better to just make a thread in the forums, instead of here. Written by hayleyj101
on January 02, 2013, 12:52:11 pm
Thankyou so so much for all your help and advice x
4) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by andrew197
on January 03, 2013, 04:03:38 pm
Hello, What a fanstastic article. I have read it a few times and just enjoyed the read! Thank you. I have a couple of questions as a newbie to keeping fish and I have a tank to collect in the next couple of days and want to get things completely right before adding fish (obviously). My queries are different as the tank I am getting has been used (up to literally today/tomorrow until the move their fish to their new tank). It comes with its own internal filter and an additional external filter. What, specifically, do I need to do with this in terms of the cycle? I have just systematically gone done the list you provided and bought the items - great fun! Thanks very much Andy Written by Sacha
on January 03, 2013, 04:17:11 pm
Hi Andrew, Thanks for the comments- glad you enjoyed the article. The person you are getting the tank from- can you ask them how long the tank has been running with fish? If it is a long time, longer than say a couple of months, in theory you shouldn't have to cycle it at all. The filter should already be cycled. Just make sure that the filter stays wet, otherwise the bacteria might die. I'm sorry you bought the items- you probably wont be needing the ammonia. Maybe cancel the order? If you could find out exactly how long the filters have been running for and let me know, that would be great. It's probably better to send me a private message though instead of clogging up this space. Cheers, Sacha
6) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by andrew197
on January 05, 2013, 08:08:52 pm
Just a quickie - can a tap, safe type product such as Biotopol - Makes water safe be used instead of a bog-standard dechlorinator. I have the former and I ready to go if yes. If not, then I am waiting on a delivery around Wednesday for dechlorinator. I would like to get started on my cycle asap. Thanks Written by SeanFace101
on March 12, 2014, 12:33:29 am
This is a really good informative article. I didn't have a clue about the different bacteria, not even about any fishless cycle either. Since reading this I now have my water testing kit order and will start things when I have tested the water. Thanks.
8) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by 0
on June 28, 2014, 09:29:53 am
This info is blimmin brilliant - thank you so much!
9) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by 0
on October 17, 2014, 02:28:01 pm
Hi, this is exactly the info am looking for great article. But I have one question on this. If I can't get mature filter media what steps will I have to take to make a good health fishless cycle. Thanks
10) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by plankton
on November 25, 2014, 11:50:46 am
Please note that we have discovered that the cycle is more efficient if, in instruction 4, you only top up to 2ppm once the concentration falls, so it sort of combines with instruction 5. ![]() If you do use mature media, then only start at 2ppm, not 4ppm.
11) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by strider60l
on July 10, 2016, 05:43:12 pm
Thank you for this post sacha its really good :D I only have one question, in regards to the fishless cycle you say to take a carbon filter out, i have a new filter sponge i bought on the cheap from a discount crate haha would i be better to replace the carbon with the sponge instead of just leaving a section of my filter spare ?? Thank you
12) Re: Setting up your new Aquarium
Written by 0
on February 06, 2017, 08:55:05 pm
Hi Sorry to jump on this post but im looking for some advise please. We set up at 60litre tank for our daughter 3 weeks ago as per aquatic shops advise, all water was fine. We toom a sample down on saturday and got the ok to get fish. We got 6 guppies and 2 clown pleco, all were fine then last night and today 1 of the flame guppies were staying an inch off the bottom, he was swimming very fast but not actually going anywhere. I phoned the aquatics shop to get some advise (we already did a white spot treatment on them the day we got them, 2nd dose is wednesday) she told me to bring him in amd they will quarantine him and to get another fish, we did that although sad to leave Jasper behind, she also advised me to get some aquatic salt and said 1 teaspoon per 5 litres to me. So i got home reintroduced the new fish and put 10 teaspooms of auatic salt in, all fish seem fine and are swimming happily. I did some reserch about adding salt later on and i have read its 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons!!! I have done a 6% water change as my partner said it will stress them out if i do anymore. Will my fish be ok, i have been so carefull and im now scared that i may have harmed them. Any advise will be great please. Written by Kashka
on September 16, 2017, 05:38:12 pm
Hello, thanks for the great post. Whilst I appreciate the need for patience, can I gradually add water from my existing tank together with water purchased from my local fish shop to do the job? Commenting option has been turned off for this article.
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I will probably have a few questions if you don't mind! Here's my first three!
1) Amazon have no stock of the Jayes Ammonia - is this the same thing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Klenoff-Household-Ammonia-500ml/dp/B000TAWBLC/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357070129&sr=8-1-fkmr1
2) What is mature filter media
3) When I do a water change - do I just add cold tap water to the tank and add the water treatment at the same time? What if there are fish in there during my water change - what temp does the water have to be when I add it to the tank?
Sorry for the silly questions, I am very new to this!
Thank you! x