How to Set Up a Fresh Water Fish Tank

Unless you want to spend the next three months buying new fish every few days, get a book and read up on fish and fish tanks. Without good filters, pure water, and a good water treatment to prevent “itch” and other maladies, you’re wasting time and money. Now, for the fun part, here’s a few pointers on how to get started.

I would recommend that you not start with a huge tank. Get a cheap 10 gallon tank. If you want to buy a kit, that’s ok. You just need to make sure that you get either an under the gravel filter or a power filter that hooks up to the back of the tank. Either will do a good job, and both require regular cleaning with the proper tools. The filters will come with cleaning instructions, but you will have to buy the supplies and tools for cleaning separately.

Set the tank up in a room in the house where there are not too many changes in the temperature. Right next to a busy outdoor exit is not the best. If you do not get your water from a well, you will need some treatment to take the chlorine and other toxins out of the water. Usually, this amounts to a pill or two or a spoonful or two of a powder.

You want to add your air pump if not needed for the filter at this time too. Throw in some gravel and a few toys and fake plants. Fish like to hide. Set up your tank and filters and allow them to run for a week or so without fish. This will stabilize your tank so the fish will thrive better.

Depending on the type of fish, you will probably need a thermometer and heater. All tropical fish need warm water. Tropical fish like the water to stay above 70 degrees F. When you buy the fish, ask for the food that will be best for the kind of fish you buy. You will bring your fish home in a plastic bag. Just put the bag in the tank with the fish in it. Let it float around for 15 or 20 minutes for the water temps to become equal. Then get your hands wet and open the bag in the water. Let the fish and water both out into the tank. Put the lid on the tank, turn on the light, and begin to enjoy your fish. Wait a few hours before the first feeding.