So, You Want A Fish Tank?

Here are a few things to think about when you are considering getting an Aquarium.

Here are some step-by-step tips for getting started in the fastest growing hobby in the world, fish keeping. These 11 steps can help you to avoid many common mistakes and get you into a fish tank that you can live with and be proud of.

(1) Determine what kind of fish you want to keep.

One of the biggest mistakes that first time Aquarium hobbyists make is to purchase a fish tank first and then end up getting fish that they like, but that are not necessarily the proper fish for their aquarium.

The first thing you should do when you decide to keep fish is determining what kind of fish you want to keep. Different kinds of fish will require different care, different conditions, different space, and different equipment. If you get your equipment before you decide what kind of fish you are getting, you may find yourself with inappropriate or unusable equipment or insufficient space.

Research care and compatibility of those fish. Give us a call at (216) 441-5111 or stop in our store at 4070 East 71st Street, Cleveland, OH and we will be more then happy to help you match the type of fish you are considering with the right aquarium for you.

(2) Determine space.

Now that you know a little more about the fish you wish to keep, you know how large of a tank you will need. Look through your home and select a location for your new aquarium. How much space can you allocate to the tank and accessories? Remember to account for space between the tank and the wall for filters, tubing, and/or cords.

(3) Select equipment.

Give us a call at (216) 441-5111, stop in and visit us or look around our website (www.neptunescorner.com) for information on what are the best pieces of equipment for your system.

If you do not see something that you will need for your system, ask about placing a special order.

(4) Evaluate space constraints.

Can you get an Aquarium that is large enough for your fish that will fit in the space available in your home? Is another location available in your home? How committed are you to getting the fish you selected? Is one fish pushing your set-up into a different size or price bracket?

(5) Purchase equipment.

Once you have reevaluated your fish selections, space limitations, and budget, it is time to purchase equipment. If you need to special order anything, do so early, as it may take a considerable time to get equipment by special order. Also remember that Layaway is available on all of our complete Aquarium Set-Ups, for more information give us a call at (216) 441-5111.

Getting Started

Check the following list of necessary and recommended accessory items:

Essentials:
____ Aquarium
____ Aquarium Stand
____ Hood and Lighting
____ Filtration and Aeration
____ Heater (not required for Goldfish)
____ Thermometer
____ Water Conditioners (We Recommend Stress Coat & Stress Zyme or Cycle)
____ Fish Food(s)
____ Cleaning Accessories

Recommended Accessories:
____ Net
____ Aquarium Gravel
____ Decoration (Rocks, Plants)
____ Water Test Kit
____ Power Strip (Available at your local hardware store and most electronic stores)

Now That you have everything that you need, follow these steps when setting up your aquarium.

1. Aquarium and Aquarium Materials

Thoroughly rinse out your aquarium gravel, rocks, and ornaments. There is no need to go overboard with washing anything, you basically just want to remove any dust and that may have settled.

DO NOT USE ANY SOAP OR DETERGENTS! --- they are highly toxic to fish. To rinse out the gravel, put it in a bucket and add water. The gravel should be stirred and then drained. When the water stays clear after stirring and is free of debris, the gravel is clean.

2. Undergravel Filter (If you are not using an Undergravel Filter, skip over to the next part)

If an undergravel filter is used, place it on the bottom of the aquarium and cover it with 2 to 3 inches of washed gravel. Be careful not to pour sand into the filter stems. If you slope the gravel down toward the front, collecting accumulating debris will be easier.

3. Adding Water

Fill the aquarium approximately one-third full. Pour room temperature water onto a plate or saucer sitting on the gravel so it will not disturb the gravel.

4. Connecting Air Lines (if you are not using an air pump, skip over to the next part)

Connect the air line tubing from the air pump to any outlets located inside the aquarium, such as undergravel filters, air stones, or decorations. Make sure that the air pump itself stays OUTSIDE OF THE AQUARIUM.

5. Decoration and Plants

Decorate the aquarium with rocks, ornaments, and/or plastic plants. These should be arranged in such a way that the equipment will be concealed or at least will not detract from the appearance of the aquarium.

6. Add Balance of Water & Chemicals

Fill the aquarium to near the top. Leave some air space between the water and the cover. Again, pour the water in such a way that you do not disturb your decorations and gravel. Always add Stress Coat (one teaspoon per every 10 gallons of water) when adding water to your aquarium.

7. Filter, Heater, and Thermometer

If you are using any outside filters, fill them with filter materials, locate them according to instructions and make certain their siphon is free of air. Secure the heater as directed and place the thermometer as far away from the heater as possible. Make sure you can easily read the thermometer.

Let the heater sit in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes before you decide to plug it in. This allows for the glass surrounding the heating unit to match the water temeperature, so you can avoid the possibility of having the glass shatter. If the heater is plugged in too soon, or plugged in when it is not submersed in water, the heating element can malfunction and overheat and the glass tube can shatter if placed in water while hot.

Before you plug in your power filter make sure that you pour a little bit of water into the aquarium to prime your power filters motor, so it does not run dry.

If you have a stick on thermometer, peel of the protective backing and place it outside the glass, in an area where it will not ruin your view of the aquarium.

8. Starting Your Aquarium Equipment

Plug in your air pump, power filter, and heater. Check the air outlets and adjust the settings. Make certain that water is flowing properly through your power filter. Adjust the thermostatic heater to the proper temperature, checking periodically. It will take some time for the temperature to stabilize and you may have to adjust your setting.

9. Start-Up Chemicals (Water Conditioners)

Now your aquarium equipment is set-up and ready to go. If you have not already done so, make sure that you add Stress Coat (one teaspoon per every 10 gallons of water) whenever adding water to your aquarium.

Another water conditioner that is a good idea to add is Stress Zyme. Stress Zyme is a Biological filtration booster that helps with the growth of beneficial bacteria in your aquarium. You should use two teaspoons per every 10 gallons of water, when setting up your new aquarium. For regular maintenance afterwards follow the directions on the back of the bottle.

Nutrafin brand Cycle, is also an Excellent choice of a chemical to use to help the biological bacteria levels in your tank.

10. The “Break-In Cycle”

Now that your aquarium is all set-up and running you may notice that after a day or two (usually shortly after putting new fish into the tank) that the water has turned cloudy.

For the most part, all brand new aquariums are cloudy for the first few days, to sometimes the first 3 weeks after being set-up. This is something that we like to call the “New Tank Syndrome.”

Beginner aquarium hobbyists need to keep in mind that every new tank will undergo a "seasoning" process. New Tank Syndrome is typically the result of mistakes that have been made by an inexperienced fish keeper during this seasoning process.

The root cause of New Tank Syndrome is almost always the addition of too many fish too soon into an unseasoned tank, combined with improper cycling. Most experienced hobbyists, if they are being honest, will tell you that the exact same thing happened to their first tank. The natural human tendency is to want to get some flash and color going in our new tank as soon as possible. After all, that IS what we spent all of that money for right? Unfortunately, many times this first experience results in a very cloudy tank and the death of many costly fish, a disappointed hobbyist, and quite often, disappointed parents.

If you added Stress Zyme or Cycle to your aquarium, as mentioned previously in this care sheet you already helped to “jump start” the aquariums Nitrification process. Nitrification is a biological process during which nitrifying bacteria convert toxic ammonia to less harmful nitrate. All we need to do is provide the right conditions for the nitrifying bacteria to thrive. Now the key is to slowly introduce new fish to your aquarium and not overdoing it by putting in everything all at once.

You should start off with a few very inexpensive fish and let them swim around in your tank, after a few days if they do well you can slowly start adding some more.

11. Adding Fish to the Aquarium

You'll be bringing your fish home from our store in plastic bags. Please be sure to come straight home after you purchase the fish, as you don't want to leave the fish in the bags any longer than necessary. When you get home, immediately float the bags in your aquarium for 15 minutes. This allows the water temperature in the bag to slowly match the water temperature in the aquarium. After 15 minutes open the bags and slowly release the fish into the new tank. Also, be sure to add Stress Coat every time you add fish to your aquarium.

12. Cover the Aquarium

Place the hood securely on top of the aquarium to protect the fish and prevent them from jumping out. Turn on the aquarium light.

13. First Feeding and Control

It is advisable not to feed your fish until they have adapted themselves to their new environment (1 to 2 days). Watch your fish closely. If they are hiding in corners, "standing around," or showing pale colors, it is possible that something is out of order. Recheck the following:

Is the temperature correct?

Was the water too fresh? (Was Stress Coat & Stress Zyme added?)
Do the plants offer enough hiding places for the fish?
Are the fish healthy?

Whenever you have concerns about your fish (looking different, acting strangely, etc.) please call us at
(216) 441-5111. We'll be more then happy to help you.