| Your tank is the most simple and fundamental pieces | | | | good idea to put down some 1/16th grade sand for |
| of equipment you will have in your aquarium set-up. | | | | some bottom soil. |
| You must choose a size of tank very carefully, it will | | | | The gravel that you are using must be of uniform |
| depend on the number of fish you are having and | | | | size. If you have bought your gravel at an aquarium |
| the level of experience you have with aquariums. | | | | store they will be already of uniform size. Different |
| Having a larger tank with a smaller amount of fish is | | | | types of tanks require different size grains. Be sure |
| important if you are a beginner. Circular tanks are | | | | to check what is compatible with your fish and |
| more difficult to use so I usually recommend a | | | | equipment. |
| rectangular tank. | | | | You must run water through your sand until the |
| New aquariums should be given a leak-proof test | | | | water runs clear. It is now time to spread it out on |
| before setting anything up. Full the tank with water | | | | the bottom of the tank about 3 cm deep in the |
| and if there are no leaks after twelve hours then | | | | front and 6 cm deep at the back for a nice slope. If |
| you can empty the tank and get it ready for final | | | | you are mixing the sand with gravel then have at |
| set-up. | | | | least a 6 cm layer on top of the undergravel filter, |
| You can now start to set-up the aquarium. You will | | | | less than this lowers the filtering capacity of the tank. |
| first need substrate like sand or gravel. Firstly it is a | | | | |