| 1. Tank Decisions | | | | used in combination with a filter to clean up the |
| Decide on the size of tank you want and the material | | | | water. For example a filter may have a combination |
| its made of. Choose from glass or acrylic, with and | | | | of a physical layer of material to collect fine solids |
| without metal frames. Acrylic will be lighter but tends | | | | and a layer of charcoal to chemically adsorb organic |
| to scratch. You will not want a tank less than 45 cm | | | | pollutants and maintain the water quality. |
| long, 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep unless you are | | | | Air can be passed into the tank via air stones on the |
| buying it as a hospital, quarantine or breeding tank. | | | | end of the tubing. Ensure you have a n anti-siphon |
| Because the numbers of fish you can have in a tank | | | | valve for the air pump. Use of an under gravel filter |
| is based on the surface area of your aquarium (width | | | | (a biological filter) system involves a flat plate with |
| x length) the depth is irrelevant. As a rule, divide the | | | | outlets that goes under the gravel substrate and is |
| surface area by 12 to get the length in fish you can | | | | powered by an air pump pushing air and water |
| accommodate. For example a 24 x 12 x 12 (inches) | | | | through the substrate which encourages bacteria to |
| tank has a surface area of 288 sq ins and will | | | | develop in it that will break down the toxic waste |
| accommodate 24 inches of fish; 24 x 1 inch or 12 x 2 | | | | products from the fish, dead plants etc. |
| inch fish etc etc. | | | | 5. Tank Aquascaping |
| But bear in mind that you should use the adult length | | | | Decorations cover real rocks, synthetic rocks, real |
| of the fish in your calculations. Otherwise your | | | | wood, synthetic wood and background panorama. |
| aquarium will become overcrowded as the your fish | | | | They act as areas for the fish to hide and for shelter |
| grow and there will probably not be enough oxygen | | | | if they feel like it. Also as a resting area at night or in |
| to sustain them. | | | | the day for nocturnal species. Look out for rocks |
| 2. Heating System | | | | with a high calcium content (limestone) as that will |
| Unless you are planning to stock cold water fish only, | | | | make your water hard and unless a specific |
| then you will need to install a heater and thermostat | | | | requirement will not do any good. And do not use |
| (separate or combined). Often a glass tube with both | | | | any that appear to have metallic content in them. |
| of them in will be used with temperature control on | | | | Caves can be set up for cave-dwelling species by |
| the top of it and a separate thermometer installed. | | | | joining a few rocks together with silicone sealant or |
| You may need to fit two heaters in larger tanks to | | | | you could buy a purpose made one. Rocks can be |
| ensure the heat is distributed evenly. Allowing 10 | | | | built up to form the background or you could employ |
| watts per gallon of water would mean a 150 watt | | | | a photographic underwater scene wrapped around |
| heater for a 12 gallon tank. | | | | the back and sides of the tank to great effect. Use |
| 3. Lighting System | | | | your rocks and logs etc to hide your equipment from |
| Lighting is necessary for plant growth and also shows | | | | view. |
| off the fish at their colorful best. Fluorescent tubes | | | | Remember to wash not only your decorations but |
| are available for this purpose and give off less heat | | | | also your substrate gravel which will slope from about |
| than other types of bulb. The lights are usually | | | | 2 inches deep at the front to 3 inches deep at the |
| installed into your tank cover. And remember that | | | | back. Run water through the gravel until it becomes |
| fish don't want a tank lit up for 24 hours. | | | | clear. |
| Mimic nature by subduing the light or turning it off in | | | | You are only restricted by your imagination when |
| the evenings. Your ventilated cover will not only hold | | | | developing your aquascape. But bear in mind that you |
| the lighting system but also protect the fish from | | | | want to maintain a balance and keep a realistic |
| household pollutants (sprays, dust, dirt etc) but keep | | | | amount of free swimming area for both the fish and |
| them from jumping out and prevent loss of water by | | | | you to see them enjoying themselves. |
| evaporation. | | | | The remaining five steps in setting up your tropical |
| 4. Aeration and Filtration | | | | fish tank covering water quality, aquarium |
| An air pump is not essential and if it used to get | | | | plants,fitting out your aquarium, selecting healthy fish |
| more oxygen (and therefore more fish) into your | | | | and adding fish to your tank, can be accessed below. |
| tank and it fails then your fish will die! But it can be | | | | |