This is an important process because it will determine if the fish will be able to survive under your care. If the fish tank is setup in a negligible way, it will cause problems for the fish and eventually die off. Most people are aware on the basic items that they should get but neglect the exact details such as the quantity or specifications of the items. Some of the basic items include heater, filter, gravel and plants. Now, let us run through what are the things that we need to take note of while setting up a fish tank.

Before if the setup process, you need to determine what size of fish tank are you using. If this is the first time you are keeping fishes, it is recommended that you get a 20-30 gallons size tank. It is spacious enough for the fishes to move about and at the same time it will not be too difficult for you to take care of it. Very small and large tanks require you to have more knowledge as there are more requirements that you need to take care of. Therefore, stick with a medium size tank for now if you are really new into this.

After determining the size of your fish tank, it is time to buy the various items for your fishes to live comfortably in. First, you need to get a heater. Generally, keep the water temperature between 75-80 degree F. You can check with the fish store specialist in getting the right Walt of heater. I recommend getting a spare heater in place so that if one gets faulty, you can get the other one to work immediately. If you want to go the extra mile to take care of your fishes, get a thermometer to test the temperature of the water regularly.

Now that you have taken care of the temperature of water, you need to focus on the fish tank filters now. As a general rule of thumb, you should get one that is able to pump about 5 times of the size of your fish tank. Therefore, a 20-30 gallon tank will need a filter that is able to pump about 100-150 gallons per hour. At the same time, the filter helps to remove solid waste of fish which contains a high percentage of ammonia and is harmful to the fish. Getting a good filter will help to convert the ammonia to nitrate which is less toxic to the fish. The nitrate in the water can be removed by changing the water frequently.

Next, if you intend to decorate your fish tanks with pebbles or plants, you need to make sure you follow this step. Wash the gravel and pebbles thoroughly with clean water to remove the dirt and dust. You need to fill the bottom bed with about 1.5 inches of pebbles and gravel before setting up the plants.

These are the general knowledge you should have when setting up your fish tank. In addition to all this, you might want to take note of the time when you are ready to place your fish tank on either a fish tank stand or any furniture you deem that is able to support the tank. Make sure that the tank is level to prevent it from toppling over. At the same time, if you insist on getting a smaller size tank then you need to know that water level is more stable on bigger size tank because there is more room for the fish to swim. Imagine yourself living in a house that is swaying left and right from time to time, will you feel comfortable? If not then make sure to get a proper size tank for your fishes. Hope you have learn some basic tips on setting up a fish tank. Enjoy the process.