Kids love having their very own pet fish to care for, and betta fish are a popular, easy-care choice. But for your family’s new pet to stay healthy and thriving, you must get the aquarium setup process correct.
In this blog, you’ll learn how to safely set up a tank for your betta and more.
1. Assemble What You Need
Start by gathering everything you’ll need for your aquarium:
- Sand/gravel substrate
- Lighting unit
- Filtration system
- Heater
- Aquarium thermometer
- Decorations
- Plants
Note smaller tanks often come as starter kits that include everything you’ll need to get up and running, which can be the most cost-effective way to go.
2. Prepare the Aquarium
Even a tank that’s fresh out of the box will most likely be dusty. Take a clean, damp cloth and wipe the inside of the aquarium to remove dust and debris. Never use detergent or glass cleaner inside the tank, as residue could poison your fish.
3. Safely Position Your Aquarium
Now, decide where you’re going to keep your tank.
Make sure you use a proper aquarium stand that’s designed to take the weight of a fish tank and its contents, or choose a sturdy countertop or desk for a smaller aquarium. The tank needs to be level to avoid placing stress on the seals, preventing leaks or cracks.
Place the tank close to a power supply so you can plug in your filter, lights, and heater. The aquarium needs to be situated away from heat sources, drafts, and direct sunlight so that your fish don’t suffer temperature shock.
Always keep the tank away from doorways and open areas where running kids or pets could bump into it, or a carelessly opened door could damage the aquarium.
4. Prepare the Substrate
Wash the gravel substrate under running water to remove dust. When the gravel is clean, add it to the aquarium to a depth of approximately two inches.
5. Install the Filter And Heater
Now, fit the filter system and heater, but don’t turn them on yet.
6. Fill the Tank with Water
Place a saucer or upturned bowl on the surface of the gravel. Fill the aquarium with tap water, directing the flow over the saucer so that the gravel isn’t displaced. Leave an inch or so below the fill line to allow for the water displacement that’ll happen when decorations and plants are added.
Don’t add a water conditioner to the water. Tap water contains ammonia, which your biological filter needs to start the nitrogen cycle.
7. Add Decorations
Rinse your tank decorations to remove dust and place them in the aquarium.
8. Add Plants
Living plants make a great addition to any freshwater fish tank, keeping the water clean and providing shelter for your fish.
Trim away dead leaves and broken stems, as per the supplier’s instructions, before adding the plants to your tank. Leave plenty of space between the plants so they’ll have room to grow.
9. Switch ON the Filter And Heater
Switch on the heater and filtration system. Adjust the heater to the water temperature recommended for your fish and plants.
You’ll need to allow the aquarium to cycle for ten days or so before you can safely add your fish. Use an aquarium water testing kit to check the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates during that time. When ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and nitrates are at or below 20 parts per million (PPM), you can introduce your fish.
If you’re building a community tank, I recommend you start with just a few fish, and allow the biological filter to mature for a couple of weeks before adding more livestock to your collection. Of course, if you want a single betta fish, go right ahead and bring him home!
10. Set Aquarium Lighting
Fish don’t need lights at all! In fact, too much light is very stressful for fish. However, living plants do need light for photosynthesis. So, if you’ve planted your tank, you’ll need to give the plants eight to ten hours of light every day to mimic daytime and nighttime.
Some lighting units have built-in timers you can set. However, a standard light timer from your local hardware shop works just as well.
11. Maintenance
Once your tank is set up, you’ll need to maintain it. I recommend changing around 25% of the water every week and rinsing the filter media in tank water once a month to keep it clean and fresh. Clean the substrate with an aquarium gravel vacuum to get rid of fish waste, leftover food, and plant debris.
Final Thoughts
So, now you know how to safely set up an aquarium!
Before buying a tank, always research the needs of the fish species you want to keep and set the tank up accordingly. Once your aquarium is established, be sure to keep it well-maintained, and you can look forward to enjoying happy, healthy fish for many years to come.