You can wash the gravel by placing it in a colander. Put the colander over a plastic pan or bucket and add water to the colander with the gravel. Stir the gravel around, drain it, and repeat this several times until the water runs clear and clean through the colander. Once these items are clean, you can add them to the tank. Make sure the gravel is evenly distributed at the bottom of the tank. Place the rocks and ornaments in the tank so there are hiding places for your fish to explore.
Once you have filled the tank one-third with room temperature water, you should add water conditioner or dechlorinator to remove the chlorine from your fish. Chlorine in the tank water can be deadly for your fish, and/or lead to health issues. You may notice that the water turns cloudy within the first two to three days. This is due to bacteria growth and should disappear naturally.
You may want to use an aquarium check valve, which is a small valve located outside your tank to hold the air tubing. This will allow you to then place the air pump underneath your tank or aquarium. The valve also acts as a stop and prevents water from backing up in your tank if somehow the power to the tank is switched off.
Keep the live plants moist until they are going to be planted by wrapping them in wet newspaper. Plant the roots below the surface of the gravel, with the crown of the plant exposed. You can also apply an aquatic plant fertilizer to make sure your live plants grow well.
When you first cycle the tank from scratch, you will notice a buildup of ammonia around the second or third week. Then, there will be a build of nitrites when the ammonia levels drop to zero. At around week six of cycling, the ammonia and nitrites will drop to zero and you will notice a buildup of nitrate. Nitrate is less toxic than ammonia and nitrite. You can control the level of nitrate with proper, regular maintenance of the tank water. If you use the cycling kit and notice there is still a positive reading for ammonia or nitrites, your tank is still cycling and will need more time to cycle before you add the fish. A healthy tank should never show a positive reading for either chemical.
The tank water should have a zero reading for chlorine and the pH of the water should match or be as close as possible to the fish shop where your new fish is coming from.
Try to get him home right away as he will need to be introduced to the tank soon after being placed in the plastic bag. This will reduce his levels of stress and help him acclimate faster to the tank water. Your fish may lose a little coloring during the trip home but don’t worry, this is normal and your fish should recover his coloring once he is in his tank.
Always choose fish from the store that appear healthy and disease free. You should also carefully monitor your new arrival for the first several weeks to ensure there are no signs of disease or stress. Some aquarium owners will place their new fish in quarantine for two weeks to ensure he does not have any diseases or infections. If you have the luxury of time and access to another clean tank you can use as your quarantine tank, you can try this option. If you notice the fish gets sick in the quarantine tank, you can treat him without affecting the other fish or the chemistry of the new tank.
After 15-30 minutes, open the bag and use a clean cup to scoop an equal amount of water from the tank into the plastic bag. There should be twice as much water in the bag, 50% tank water and 50% pet store water. Make sure you do not mix the water from the bag into the tank water as this could contaminate the tank water. [11] X Expert Source Craig MortonAquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc. Expert Interview. 21 July 2020. Allow the bag to float in the tank for another 15-20 minutes. You can seal the edge of the bag to keep in from spilling out.
You should monitor the fish for any signs of disease or illness. If there are already other fish in the tank, you should make sure they are not harassing or bothering the new addition. With time and proper maintenance of the tank, all the fish should co-exist happily.
If you are an avid aquarium owner, you may already have a quarantine tank set up. You should keep the quarantine tank clean and prepare it before you buy new fish for your regular tank.
Start by placing the unopened plastic bag in the tank for 15-20 minutes. This will give the fish time to start getting used to the water in the quarantine tank. After 15-20 minutes, open the bag and use a clean cup to scoop an equal amount of water from the tank into the plastic bag. There should be 50% tank water and 50% pet store water in the bag. Avoid mixing water from the bag with the tank water as this could contaminate the tank water. Allow the bag to float in the tank for another 15-20 minutes. You can close the edge of the bag to keep in from spilling out. After 15-20 minutes, use a net to gently scoop out the fish and place them in the quarantine tank. You should observe the fish every day in the quarantine tank to ensure they are not carrying any disease or parasites. After two to three weeks in the quarantine tank with no issues, the fish is ready to be introduced to the main tank.
To do a 25 to 30 percent water change, remove 25 to 30 percent of the tank water and replace it with dechlorinated water. Then, cycle through the water several times with your filter to ensure the nitrate balance in the tank water is correct.
Place the fish in a bowl or bag filled with the quarantine tank water. Let the bag or bowl sit on the surface of the main tank water for 15-20 minutes. Then, use a clean cup to scoop some of the main tank water into the bag or bowl. There should be 50% main tank water and 50% quarantine tank water in the bag.
Monitor the new fish over the next few weeks to ensure he is getting along with his tank mates and is not displaying any signs of illness or disease.
