Step-by-Step: How to Set Up a New Fish Aquarium

✅ 1. Choose the Right Aquarium Size

• 20–40 liters (5–10 gallons): Great for bettas or small fish.
• 75–100 liters (20–25 gallons): Best for beginners – easier to manage water quality.

📌 Bigger tanks are more stable and forgiving.

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✅ 2. Select Equipment

Choose a proper aquarium from the local shop or consult us. Make sure the below mentioned are included in your aquarium.

• Aquarium tank
• Filter (sponge, internal, or hang-on-back)
• Heater (if tropical fish, e.g. 25°C/77°F)
• LED light
• Gravel or sand
• Water conditioner (removes chlorine)
• Test kit (optional)
• Net, thermometer, cleaning tools

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✅ 3. Basic start up

• Clean the new aquarium with dechlorinated water.
• Rinse the gravel/sand well to remove dust.
• Give a proper wash to gravel/sand.
• Add 2–5 cm layer to the tank bottom.

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✅ 4. Install Equipment

• Position filter and heater but don’t turn them on yet.
• Attach the thermometer (optional).
• Add decorations or live/artificial plants.

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✅ 5. Fill the Tank with Water

• Use dechlorinated water or add Aquanature Chlorine Erase, Erase+ or Erase Advance water conditioner.
• Pour slowly to avoid disturbing substrate.
• Fill about 90–95% full.

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✅ 6. Turn on Equipment

• Turn on filter, heater, and lights.
• Wait 15–30 minutes for temperature to stabilize.

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✅ 7. Cycle the Aquarium (VERY IMPORTANT)

“Cycling” means building beneficial bacteria that break down fish waste.

How to Cycle:

• Add a few drops of fish food daily or use bacteria products like Aquanature Nitrifying Bacteria or stability.
• Let it run for a day.
• Test water:
  • Ammonia should rise → then nitrite → then both drop → nitrate rises = ✅ CYCLE COMPLETE

🚫 Don’t add fish until ammonia & nitrite are 0.

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✅ 8. Add Fish Slowly

• Choose beginner-friendly fish:
  • Guppies, Platies, Zebra Danios, Neon Tetras, Betta (alone)
• Acclimate fish:
  • Float bag in tank 15–30 mins → slowly mix tank water in bag → gently release fish.

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✅ 9. Feed and Maintain

• Feed once a day (small amount they eat in 1–2 mins)
• Do weekly water changes (20–30%)
• Clean filter media once a month in tank water (not tap water).

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