let's get ready...
Well, now that you have all the items necessaary to set up your new tank here is the order that I prefer to go in:
wash EVERYTHING! never use soap. Use bleach, making sure you use alot of hot water with this. start with the tank first, rinse VERY WELL, then set it aside. Wash the decor you have picked out in the same manner as the tank.
the next step is a very important one, and can get quit messy. I rinse the gravel in a spaghetti strainer in hot water only. Make sure you rinse and move it around alot and stop the sink up with a stopper. Alot of debris is in that gravel, you would be surprised. If you are using sand, rinse it a bucket of hot water and stir it around. Remove anything that floats. I use a small net.
if you have purchased a background, now is a good time to attach it. most tanks will allow you to slide the bottom edge of the background between the glass and the black plastic edge. I then only tape the top and the sides.
now you can place the filter, heater, and other electrical accessories in place, I always rinse these items too. If you have a hood, make sure you place them in the correct cutout areas. DO NOT! plug anything in yet, just get it all ready to go.
I like to add about 3-8 inches of water at this time. I always make sure it is about room temperature. This makes it real easy to set the gravel in place. Don't worry about making fancy hills or valleys yet, when you add the rest of the water it will just disturb everything you did.
now you can add more water. Plant life is the next thing to add, put the taller ones in the back of the tank and the smaller ones toward the front and middle. Add your bigger rocks or caves and then the smaller ones. Add more water, slowly into a bowl and in a clearer area. This will help not disturb the tank as much. Now you can make your hills and bury the plants deeper if needed.
go ahead now and turn everything on, take the carbon out of the filter if you are adding start right. If you are not adding start right, make sure you let your tank sit for 3-5 weeks, (add some snails or cheaper fish for cycleing). Check your thermometer and set the heater to just turn off when you get the temperature that you want, usually 72-82 degrees.
when wiping the outside glass down, never spray windex directly onto the glass. Either just use water or spray the windex onto the cloth and then wipe it down. You don't want chemical in your new set up.
HEY! are you ready to go to the fish store? have you decided on a fish? if you aren't sure what you want I put some links to the left to give you an idea.
when you decide to go to the fish store make sure it is your last stop if you are out doing other things too. (Fish should only be in the bag of store tank water for the least amount of time possible before placing the bag into your tank, 20 minutes maximum). When you arrive home put the bag of fish with water still in the bag in the tank. Every 3-4 minutes add some of your tank water to the bag, this helps the fish get used to your water. After a total of 15-20 minutes slowly let your fish swim out of the bag. This can be tough sometimes, just ease them out as gently as possible.
whenever I bring home new fish I always treat my tank with (JUNGLE) ick guard. This brand is also safe for snails. The fish stores get fish every week and they aren't the best fish keepers. Ick is the most common fish problem, so I don't want to take any chances.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Make sure you make weekly water changes! I recommend 30-50%. You do not need a siphon (though they a really handy for a large tank). Remove plants and rocks, if you like. Stir the gravel with your hands. Using a container, empty the old tank water into a bucket or sink. I always remove about 1/4 to 1/2 the amount to be changed and replace it with fresh water. I then repeat this process until 30-50% of the water change has been made. I feel this process is less stressful to the fish and it gives them time to adjust if the fresh water is not the perfect temperature.
NOTE: make sure you RINSE your hands well before cleaning, NEVER wash with soap right before cleaning. I always use the same containers for changing my tank water, as with tools for cleaning. Toothbrushes, sponges, towels, etc.
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