- 1). Set up a glass or acrylic fishtank on an aquarium stand or on a level surface away from drafts and direct sunlight. Choose a spot that is relatively quiet, but where you will be able to see the tank frequently.
- 2). Fill the tank halfway with dechlorinated tap water. You can purchase "water conditioner" that will dechlorinate your water at any pet store and in many department stores with a "pet" section.
- 3). Add a substrate. You may choose from gravel, river rock or sand if you are looking for a natural-looking bottom to your tank, or colored glass or sea shells if you're going for a less natural style.
- 4). Add plants, driftwood, plastic castles or caves, or whatever decorations you want in your aquarium. Be certain anything you add to your tank is clean, nontoxic and aquarium-safe.
- 5). Fill your tank the rest of the way with dechlorinated tap water.
- 6). Attach and run your filter with its filter medium in place. Turn on your heater and your aerator.
- 7). Place your hood securely on your tank, and turn on the hood lights.
- 8). Allow the tank to run for one to three weeks before adding fish. Turn your hood lights on during the day and off at night. This is called "cycling" the tank. This allows beneficial bacteria to build up in your filter media, in your substrate, and on your decorations. Without enough of this beneficial bacteria, any fish you add to the tank will succumb to ammonia poisoning. You can purchase chemicals to help speed up the cycling process, or add water, gravel, decorations or filter media from a healthy, mature freshwater aquarium.
- 9). Establish your tank's optimal temperature and pH while the tank is cycling. Your optimal temperature and pH will depend on the ecosystem you wish to replicate and the plants and fish you wish to keep. Your pH can be controlled with chemical additives.
- 10
Add two fish in one to three weeks. Your first fish should be hardy, such as danios, rasboras and blue danios. Cichlids are also hardy first fish, but only if you intend on keeping a cichlid-only tank. - 11
Each week, add one to two more fish until you have reached your desired bio-load. A good rule of thumb to make sure you have at least one gallon of water for every one inch of fish.
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