The 10, 20, or 29 Gallon Fish Tank Setup

A wide variety of aquariums–the 29 gallon fish tank, 20 gallon fish tank, or 55 gallon aquarium–are all perfect for your office or home.  Watching fish swim peacefully has been reported to lower your anxiety and reduce high blood pressure.  In order to set up any size tank, from a small 10 gallon fish tank to a medium 29 gallon fish tank, there are several steps you need to observe to ensure a safe environment for your fish.

• First, aquarium placement is critical.  While the 55 gallon fish tank is quite the beast, even a medium size like a 29 gallon aquarium will require a stable platform and enough space.  No matter what size you choose, make sure you don’t put your aquarium in direct sunlight and leave enough space for the filter and aquarium heater behind the tank.
• Add gravel and fill the aquarium with water.  Ask the pet store or forums regarding how to test your tap water and add other balancing chemicals.
• Add your filter and aquarium heater.  Run them without fish for at least 24 hours to stabilize before you add the fish.
• Add decorations to your aquarium such as rocks, plants, and other ornaments.  Make sure you leave enough swimming space!
• Start with a few fish (about 20% of the capacity of the tank, where capacity = (size of tank in gallons) inches of fish, e.g. a 29 gallon fish tank (29″ fish capacity) would start with about 6″ of fish).
• Make sure you acclimate your new fish prior to putting them into the aquarium.  Pet stores usually recommend floating the bag at the top for at least 30-60 minutes before adding your starter fish.
• Test the water after a few days.  Check the levels of nitrites and ammonia.  If the levels go to zero, you can add more fish (slowly), up to the capacity.

The tranquility of your 29 gallon aquarium will bring you years of enjoyment as you watch the fish dart around the tank and the plants wave gracefully in the water.  The simple rewards are well worth the initial effort!

To get the most of out your fish tank aquariums, check out our aquarium care ebook today and find out how you can keep your fish healthy, safe, and happy.

Successful 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit Setup

55 Gallon Aquarium Kits are not hard to setup and maintain, if you know what to do.

Adding a 55 gallon fish tank to your living space is the ideal way to bring radiant color and life to your environment.  Observing and interacting with your aquatic life can help reduce your blood pressure and lower the stresses of everyday life.

If you would like to add a 55 gallon aquarium to your home, but really aren’t sure how to get started, this bulleted list and step-by-step instruction guide will help you on your way to creating a attractive, beautiful centerpiece like the 55 gallon aquarium kit pictured here.  Adding an aquarium to your home is simple to do and well worth the effort required.

Here is what you will need:

Aquarium Basics: 55 gallon aquarium Aquarium Stand Aquarium Hood Sufficient gravel (about 5 bags) A 200W Aquarium Heater Aquarium Thermometer Power Filter System Water Test Kit Dechlorination Solution

Aquarium Decorations (a suggestion) 4 Pieces of Driftwood 9 small background plants 3 small moss foreground plants 6 accent  plants foreground 6 small foreground plants 2 Medium accent plants 1 12″ tall plant 2 15″ tall plant

First: Set up the 55 Gallon Aquarium Kit and Stand

• Put the aquarium and stand out of direct sunlight.  Sunlight causes temperature fluctuations, causes bleaching and stimulates algae growth.
• Put at least 5″ between the wall and the aquarium to allow enough space for the filter, and make sure the stand is perfectly level.  Be absolutely sure this is a good place for your aquarium.  Once you set it up, you will have to completely disassemble the heavy system if you want to move it later.

Second: Add Gravel and Fill With Water

• Be sure to rinse the gravel before you put it in, using clean water, and then add it to the aquarium.  When you add it, slope it up from the front towards the back (so the front is shallower than the back).
• Place clean plate on top of gravel and slowly fill the aquarium with water.  If your tap water contains chlorine, add Dechlorination Solution (freshwater).  For saltwater, add your balanced salt solution you’ve let sit for a day.

Third: Install Heater and Aquarium Filter

• As you install things do not plug anything until everything is attached.
• Put the power filter together and hang it on the back of the aquarium.
• Put the thermometer in a place that is visible from the front for easy monitoring.
• Assemble the aquarium heater and place it underwater, near the inlet to the power filter.

Fourth: Decorate

• As you add decorations, make sure you leave plenty of swimming room for the fish.
• Before adding, rinse all new plants with clear water.
• Start with all the background plants, then arrange the pieces of wood, add accent and foreground plants, and then finish with a few decorative rocks or ornaments.
• Continue filling aquarium with water to maximum level.
• Plug the aquarium heater and filter into the wall.
• Wait 24 hours.  Check the temperature range and adjust if necessary.  Allow temperature to stabilize before adding fish.

Fifth: Put in Fish

• Establish the nitrogen cycle by starting with no more than about 10″ of fish (10 fish, 1″ each, or five 2″ fish)
• Allow the fish bag to acclimate at the top of the tank for 1 hour, then release them into the aquarium (do not add the water they were shipped in–use a net).
• Put the light inside the canopy and put it on top of the tank.
• Allow things to stabilize for four weeks and then test for nitrite and ammonia levels.  Once the levels return to 0 (zero), start adding the rest of your fish a little at a time (no more than 55″ of fish, total).
• Fish Suggestions:
  Your 55 gallon fish tank can hold up to 55″ of adult fish.  The following is a recommendation for standard 55 gallon aquarium kits:
  • 3-6 Bottom Dwellers
  • 1-3 Algae Eaters
  • Non-aggressive schooling fish such as: Rasboras, Danios, Barbs, Rainbows, Angels, etc.

To get the most of out your fish tank aquariums, check out our aquarium care ebook today and find out how you can keep your fish healthy, safe, and happy.

Fish Tank Aquarium Water Changing Tips

Photo by: jelene 

Some quick, simple advice and things to consider when removing old water and adding fresh water to your fish tank aquariums:

- Get in the habit of changing 10-15% of the water every week. A small stocked tank can get by every 2 weeks.
- When siphoning the old water, clean the gravel too.
- If possible, let the new water sit for a day to allow the pH to stabilize and chlorine to dissipate.

Things to NOT do:

- Don’t add cold water. It could shock your fish and cause White Spot
- Don’t add water that is too hot.
- Don’t change all of the water. If you do, you’re killing the good bacteria that’s helpful to your fish.
- Try not to clean the gravel and the filter area at the same time. You want to keep some of this bacteria. So during water changes, clean the gravel and not the filter area. Clean the filter area on opposite weeks that you are changing the water in your fish aquarium.

To get the most of out your fish tank aquariums, check out our aquarium care ebook today and find out how you can keep your fish healthy, safe, and happy.