Instructions
Equipping an Aquarium
Research the fish you wish to obtain. Determine their maximum size, optimum water conditions and their compatibility with other fish.
Calculate the total adult sizes of the fish you wish to obtain -- small fish require at least 1 gallon of water for each inch of fish and larger fish require at least 3 gallons for each inch. Obtain a sufficiently-sized fish tank -- larger if the fish require a great deal of shelter or plants.
Obtain an aquarium stand capable of supporting the weight of the filled aquarium. Place the stand in a location that is not exposed to drafts, direct sunlight, loud noise (such as televisions) or excessive human traffic.
Fill the aquarium halfway with water. Add any substrate, rocks, logs, plants and ornaments needed for your planned fish population. Install a filter and aerator that are rated for the aquarium's water capacity or greater. Install a thermometer and a heater mechanism for temperature regulation. Finish filling the aquarium to 1 or 2 inches below the rim.
Stabilizing Water Quality and Cycling the Tank
Turn on the filter and the aerator. Maintain the water temperature that is necessary for the fish that will be added later. Use the heater to raise the temperature. Float sealed plastic bags of ice in the water to lower the temperature -- never pour ice or cold water directly into the aquarium.
Test the water's pH with a water testing kit. Use pH raising or pH lowering chemicals to bring the water pH to the recommended levels for your intended fish. Test the pH weekly and adjust the water as needed.
Add five drops of ammonia for every 10 gallons of water in the aquarium. Repeat ammonia application daily. Use a water testing kit to measure ammonia and nitrate levels daily.
Decrease the daily dosage to three drops of ammonia for every 10 gallons of water once nitrate levels are detectable with the water testing kit.
Stop adding ammonia after ammonia and nitrate levels are no longer detectable. Add fish to the tank as soon as possible after this point.
Feed the fish only as much food as they can consume within five minutes. Allow scavengers and bottom feeders 30 minutes to consume their food. Remove any excessive food after these time periods with a fish net or a skimmer.
Promote the growth of algae if any algae-eating fish (such as plecos) are present in your aquarium. Remove excess algae from the glass with a magnetic algae scraper but leave several ornaments or rocks untouched.
Adjust light levels slowly to avoid stressing the fish. Turn on the room lights at least ten minutes before turning on the aquarium lights. Turn on the room lights and keep them on for at least ten minutes after turning off the aquarium lights.
Replace a portion of the aquarium water every two weeks to maintain water quality (see section four for details).
Water Changes
Fill open plastic buckets with the equivalent of 20 to 30 percent of the aquarium's volume. Allow the buckets to sit undisturbed for one to two days to allow trapped chlorine to dissipate.
Remove 20 to 30 percent of the aquarium's water with a siphon filter and dispose of it. Use the siphon filter to vacuum the aquarium's substrate and remove lingering food or waste.
Remove no more than half of the rocks and ornaments (no more than a third if algae-eating fish are in the tank) and scrub off any algae with a brush or sponge. Soak them in a solution of 1 tablespoon of plain bleach and 1 gallon of water. Rinse them thoroughly until no trace of bleach odor is detectable before returning them to the tank.
Add the dechlorinated water to the tank. Test the water 24 hours later and adjust the pH if necessary.
Replace the filter cartridge during the first water change scheduled after the filter's listed lifetime. Do not clean any rocks or ornaments during this water change to avoid removing too many beneficial bacteria from the tank at once.
How to Run a Freshwater Aquarium
Operating an aquarium is not necessarily difficult but it does require significant effort to control the many variables involved in an active tank. The establishment of a nitrogen cycle is critical to any aquatic organism. The proper equipment must be used to maintain the correct water conditions for the particular species involved, and appropriate substrate and plants are needed to provide shelter and reduce stress for captive fish. Finally, the tank must be regularly cleaned to preserve equipment and water quality.