How to Set Up a Tank for Shiners

There are over 100 small North American fish termed shiners. These active and beautiful little fish derive their common name from their bright metallic look. The golden shiner, which is frequently offered as a bait fish, is one of the species often kept in aquariums. Golden shiners add a kaleidoscope of color to a fish tank when housed in a small school. They are hardy fish and will thrive in any well-maintained aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • 60-gallon glass aquarium with canopy
  • Aquarium stand
  • 10-gallon plastic bucket
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Garden tap
  • River rocks
  • Aquarium chlorine neutralizer
  • Hang-on filter
  • Filter floss
  • Bio balls
  • Nylon pouch of activated carbon
  • Aquarium heater
  • 10 to12 aquatic plants in plastic pots
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the 60-gallon glass aquarium on the aquarium stand. Ensure that both the aquarium and stand are level. Do not position the aquarium in front of a window that receives direct sunlight or unnecessary amounts of nuisance algae will grow in the tank.

    • 2

      Fill a 10-gallon plastic bucket halfway with aquarium gravel and rinse it under a garden tap. Open the tap completely to stir up the gravel. Close the tap and carefully pour out the water. Do not tip out any gravel.

    • 3

      Cover the aquarium floor with a 1-inch layer of gravel. Slope the gravel from the rear of the aquarium to the front.

    • 4

      Rinse five or six round river rocks under the garden tap, then place them on top of the gravel.

    • 5

      Fill the aquarium with tap water. Add 5 fl. oz. aquarium chlorine neutralizer to the water.

    • 6

      Remove the top of the hang-on filter. Place a handful of filter floss in the mechanical filter compartment and fill the biological compartment with bio balls.

    • 7

      Rinse a nylon pouch of activated carbon under running water to remove carbon dust and place the pouch in the chemical filter compartment.

    • 8

      Replace the top of the hang-on filter. Attach the filter to the back of the aquarium and turn it on.

    • 9

      Set the aquarium heater at 75 degrees and place it in the aquarium.

    • 10

      Position 10 to 12 aquatic plants between and behind the river rocks. Push the small plastic pots in so they are planted deep in the gravel bed.

    • 11

      Place the shiners in the aquarium and put on the aquarium canopy.