How do I start a freshwater tank?

Question

I have memories of my Dads 30 gallon saltwater tank, I'd like to start a Freshwater tank of my own, most likely 25 gallons. I have decided I want to have tropical fish in my tank. Where do I go next?

Answer 1

Clean the tank, I guess. Here is the best web for you.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/howtostart.htm

Answer 2

the best way to go is to get a complete tank setup, which gives you the tank, filter, heater, thermometor etc. decide where you are going to place your tank just rememeber to put it where it will not get direct sunlight or else you will have algea growing like crazy. next you want to add you gravel or sand, the amount you put in is up to your personally taste. fill the tank and get the heater and filter running then treat it with stress coat to remove the chlorine and other harmful minerals. let the tank run at least 24 hours before buying any fish. get 2 mollies or 2 danios something hardy. check your levels about once a week for 3 or 4 weeks, the ph should be 7.0 when all your levels are within safe perameters then you can continue to add fish. just do not add the water your fish are bagged in into your tank

Answer 3

Here is a very good article on cycling a tank. You will need to cycle it before adding fish. Unless you use the fishy cycle, but that means you will need to either change water every day or buy new fish everyday. So I reccommend using the fishless cycle. Read up on fishless cycling here. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Another thing you could do is buy some bio-spira made by marineland. With that you just add your full fish load and then through in the bio-spira and no cycling is involved. Do not bother with any starters with bio-spira. Marineland has a patent on their formula and nobody else has been able to come up with a formula that works. Other products are essentially the same thing, they are just the bacteria that eats toxins produced by the fish when they poop. But only bio-spira lasts more than a week once packaged. Bio-spira has a shelf life of a year I believe.

Answer 4

Start by getting some good books. They'll give you all the info you need in an easy to digest form. Basically, decide on your tank setup, and install the basics: filter, gravel (not coral for freshwater) heater, lights and pump. Fill with water and treat with chlorine and chloramine remover. Once everything us up and running, get about 2-3 zebras, mollies, guppies... anything hardy and cheap. Let them live in the tank for about 3 weeks, checking nitrate and nitrite levels. When everything levels off and reenters the safe zone, you can add a fish or two per week until you reach your inch-of-fish-per-gallon limit. Good luck!

Answer 5

you like new water the organic and organic organisms are thoroughly distinctive. in certainty in case you in basic terms upload salt you will kill all the freshwater organisms which will foul the water and kill your marine fish. additionally the backside strata are distinctive for marine fish. you like overwhelmed coral or dolomite no longer the coloured gravels. Marine tanks are extremely some artwork yet relatively worth it! I propose a common e book and a sprint study first. the human beings on the puppy shop are in many circumstances extremely effective. don't be afraid to ask questions. Trial and blunder with a Marine ecosystem could be extremly extreme priced good success!

Answer 6

Check out the Just Starting Out forum at FishGeeks for 1,2,3s on setting up your new aquarium.