How To Setup A New Fish Tank

November 27, 2018 / By Dr. Jessie Sanders, DVM, DABVP (Fish Practice) / Fish Tanks, Water Quality

Ready to get started? Join along with our Boo & Bubbles characters to see how to setup a new fish tank! Read through our check list to make sure you have everything you need to start!

two lady one cat — Be sure to place you tank on a sturdy table, away from direct sunlight. A waterproof tablecloth can be used to protect any porous surfaces.

filling tank with water — Setup your filter and add water to your tank. Try to pre-heat your water if you are adding tropical fish! Turn on your heater and use a thermometer to make sure it is working properly.

Filling water treatment — Add dechlorinator that treats chlorine AND chloramine to make tap water safe for fish. You DO NOT need to add any other water conditioners or bacterial starter.

decorating tank — Rinse ALL substrate decor thoroughly before adding it to your tank. If your water is cloudy after adding the substrate and decor, perform a >75% water change to remove the particulates.

Acclimating fish — Allow your fish to float in their bag for 10-15 minutes, until the temperature in the bag and the surrounding water has equalized. If your fish has been in the bag for more than 2 hours, you will need to add a little tank water to the bag to help slowly adjust the pH. Add 1/4 cup of water every 5 minutes until the water volume in the bag has doubled.

releasing fish — Catch your fish out of their bag with a soft net. Transfer them to the tank and pull out the bag of water and throw it away. Do NOT dump it into the tank.

cat wants to play with fish — Watch your fish carefully for 10-15 minutes. Hiding is a normal behavior. Your fish may not be interested in eating their first day in a new tank. Offer a small amount and watch to see if they are interested. If your fish stops moving, test your water chemistry ASAP.

After you setup a new fish tank successfully, all you have to do is keep up with your maintenance, feed a good diet and enjoy!

All new tanks run the risk of new tank syndrome. Hold off adding a lot of fish at once. Start with a small bioload and your tank won’t crash.

Graph of minerals in water

Now that your tank is all set up, you need to take good care of it! Check out our cleaning checklist here and read the step by step cleaning guide. You can also watch our How To Clean a Fish Tank video!

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About The Author

Dr. Jessie Sanders, DVM, DABVP (Fish Practice)

Chief veterinarian and owner of all-aquatic mobile veterinary practice serving California and Nevada. Board certified in Fish Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.

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