THE TROPICAL FRESHWATER AQUARIUM IS THE BEST SYSTEM FOR BEGINNERS,BECAUSE IT IS INEXPENSIVE AND REQUIRES LESS TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE THAN OTHER SYSTEMS.

CHOOSE THE SIZE OF THE TANK,THE PLACE TO LOCATE THE TANK,AND THE EQUIPMENT OF YOUR TANK.THEN SET UP THE TANK IN POSITION AT ITS INTENDED SITE.STAND THE TANK ON A SHEET OF POLYSTYRENE TO ABSORB IRREGULARITIES OF THE SURFACE BELOW AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE 4 SIDES EASILY.

PREPARE THE INGREDIENTS

· WASHED GRAVEL

· WASHED PLANTS GROUPED INTO PLANTING ORDER

· TOOLS-PLIERS,SCREW DRIVERS,PLANTING STICKS,SHARP KNIFE,SCISSORS AND HOSEPIPE.

· TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT -FILTER,AIRLIFT,HEATER,THERMOSTAT,AIRPUMP,GANG-VALVE,AIRSTONE,CABLE-TIDE,REFLECTOR-HOOD,LAMPS.

· DECORATION MATERIAL-WASHED ROCKS

· COVER-GLASS

· FISHES ADD AFTER A WEEK OR MORE

WARNING:NEVER CONECT ELECTRICALLY-POWERED AQUARIUMS (ESPETIALLY HEATERS)TO THEPOWER SUPPLY BEFORE THE TANK IS FILLED WITH WATER.ALLWAYS SWITCH OFF THE POWER BEFORE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS.

1.FITTING AN UNDER GRAVEL FILTER

USING A KNIFE,TRIM THE AIRLIFT TUBE TO SUIT THE WATER DEPTH OF THE TANK,AND SLOT IT INTO THE AIRLIFT HOLE IN THE FILTER PLATE.THENPOSITIONED IN ONE REAR CORNER,LOWER THE PLATE INTO THE TANK BASE,AND THAT IT LIES PERFECTLY FLAT.

2.ADDING THE GRAVEL

USE GRAVEL SIZE 3-5 mm TO ALLOW GOOD WATER SIRCULATION AND TO ENABLE THE PLANTS TO ROOT.FOR UNDER GRAVEL FILTER TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY,YOU MUSTCOVER IT WITH GRAVELTO A DEPTH OF AT LEAST 5 cms AT THE FRONT OF THE TANK,RISING TO DOUBLE AT THE BACK.

3.INSTALLING THE AIR PUMP

ATTACH THE PUMP'S OUTLET TO A GANG-VALVE FOR SEPARATE CONTROL OF THE AIR SUPPLY TO EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.INCLUDE A CHECH VALVE IN THE AIRLINE TO PREVANT BACK-SIPHONING OF WATER.PLACE THE AIRSTONE AT THE BACK OF THE TANK.

4.FITTING THE HEATER/THERMOSTAT

PLACE A COMBINED HEATER/THERMOSTAT DIAGONALLY ON THE BACK GLASS,KEEPING THE HEATER CLEAR OF THE GRAVEL.

5.ADDING THE ROCKS

MAKE SURE THAT THE ROCK IS SUITABLE.BED LARGE ROCS FIRMLY DOWN INTO THE GRAVEL.USE ROCKS TO HIDE AQUARIUM HARDWARE.IF YOU DESIDE TO USE AN INTERNAL RATHER THAN AN UNDERGRAVEL FILTER,MAKE SURE THAT THE ROCKS DON'T IMPEDE THE WATERFLOW TO AND FROM THE FILTER.

6.ARRANGING ROCKS

GROUP THE ROCKS THAT THEY LOOK NATURAL,KEEP ANY STATA LINES RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY FROM ROCK TO ROCK.IF YOU WANT A CAVE INTO YOUR AQUARIUM,YOU CAN MAKE ONE BY STICKING SEVERAL LITTLE ROCKS TOGETHER WITH SILICONE SEALANT.

7.FILLING THE TANK

YOU HAVE TO REMAMBER 2 THINGS.FIRST,YOU SHOULD DIRECT THE HOSEPIPE OVER A ROCK TO DISPERSE THE WATER SO THAT IT WAN'T SPOIL THE GRAVEL AND SECOND,YOU SHOULDN'T FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY.

8.PUTTING IN THE PLANTS

TALL PLANTS MUST BE PLACED BACK AND SIDES,THENFILL THE CORNERS WITH SHORTER PLANTS.THE JUNCTION BETWEEN THE ROOTS AND THA STEM MUST BE FREE FROM GRAVEL.NEXT TOP UP THE TANK WITH WATER

9.THERMOMETER

PLACE THE THERMOMETER WHERE YOU CAN EASILY CHECK THE TEMPERATURE.IT IS WISE TO PUT IT ON ONE SIDE OF THE TANK

10.PUT THE COVERGLASS

COVERGLASS IS ONE PIECE OR TWO PIECES OF PLANE CLEAR GLASS OR A SINGLE PREFORMED PLASTIC COVER.THIS TYPE HAS CUT-OUTS FOR TUBES AND FEEDING ACCESS.

11FITTING THE CABLE-TIDY

THIS CABLE-TIDY IS A SAFE,NEAT METHOD OF CONNECTING AND SWITCHING THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY TO THE AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT.THERE ARE SEPARATE SWITHES FOR LIGHTING AND AIRPUMP CIRCUITS.

SWITCH ON THE AQUARIUM HEATER AND AIR PUMP.LET THE WATER SIRCULATE FOR AT LEAST 7 DAYS

13.ADDING THE FISHES

FLOATING THE BAG CONTAINING YOUR NEW SPECIMENTS FOR AT LEAST 10-15 min TO EQUALIZE THE 2 WATER TEMPERATURES.THEN RELEASE THE FISH

Here IS A great guide on how to start your aquarium and maintain the good health of yor freshwater tropical fish

Katys Tropical Fish - A Complete Guide

e-mail me:hamiak95@yahoo.gr (hamiak)

 ENJOY YOUR HOBBY AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS

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