Setup Your Tropical Aquarium
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Step #4 : Filling your aquarium with water
Place the gravel, rocks and decorations into the empty aquarium and arrange to your liking. Place the filter, air pump and heater, but do not plug them in yet! Carefully follow the directions that came with your electrical equipment. To keep the gravel in place put a plate upside down on top of the gravel and pour the water into it slowly. This will keep the gravel and ornaments in place. After the aquarium is full of water, turn on your filter, heater and air pump. Wait 24 hours before adding fish to make sure the equipment is working properly. Adjust the aquarium heater. Don't ever add fish to an aquarium filled with plain tap water. Tap water is treated with chemicals that can harm your fish. It is important to be aware that municipal tap water is treated with disinfectants (chlorine and chloramines) that are poisonous to tropical fish. Use API Stress Coat® to instantly neutralize these chemicals, making tap water safe for your fish.
Your tap water may not have the right pH for tropical fish. pH is the measure of acidity in the water. pH is measured from 0 to 14. A mixed combination of fish placed in the aquarium is often referred to as a community. Most community fish thrive at a neutral pH of 7.0. A range of 6.8 to 7.2 is acceptable for a community aquarium. Tropical fish can survive when the pH level is outside this range, but they will never reach their full coloration and beauty. Test the pH of the aquarium water with the API Freshwater pH Test Kit. If the test indicates a pH outside of the 6.8 to 7.2 range, use Proper pH 7.0 to insure the pH is safe for your fish. Proper pH 7.0 automatically adjusts the pH of your aquarium to 7.0.
Electrolytes are important to fish, because they help them to breathe. Without them, fish cannot breathe properly, so they are more vulnerable to disease. Add Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt to supply these important electrolytes fish need to help them breathe easier and remain active. Since salt does not evaporate, only add more aquarium salt if old water is removed during cleaning and water changes.