Sally is one of our long term customers, but a recent joiner to the blogging team.  Here she kicks things off with a step-by-step guide to setting up a brand new aquarium.

I’m a regular customer of Paddock Farm and have just set up a new tropical tank. Although I’m by no means a fish expert, I thought it would be useful for anyone thinking of setting up an aquarium for the first time to see how I went about it.

My tank (a 65-litre Juwel aquarium) is themed around a tropical, freshwater stream with mainly brightly coloured tetras, plecs and shrimps. You don’t need a big tank for this kind of set-up, as these fish are small and have few requirements – making it a perfect choice for beginners.

First I placed about an inch of white sand in the bottom and spread it fairly evenly but leaving a few natural looking contours. (If the sand is too thick, it is hard to clean and becomes dirty quickly.). Then I filled it to just below the brim with tepid water treated with water conditioner, which removes the chlorine from tap-water making it safe for the fish. If you are using bogwood then it is a good idea to have had this soaking beforehand in a bucket for around two weeks. This gets it totally saturated so it does not float to the top of the tank. I then arranged a mixture of natural looking plants in and around the wood. These create essential hiding places for fish, help establish a healthy ecosystem and – all importantly – makes the tank look good.

Next, I placed the heater and filter in one of the back corners, disguised as much as possible by the plants. It is necessary to have a powerful enough filter to get a good current going in order to keep the fish strong and well exercised, while at the same time adequately cleansing the water. The temperature for a tropical freshwater tank should be around 25-26°C. For advice on filters and other accessories, ask the staff at Paddock Farm, I have always found them really helpful and knowledgeable.

Now comes the hard part, you have to leave the tank for two weeks before introducing your first fish, as this allows enough time for the bacteria in the water to reach the correct levels and the eco system to establish itself. Don’t be tempted to introduce all your fish at once. Bring them in in groups of three or four with two-weekly breaks in between. Any shrimps should go in last, as they are the most sensitive and benefit from an established environment. My tank will hold about 25 small fish. (shrimps and snails don’t count in your final quota because they don’t use the same oxygen as the fish). The whole process can take up to 4-5 months until you are at full capacity but it is worth the patience.

Good luck. It’s great fun!