How to Set Up a Fish Tank

Start with a clean, empty tank on a level, sturdy stand that can hold the full weight once it's filled. Wipe out any dust from the glass. Then tape the reversible background to the back panel so your plants and decorations really pop against it. Pick whichever side of the background you like best. Doing this now is much easier than fighting with it after the tank is full.

Rinse your gravel in a bucket until the water runs clear. This washes out the fine dust that would otherwise cloud your tank for days. Once it's rinsed, pour a couple of inches across the bottom. Slope it a little higher toward the back so you get some depth and your plants have something to root into. Spread it evenly with your hand.

Rinse your plants and decor first, then start arranging. Push the tall plants toward the back and sides, and keep the shorter ones up front where you can see them. Set your centerpiece, like a shipwreck or a big rock, where you want the eye to land. Bury the bases in the gravel so nothing floats loose. Step back and tweak it until the layout looks right to you.

Give the filter cartridge a quick rinse, then slide it into the hang-on-back power filter. Hook the filter over the back rim of the tank and drop the intake tube down so it sits near the bottom. The filter is what keeps your water clear and healthy, so make sure it's seated properly and the flow has a clear path back into the tank.

Unbox the submersible heater and mount it inside the tank, ideally near the filter flow so the warm water spreads around. Leave it unplugged for now. Once the tank is full, give it a bit to adjust to the water temperature before you switch it on. For most tropical fish you're aiming for around 78 degrees. Check it with a thermometer to be sure.

If you want bubbles and extra oxygen, set up an air pump. Run the airline tubing from the pump and fit a check valve inline. That valve is important. It stops water from siphoning back down into the pump if the power ever cuts out. Keep the pump sitting higher than the water line as a backup, and get the tubing ready to drop into the tank.

Lower the air diffuser, air stone, or bubble wall into the tank and tuck it behind your plants where the tubing stays hidden. Nestle it into the gravel so it stays put. Once the pump kicks on, it sends up a steady curtain of bubbles that adds oxygen and gets the water moving. It also just looks great as a background feature.

Fill the tank with room-temperature water and add a water conditioner to remove chlorine, which is harmful to fish. Now turn on the filter, heater, and light. Here's the part people skip: don't add fish yet. Let the tank run and cycle for a week or two so the good bacteria can build up. A water test kit tells you when it's safe. Once it's running, a little regular upkeep keeps it healthy, so learn to keep it clean and to clean the gravel as part of your routine.