The ultimate recipe for a successful sweet water aquarium (part 6)

The setup

The setup is the most important off all actions in order to achieve a stable biotope aquarium.

First, we put a layer of live substrate of about 10 cm. 

Then we fill the tank with tab water. Yes. Just tub water.

Then we start the filter to circulate the water for about 4-5 days!

If we want, we can turn the lights on, but whatever we do, we must not put any live fish or plants before the 5-day period. 

This period is important to dechlorinate the tub water. 

If for any reason we want to add fish in shorter time we must test the water with a chlorine tester just to be safe.

Please note that chlorine will burn the fish gills and not leave the aquarium to develop the so much needed beneficial bacteria which are crucial for the life cycle.

When the water is safe, we are ready to add our first fish. At this point please do not add more than one fish and one plant every week only, for the first 3 to 4 weeks!

This is very important for the beneficial bacteria to develop gradually otherwise dangerous pollutants will develop and water tests and changes must be done to ensure the fish safety and this can be a very tiring and not safe way to go.

From this point on you can put more fish but here comes the most important advice you should follow.

From this point on, your aquarium will start to mature.

This means that you should check the Ph of the water every day to check if it tends to drop.

Please note that your water Ph must never go below 7.0 which is neutral.

Αnything more is fine, but anything less is acidic and will burn everything !

Here the only method to avoid the Ph drop is only frequent water changes. There is no other way.

Thankfully this period will not last more than 3- 4 months and normally the water Ph will not drop more than once a week, but please keep checking!

After this period the water Ph will remain constant and you can finally rest! 

Well, almost.

Althaw your water is now stable, you cannot avoid evaporation, which will evaporate pure water, leaving all minerals inside the water Colum which in turn, will increase the water total hardness which is not toxic but it is like us drinking 'hard' water. Not so good.

This is again can only be avoided by water change, but the good news is that this is only needed once or twice a year! 

Having said that, you are ready to setup your fresh water aquarium.

And please remember your aquarium will be better of with out you than messing with it all the time!