Pro Tips for a Successful First Week – For New Tank
Pro Tips for a Successful First Week – For New Tank 🐟 I know you’re excited to add fish to your new tank—trust me, I was the same at 10 years old. – KelvinBut setting things up right from the start means fewer problems, healthier fish, and way more enjoyment down the road. ✅ Adding Fish on Day 1? Read This First.It’s possible—but only if done carefully. Here’s what you should do: 💧 Do a 50% water change every 2 days for the first weekThis helps dilute toxic ammonia and nitrite, which spike in new tanks 🦠 Add beneficial bacteria daily to speed up filter maturity 🍽️ Follow the 15-second feeding rule—only feed what your fish can finish in 15 seconds ✅ Do NOT overstock the tank at once 🐠 Start with hardy fish species that tolerate early fluctuations(Not sure what’s hardy? Ask our staff in-store—we’re happy to help!) 🧮 Example: If your nano tank can eventually house 15 small fish, start with just 3 first, then increase gradually over the next few weeks ✅ Don’t want to do frequent water changes?You can add temporary chemical aids to help stabilize the water: ⚠️ These products are only short-term solutions—they help, but nothing beats a well-cycled filter. 🌿 Add Plants on Day 1—Your Tank Will Thank YouLive plants are nature’s water filter. They help balance your tank faster by: Absorbing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate Releasing oxygen into the water (when photosynthesis takes place) Providing shelter and natural beauty 💡 Pro Tip: Go for hardy, beginner-friendly plants like hornwort, moss balls, Java fern, Anubias nana, or floating plants like Amazon frogbit. 🦐 Wait Before Adding ShrimpShrimp are awesome—but they’re delicate. They don’t do well in new tanks where water parameters fluctuate. Add shrimp only when your tank is: ✅ Ammonia = 0 ppm ✅ Nitrite = 0 ppm ✅ Nitrate < 40 ppm ✅ pH and temperature are stable 🦐 Pro Tip: Wait at least 3–4 weeks before adding shrimp, and always test your water first. ✅ Keep Your Hands Clean (Literally)Always wash your hands before and after handling anything in your tank. 💡 Avoid lotion, soap residue, or hand sanitizers—they can harm your fish. ✅ Don’t Touch the Filter Media Yet Your filter is working hard to grow beneficial bacteria—don’t rinse or disturb the filter sponge or bio media during the first few weeks. Let the cycle build! ✅ Limit Lighting to 6 Hours DailyNew tanks are prone to algae blooms. Keep lighting simple: Use a timer if possible Don’t place the tank near windows 💡 Too much light + nutrients = algae party. ✅ Observe Your Fish, Don’t Just Feed ThemTake 2–3 minutes daily to watch your fish closely: Are they breathing fast? Hanging near the surface? Clamped fins or not eating? These are early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. ✅ Test Your Water Around Day 3 & 7Even if everything looks fine, test your water—ammonia and nitrite are invisible but deadly. 💡 No test kit yet? Bring a 150ml sample to our store—we’ll test it for free. ✅ Add Only One Type of Fish at a TimeEach species may carry different bacteria. Mixing too many species at once can stress the tank (and the fish). 💡 Start with one species, let them settle, then expand your community slowly. ✅ Make Time to Learn, Not Just Set UpYou don’t need to know everything at once, but aim to understand: The Nitrogen Cycle Why pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate matter How to observe and troubleshoot fish behavior 🧠 It’s not just setup—it’s a journey. And you’re doing great. 👉 Next Up: Basics of Freshwater Ecosystems 🐡 Puffed up with knowledge? Give us a like and keep floating along! Proudly presented by our That Aquarium Digital Team, where innovation meets aquatic excellence. Published on 13 June 2025 Author: Kelvin Phua Illustrator(s): Chai Minyu, Abbie Tan
Beginner 15 Minutes Set-up Guide
Beginner-Friendly Freshwater Tank Setup in Just 15 Minutes Yes, It’s That Easy — I Wish I Had This When I Was 10! – Kelvin Hey there! If you’re new to aquariums and feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath—you’re in the right place. This guide is designed for beginners, especially those just like me 20 years ago, standing in front of my first tank at age 10, unsure where to begin. Let me walk you through a simple, fuss-free freshwater setup you can put together in just 15 minutes—yes, really. Whether you’re starting with a non-filter tank or a mini-filter setup, I’ll guide you step by step, including what to buy, how to set up, what fish to choose, feeding tips, and basic maintenance. What You’ll Need (Non-Filter Setup) This is the simplest, most peaceful form of keeping fish—a still water setup. Best for Betta fish or hardy nano fish like endler guppies in a small, calm tank. Step-by-Step Setup (Non-Filter Tank) Rinse the tank with clean water. (no soap!) https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tank-washing-sq.mp4 2. Wash the Gravel. (no soap! Till non-cloudy) https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wash-gravel-sq.mp4 3. Add the Gravel into your aquarium. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/add-gravel-sq.mp4 4. Wash and Place Rocks, Driftwoods, and Ornamentals into the tank. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ornamental-sq.mp4 5. Add Hardy Aquatic Plants—no soil needed. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/aquatic-plants-sq.mp4 6. Fill the tank with treated tap water (use anti-chlorine). Add blackwater extract for soft water species (optional). https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/water-conditioner-sq.mp4 7. Turn on the light—this keeps plants healthy and helps you enjoy the view. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/adding-light-sq.mp4 8. Gently introduce your fish using acclimation steps. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/15-sec-feeding-sq.mp4 Watch this short video for a complete step-by-step guide to setting up a non-filter tank. Alternatively, click here to download the PDF versions of the following guides:– Step-by-Step Filtered Aquarium Setup Guide– Step-by-Step No-Filter Aquarium Setup Guide– Beginner No-Filter Maintenance Guide https://youtu.be/p1NfPpF0T1E 💡 Pro Tip: Give your aquatic plants at least 6 hours of light daily to support healthy growth. Ideal Fish for Non-Filter Tanks Betta fish (1 per tank, at least 15 cm tank recommended) Endler guppies (2-3 pieces per tank, for larger still-water setups, at least 20 cm tank recommended) Rice Fish (2-3 pieces per tank, for larger still-water setups, at least 25 cm tank recommended) Snails Red/Blue Lily Gourami (1 per tank, at least 25 cm tank recommended) 💡 Pro Tip: For new tanks without filters, keep the fish load light. Plants will do the heavy lifting in maintaining water quality. Feeding: The 15-Second Rule Feeding too much is the #1 mistake new hobbyists make. Only feed what your fish can eat within 15 seconds—once a day is enough. 💡 Pro Tip: Leftover food becomes toxic waste. Always remove uneaten bits if possible. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/15secondfeeding-compressed.mp4 Maintenance (No Filter) Top up evaporated water with Treated Water. Frequency: Every 3 days https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/water-conditioner.mp4 Water change (50%) using a syphon without taking the fish out from the tank. Frequency: Weekly https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/siphonguide.mp4 Plant trimming. Frequency: As needed https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/plant-trimming-compressed.mp4 Light and Glass cleaning Frequency: As needed https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/light-cleaning-compressed.mp4 Want a Bit More? Try a Mini Filter Setup If you’re ready for something slightly more advanced (but still beginner-friendly), a mini filter setup offers better water circulation and stability. What You’ll Need (Filter Tank Setup) Step-by-Step Setup (Mini Filter) Rinse your tank, substrate, and filter components Add gravel or soil—1 to 2 cm layer or 5 cm respectively Place or plant your Plants Fill with dechlorinated tap water – Always add Anti-Chlorine first Install your mini internal filter or hang-on-back (HOB) filter If you have already got your fishes, run at least 2 hours before adding fish please refer to this Pro Tips for a Successful First Week and Fish Acclimation Process Add beneficial bacteria to kickstart your filter system 💡 Pro Tip: Give your aquatic plants at least 6 hours of light daily to support healthy growth. Too little light can stunt plants, while too much may trigger algae—strike the right balance for a vibrant, algae-free planted tank. Watch this short video tutorial on setting up a filter in the tank: https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/parts-explained-compressed.mp4https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/filter-installation-compressed.mp4https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ensure-filter-is-submerged-compressed.mp4 Recommended Fish for Mini Filter Tanks Betta fish (with gentle flow) Small community fish: neon tetras, rasboras, endlers (depending on tank size) Shrimp and snail combos for planted setups Mexican Dwarf Crayfish Red/Blue or Dwarf Gourami Lily Coloured Rasbora aka Glofish Coloured Zebra Danio Algae Eater Crews: Otocinclus, Yamato Shrimps (depending on tank size) Bottom Dwellers: Kuhli Loaches, Corydoras such as Panda, Leopard, Sterbai Maintenance (With Filter) Here’s a short video on how to clean the filter. https://thataquarium.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cleanfilter-compressed.mp4 ✅ Recap: Beginner Tank in 15 Minutes You can start with just a tank, light, water conditioner, and plants Keep it filterless or add a small internal or HOB filter later Betta fish are perfect for still water or gentle filtered tanks Feed once a day, only what they can eat in 15 seconds Do weekly 50% water changes, and always use anti-chlorine Add plants like hornwort, Hygrophila difformis, moss balls, Java fern, Anubias Nana for beauty and water quality 💡 You don’t need a big budget to enjoy this hobby. You can start your first tank with plants and a betta for under $50! 🗣️ Need Help? Still unsure what to buy or how to start? Take a photo of your space or your tank idea and show it to our team at any of our retail stores — we’ll walk you through everything, step by step. Let’s build your first tank together. 🐠✨ The Values That Aquarium brings to your aquarium journey 👉 Next Up: Pro Tips for a Successful First Week – For New Tank 🐡 Puffed up with knowledge? Give us a like and keep floating along! 20++ Nano Tank Inspirations Under 30cm We hope these give you a spark of inspiration ✨Still unsure about what’s right for you? Chat with us in the store — we’re here to help! 😊 Previous Next Proudly presented by our That Aquarium Digital Team, where innovation meets aquatic excellence. Published on 13 June 2025 Author: Kelvin Phua Illustrator(s): Chai Minyu, Abbie Tan, Rong Sheng