Pro Tips for a Successful First Week - For New Tank

  • 3 mins

🐟 I know you’re excited to add fish to your new tank—trust me, I was the same at 10 years old. – Kelvin

But 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 week
    This 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:

Product

Purpose

Zeolite

Absorbs ammonia

Ammonia remover pads

Easy to use in filters

Nitrite removers

Helps neutralize nitrite temporarily

⚠️ 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 You
Live 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 Shrimp
Shrimp 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 Daily
New 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 Them
Take 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 & 7
Even 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 Time
Each 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 Up
You don’t need to know everything at once, but aim to understand:

🧠 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.

Author: Kelvin Phua

Illustrator(s): Chai Minyu, Abbie Tan