Aquarium Quick Start

1. Unpack aquarium and other apparatus. Thoroughly rinse aquarium. NEVER use detergents or commercial cleansers.	2. Place aquarium on a manufacturer recommended stand. Position tank away from drafts, heating ducts and direct sunlight.
3. Add gravel, plants, decorations, etc.	4. Set up and position filter and heater. DO NOT PLUG INTO POWER.
5. Gently fill aquarium with water, using a saucer to break the force of water. Verify that it does not leak. Ensure water has been conditioned.	6. Position canopy. Plug in heater, filter and lights. Check that temperature has stabilized at 78° F (most fish).

Adding Fish

1. Float unopened bag of fish in aquarium for twenty minutes to allow temperature to stabilize
2. Open bag and pour some aquarium water into the bag
3. Wait five minutes and pour some more water into the bag
4.Wait a final five minutes and then carefully release the fish into the aquarium. This gives new fish a chance to acclimatize themselves, a little at a time to the conditions in the aquarium, before being released.

Be careful to avoid overcrowding! A good general rule of thumb for stocking the aquarium is: 1 inch of fish per gallon of fresh water. That means that in a bare 10 gal. aquarium, 10 inches of fish can live comfortably. Remember that decorated aquariums hold less water than the started amount. With the upgrading of filtration equipment, regular water changes and good knowledge of one's aquarium, this rule of thumb may easily be doubled. Determine the final size of any new fish to ensure they will be suitable for the aquarium. (Marine fish require much more room per fish. Consult your local pet dealer for specific recommendations)
Be sure the water has been dechlorinated before fish are added. In the new aquariums, add Cycle to immediately commence biological filtration. If chloramine was present in the water, ammonia will be present. Use Amrid or Fluval Ammonia Remover in the filter to help remove it.
In a new setup, be patient and add a limited number of fish. Start with a few hardy specimens. The biosphere initially is not able to cope with excessive wastes generated by the fish. The system cannot support a full organic load until the natural cycles have had a chance to establish. Regular addition of Cycle bacterial supplement during this initial period hastens the process and reduces the possibility that fish will be poisoned by their decaying wastes. The addition of Cycle helps alleviate one of the greatest difficulties for the new aquarist. After a suitable run-in period (about six weeks), the water will have aged and the biological filter will become established. Some new specimens can be safely added to the community.