AQUARIUM SETUP GUIDE

Aquarium Substrates

SUBSTRATES, AQUASOILS, GRAVEL & SAND

Ask one of our team members for help if you’re unsure on the substrates you want to use for the bottom of your aquarium. We’d be happy to help you decide by giving you the pros and cons of each type of substrate from top brands like CaribSea, UNS Controsoil, and more.

Not all substrates need rinsing; some soils are designed to be introduced straight into the tank.

  • INSIDER TIP - If you have substrate and hardscape from an already established tank, adding some of that media to your new tank can help speed up the aquarium seasoning process, introducing beneficial bacteria to get you through the nitrogen cycle.

  • Tip #2 - To reduce cloudy water on setup, be careful to not disturb the substrate too much as you’re adding new water to the tank.

Aquarium Hardscape

DRIFTWOOD

Most pieces of driftwood will float at first and will need to be attached to a rock, weight, or spray foamed into the tank. After about a month expect the wood to water log and stay submerged. No boiling required.

  • Spiderwood will grow a layer of white fungus that will eventually fall off. This is completely normal and harmless to the fish, plants, and system. Fish and Invertebrates will likely snack on it and you can easily siphon it out. This process will only happen one time and you likely will begin to see algae growth in its place.

HOW TO ATTACH & SINK DRIFTWOOD

Here’s a list of easiest ways to attach, weigh down, and secure driftwood inside a tank. Listed by least to most permanence.

  1. Zip Tie (all sizes and can be easily hidden or removed)

  2. Fish-Safe Superglue (smaller pieces on rock)

  3. Fish-Safe Epoxy (all sizes on rock or tank glass)

  4. Fish-Safe Silicone

  5. Fish-Safe Expanding Foam + Silicone

ROCK

Most pieces of rock will need to be rinsed under tap water to remove dust.

  • Use caution when handling Dragon Stone, it can be sharp, brittle, and very dusty

Filters

ALL-IN-ONE Aquarium

Some All-in-One aquariums like the Fluval Flex kit or the Fluval Spec kit come complete with a filter already built into the tank. No filter decision needed!

STARTUP

  1. Use the included media in a new kit, or customize the back chambers with media options like filter floss, sponge, ceramic, crushed coral, carbon. We stock bulk filter media!

  2. Fill the tank and filter chambers with treated water before turning on pump. Do not run the filter pump out of water or dry.

  3. Clean filter media when noticeably dirty under warm tap water. About 1-2 weeks depending on stocking and feeding.

HANG ON BACK FILTERS - Tidal filter, Mighty nano filters, Oase filters

STARTUP

  1. Use the included media in a new kit, or customize the back chambers with media options like filter floss, sponge, ceramic, crushed coral, carbon. We stock bulk filter media!

  2. Fill the tank and “prime” the filter with treated water before turning on pump. Do not run the filter pump out of water or dry.

  3. Clean filter media when noticeably dirty under warm tap water, or replace and add new floss/sponge. About 1-2 weeks depending on stocking and feeding.

SPONGE FILTER - Aquarium Solutions and other top brands

STARTUP

  1. Measure total length of airline tubing needed to run from the bottom of the tank to the air pump.

  2. Add the Check Valve. These keep water from back syphoning into the air pump in the case of a power outage. To install: Cut airline at about 2/3 the length and splice in a Check Valve to reconnect the tubing.

  3. Connect one end to the air pump and the other to the sponge filter.

  4. Place the sponge filter in the tank and turn on the pump!

  5. Clean about every 4 weeks by squeezing out sponge under warm tap water. Squeeze dry the sponge and add back to the tank. Do not allow the sponge to completely dry out.