STAGE ONE

Aquarium Equipment

You are now ready to set up the aquarium. Apart from the tank itself, you will have three separate groups of 'hardware' which relate respectively to filtration, heating and lighting. It will be helpful, if, as you read this, you set these items out on a table or the floor to identify the components.

1. Filtration

   With our packages we include either a sera Internal Filter F 180(2' aquarium set) or sera Internal Biofilter B200(3' aquarium set) or B400(4' aquarium set)

   When using the 'F' Series you need to place the filter in an upright position in the rear back corner of the aquarium, whichever end of the aquarium is easier for you to access for the electrical supply and for regular maintenance. The pump is provided with suckers and they should be used to secure the pump to the rear or side walls of the aquarium (which ever suits best). The filter pump should be about level with the water surface although if it is slightly above or below the water surface it will still work correctly. Don't worry that the electrical cable entering the pump may be below the water level: this is OK as the unit is designed to be electrically waterproof and passes all the necessary safety standards.

   When using the 'B' Series you first need to glue the support bracket to the aquarium and allow it to dry before filling the aquarium with water. The filter is designed to fit on the end panel of the aquarium whichever end is most practical for you. The filter comes complete with good diagrams showing how this should be done. With this type of filter you can mount your 'Sera aquarium heater' inside the filter casing itself and again diagrams are supplied showing how you do this. Filling the 'B' filter with the filter media is shown on one of the side panels on the packaging itself. It is best to place the rinsed sera Siporax into the bottom of the filter, a net bag is supplied with the sera Siporax although it is optional if you use it. On top of this add a small layer of sera biofibres then on top of this a layer of pre rinsed sera biopur. You then place another small layer of sera Biofibers on top of this. On the heater side of the filter you then have the option of using 'Sera filter carbon' 'or' sera blackpeat granulate placing in a sera filter media bag for easy changing best uses both. On the top of either side you can place a layer of sera filter wool so that particles are retained before they enter the biological section of the filter. The 'B' type filter needs minimal maintenance and will only need major maintenance between 1 & 2 times per annum as long as the sera Filter wool is changed regularly, weekly to by-weekly depending on stocking levels.

   You will need now to wash the aquarium gravel thoroughly, this is best done a small amount at a time, in a bucket under running tap water, stirring the gravel until all the dust is removed and the water runs clear. If you have chosen to keep aquatic plants you will first need to distribute sera Floredepot into the bottom of the aquarium in the areas that you are dedicating to growing the plants and place the washed aquarium gravel on top, please follow the instructions closely.

2. Heating

   With you aquarium package you will have received a sera Heater Thermostat.

   This is all that is needed to keep the aquarium water up to the correct temperature and it comes pre-set so please don't fiddle with the adjustment knob (you can alter this later, once the aquarium is filled and has been running for a while, should you find that for some reason the water temperature needs to be altered). The heater comes with a sucker bracket enabling it to be attached to a wall of the aquarium in an upright position with the top of the heater clear of the water line, align with the water marker on the heater. When using the 'F' type filter the heater is best positioned in the same corner as the filter although not directly in the water flow of the filter. As previously stated when using the 'B' type filter the heater thermostat mounts inside the filter chamber itself, please follow the diagram provided.

   You will also have a sera thermometer, which is designed to fit inside the aquarium being attached to the sidewall of the aquarium preferably at the opposite end of the aquarium to that of the heater. The thermometer shows a safety zone in yellow outside of which is not considered safe to keep tropical fish, except in cases where specific fish are being kept that require either higher or lower temperature. The red section on the thermometer is considered the best average temperature at which to keep most fish.

3. Lighting

   sera currently do not supply lighting equipment though of course we understand just how important lighting is to the aquarium especially the plants. You will find in the 'Plant' section of this site a very interesting view of aquarium lighting by Karen Randall.

   Once the aquarium is filled you should ALWAYS turn off the main power and remove the plug before placing your hands in the water or using any implements (fish nets, scrapers etc) which bring you even into indirect contact with the water. Feed the other end of the power cable to the outside of the aquarium and leave it loose for the moment – this will be connected later.

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