A new glass tank needs a little patience before fish move in. Follow this first-week checklist and you will avoid the most common beginner mistakes.
Day 1: position and level
Place the tank on a solid, level, moisture-tolerant surface rated for its filled weight (water weighs 1 kg per litre). Check the level with a spirit level before adding anything — an unlevel tank puts uneven stress on glass seams. Leave space behind for cables and airflow, and keep the tank out of direct sunlight to reduce algae.
Day 1–2: rinse, fill, and check
Rinse the tank with plain water only — never soap or detergent, which are toxic to fish. Rinse substrate until the water runs clear, add it, then fill slowly, pouring onto a plate to avoid disturbing the substrate. Once full, wait a few hours and run your hand around the seams and base to check for any weeping — rare, but this is the moment to catch it.
Week 1: cycle before you stock
Set up your filter and heater and let the tank run. A new tank has no beneficial bacteria yet, so it cannot process fish waste — this is why patient fishkeepers cycle their tank first. Research fishless cycling, test your water, and only add livestock once ammonia and nitrite read zero. Your fish will thank you for the wait.
Ready to start? Our 10L–100L glass tanks ship from Dartford in 1–3 working days, in reinforced glass-safe packaging.
