My aquarium has been inactive with no fish. What should I do to have a nice enviroment for newcomers?

Question

It's a freshwater 26 gallon. Right now it's just a glass box of standing water, hasn't fish in it for a while. I guess I should do a large water change, huh? Anything else?

Answer 1

Get a filter, a heater, an airator or bubbler of some kind, gravel, and some decorations.  And a light.  If you already have all that stuff, good.  

Next, get some ammonia test strips.  Test your tank for nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia.  Make sure your ammonia cycle is still active.  Consider adding some fish flakes and then monitoring your ammonia activity.  If your tank isn't cycled, cycle it again with fish flakes.  

Once your tank is cycled or proved to already be cycled, you can add fish.  

Answer 2

Replace all the water and add a light, hood, filter and a heater (Depending on the type of fish you are keeping) Do a fish less cycle and your tank will be ready for fish. The fish less cycle might take a while.

Answer 3

You'll need to check for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.  If it hasn't had any fish in it to supply a source of ammonia then your bacteria may have died.

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Answer 4

I have a 26 gallon bowfront with 2 fig. 8 puffers in it.  Depending on the type of fish you are putting in, here is what I have in mine:  gravel, a large piece of driftwood, a few hiding places - mine are small rock formations, and plenty of plants (real or fake, whichever you prefer - my preference is silk plants, no hassle, but more realistic looking).

Add an airstone, if you don't already have one.  Helps keep oxygen in the water and is decorative for the tank.  (My fish enjoy playing in the bubbles also).

I'm assuming that the filter is running?  If not, get that up and running (and the heater) for a few days before adding fish.

Make sure to check the water parameters before adding fish - ammonia should be zero, nitrite should be 0 and you should have some nitrate if the tank is cycled (about 20).  

Answer 5

get some live plants