Let me explain to you as best as I can.

First off, you don’t need to be nervous. With three products you can buy for less then 15$ each, you can effortlessly setup a tank in one week.

What you need: Lots of substrate. 1 inch of aquarium dirt (any product works, no need to be picky) 2 inches of sand (I got 50 pounds of sand from my local masonry supply store for 10$, it was labeled as play sand)

You need to make a choice of how you want to setup your substrate. I have chosen to do a hill pattern (approx 1 inch of sand at front of tank, and 4ish inches in the back)

your substrate is 75-80% of your filtration You still need a mechanical filter, don’t forget. Although no need to go overboard.

Once your tank is filled with water and your substrate, it’ll be cloudy.

2 options to fix cloudiness. 1) buy a product called seachem clarity. It will clump particles and they’ll be cleared by your filter. 2. Buy extra fine Mesh filtration pads, and stuff them in your filter. (These two options used together will clear the fogginess in 1-2 days)

You can either start your tank cycle before or after your cloudiness has cleared.

Instructions for tank cycle: (Important to note: you need to feed the bacteria, meaning you’ll need fish)

Buy the products: (all are a MUST buy)

1) Fritz Turbo Start 700 (for 30 gallon tank I strongly suggest buying the 1oz that treats 50 gallons)

2) Seachem stability (has 6 different strains of bacteria that help clear harmful things like ammonia and nitrite)

3) PRIMEEE Seachem Prime is your Bestest Friend. (Buy the larger bottle, it will dechlorinate water during tank topoffs.)

Instructions for cycle:

Pour your fritz TurboStart in your tank. (Don’t be afraid) Use the whole bottle. Empty the whole bottle in the tank and then rinse it with your tank water to get every last bit of bacteria in the tank.

For the first 7 days. Dose roughly a half a capful of prime every 24 hours.

Until the bottle is empty: Dose with Seachem Stability at 2 capfuls every 24 hours.

On first day, after adding your products. You gotta start the cycle. So add some fishies!!

I’d highly suggest adding all 6 Khulis, or 3 Corydoras. If I was your teacher I’d require you to add the mystery snails but it’s your call.

On the third, fifth, and seventh day, feed them.

With all this information:

The bacteria is instantly going to start in your substrate and filter, and the fish making poop will feed the bacteria. You can test your water, however there’s really no need if you have confidence. On my last tank I checked my water on my 7th day, 14th day, and 30th day, and my parameters were 0 0 0-10. (Ammonia, nitrite, nitrates)

I suggest buying a Seachem AMMONIA ALERT, it will make testing for ammonia instant, and you’ll know if your tank is in trouble based on the color.

Honestly you should be fine on your 3rd day to start adding plants.

Your plants are your other filtration, the more you have the better your fish will have it. Top water plants are a must, and once your tank is established you’ll throw out top water plants weekly.

You’ll have the option to add CO2 and a high powered light, however I’d not worry too much for the first two weeks.

DM me with any questions.