System Setup

For new set up click on the following link for step-by-step instructions:

Tank Assembly Tutorial – Vermont Trout Unlimited Council

Helpful Tank Set Up Tips:

Clean Tank -Tanks removed from storage should be rinsed and wiped out with a diluted bleach or vinegar solution. Rinse with fresh water and dry with paper towels. This helps remove contaminants or infective agents.
Wash Gravel - Wash/rinse new gravel in a 5-gallon bucket using tap water. If this gravel was used the previous year it should have been cleaned in a diluted bleach solution when the system was placed in storage. Rinse it in tap water.
Spread the gravel evenly on the tank bottom but leave 1/4 of the bottom gravel-free to better see the accumulation of fish and food waste. Only about 1/2 inch of gravel is needed. The gravel provides about 20% of the tank’s bio-filtering.
If you are reusing last year’s set up:
Filter System - Make sure the foam block and BioMax has been thoroughly cleaned with vinegar/water solution and rinsed well. The foam block will require many cycles of soaking in cleaner and rinsing to remove all black material.
Check and clean the screen on the bottom of the intake tube and replace if necessary. Cover filter intake tube with mesh or nylon screening with 16 holes per inch to protect alevin and brook trout fry from being sucked into the filter.
Chiller - Clean intake (metal) grill with stiff paint or tooth brush to remove dirt and dust (check every 2 months). Be careful to avoid cutting yourself on the sharp metal fins. If dirt builds up, the compressor will overheat due to lack of air circulation, and the chiller will be damaged and may stop working.
Keep the controller unit out of sight of students. There is always a temptation to “play” with devices such as this. Changing any of the settings can lead to catastrophic loss of fish.
If your chiller stops working try turning it off for about five minutes and then turn it back on. You can also try going through the start-up sequence for the control unit. TIC volunteers may have a spare chiller. Notify them immediately of the problem and put the frozen bottles of water in the tank to help maintain the correct temperature.
Siphon Cleaning Tube Modification - To allow the siphon cleaning tube to reach the bottom of the tank without having to get your hands into 52 degree temperature water attach a 24”—36” section of flat molding, dowel, or yardstick to the plastic tube as shown. For most tanks a 26” extension is sufficient. If your tank is deeper, use a longer length. Use zip ties that are at least 11” in length to secure the molding. This technique also makes it a lot easier for students to maneuver the siphon tube when cleaning the tank bottom and gravel.