Set up Your New Aquarium

A beautiful aquarium can be the perfect addition to any room. Set up correctly, an aquarium only requires basic maintenance and can be a pleasure to own for years. With today’s tools and equipment, aquariums are no longer a chore to upkeep! If you choose to add an aquarium to your home, there are some important steps to follow. To set up your new aquarium, you must first make sure you have all the supplies needed to get started. Many retailers offer “aquarium kits” which provide all the basic accoutrements of a fish tank, or, if you choose to build your own aquarium, you will need to make sure you purchase the following:

-A fish tank (choose the size based on how much space you have, how much work you want to put into maintenance, and how many fish you want)
-A filter and pump assembly (these are based on the size of the fish tank you choose)
-Pebbles or gravel for the bottom
-A stand for the tank (these are offered in many styles and design to meet your needs)
-An Aquarium Light
-Plants and decorations (you can choose fake plants with no maintenance or live plants for a more realistic look)
-A thermometer made to adhere to the side of the aquarium

With these supplies, you are ready to set up your new aquarium!

1. Choose the place where you want your aquarium to be located. Keep in mind; aquariums are not easy to move, so choose a long term location.
2. Set up the stand and place the clean, dry, empty glass tank on top
3. Place gravel in the bottom of the tank with a depth of two inches or so. Shift the gravel around to make an uneven and more interesting pattern.
4. Place any plants or decorations. Make sure they are firmly rooted in the gravel.
5. Use drinking water to fill the aquarium to about two inches from the top.
6. Install aquarium filter assembly to the back side of the tank, following the specific directions of the brand filter.
7. Plug in the filter and allow it to begin to run.
8. Apply the thermometer to the side of the aquarium
9. Allow the aquarium to sit, unpopulated, for at least 24 hours. This will bring the water up to room temperature and filter out harmful chlorine.

You are almost finished setting up your aquarium! The next step is to pick out and add fish. Make sure you obtain fish from a reputable retailer. Many stores offer a guarantee on your fish, which will give you peace of mind. There are many types of fish to choose from, and you can choose to purchase more than one type of fish. However, not all fish get along well together. Aggressive fish may attack and harm other fish, so do not be afraid to ask your store associate questions. Many stores have their fish tanks labeled with words like “Aggressive” or “Community Fish.” Some nice choices for beginners would be Platys or Fancy Guppies- both peaceful and beautiful, they are easy to care for. A good rule of thumb when deciding how many fish to purchase is every inch of fish needs a gallon of water. So, if you purchase fish that grow to two inches in length and you have a twenty gallon tank, you can safely purchase ten fish.

You will then need to follow the instructions provided by your retailer on how to introduce your new fish. Congratulations; you have now set up your new aquarium!