How to Build an Aquarium

Keeping fish is both relaxing and enjoyable. However, in order for your fish to thrive they need to be kept in a well-built aquarium. This guide will explain how to build an aquarium that will keep both you and your fish happy for years to come.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fish tank
• Substrate
• Filter
• Lighting
• Plants and decorations
• Aquarium thermometer

How To Build an Aquarium

1. First, determine the type of fish you wish to keep. This will be the deciding factor in choosing the size of aquarium you need to buy. Do not base this on how big the fish are now; pet-store fish are often young and not fully grown. Determine the complete adult size of the fish you wish to keep. As a general rule, one gallon per inch of fish is sufficient. Also make sure that your aquarium comes with a lid, preferably one with a built-in lighting system.

2. Choose a substrate. Do you want a natural-looking substrate, or do you want something more striking, such as marbles or brightly colored stones? There are many choices available in each category. Most people tend to favor more natural-looking materials. When adding your substrate, 1" to 2" is a good depth,

3. Add the aquarium filter. For most types of fish, a good exterior filter should be more than adequate. Your local pet store can help you choose the size and model which are best suited to your needs.

4. Fill your aquarium with water to within approximately 2" of the top of the tank. Start you filter and let the tank cycle for a few days. You will notice the water become extremely cloudy and then clear up. Once this happens, the tank has cycled.

5. Choose any plants and/or decorations you want to add to your tank, such as large stones, pieces of drift wood or other structures. Talk to a manager at your pet store and ask about the kind of environment your particular type of fish would prefer.

6. After adding your plants and decorations, purchase a thermometer for your aquarium. This will give you an accurate indication of the water temperature. Save this step for toward the end, as some thermometers are fragile and can break if they are hit when you are moving things around inside the tank.

7. Give things a few days to settle down. Let the completed aquarium run for a few days before you add your new fish. This will allow any sediment that was released into the water during setup to be removed by the filter. It will also allow you to ensure that things are going to work properly before you introduce any fish into the aquarium environment.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to the people at the pet store in depth about the type of fish you wish to raise. Different fish require different water temperatures, PH levels and even light light levels. The pet-store staff can help you with the finer details of your aquarium setup.
• Don't over crowd the tank. In addition to putting stress on the fish, it can overtax the aquarium filter with excessive waste products and threaten the health of your entire aquarium.
• If, after you have introduced your initial population of fish, you are thinking of adding any new ones to the tank, it may be a good idea to quarantine them for a few days inside a separate aquarium, to make sure that they are free of disease.