How to Set Up an Aquarium

The three main kinds of aquariums are freshwater, tropical freshwater and marine or saltwater. Each of them needs special care, but some rules are the same for all. Here are some basic steps to follow if you want to set up an aquarium.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aquarium
• Sand or gravel
• Plants
• Aquarium thermometer
• Aquarium heater
• aerator
• Aquarium lamp
• Fish

1. Wash sand or gravel and spread a layer about two inches thick on the bottom of the tank.

2. Fill the tank with water. Carefully press some plants into the gravel, tall ones in back, short ones in front. If you buy your fish from a pet store, ask for some good plants to go with them.
   
   Put a clean piece of paper on the sand or gravel before you pour the water in. This prevents the water from stirring up the sand. Remove the paper (it will float on top of the water) after the tank is filled.

3. Be sure that the water temperature is close to that of your fish's natural home. Pet stores sell a special thermometer that hangs inside the tank. Tropical fish like warm water - 75 to 80 degrees. You can also buy a heater that fits into the tank and controls the water temperature.

4. Most aquariums need an aerator, a little pump that bubbles air through the water and provided oxygen for the fish. Pet stores sell aerators, which often include filter systems that keep the water clear and clean.

5. Place the tank were it gets plenty of light, but not too much direct sunlight. Direct sun can kill plants and cause tiny green algae to grow and spoil the water. You can buy a small light that hangs from the top of the tank

6. Always try to buy young fish in pairs. Young fish are usually cheaper and healthier than older ones.

7. Hold a fish gently in your hand when you move it to a new tank. Your hand is safer than a net because it will not bruise the fish so easily as a net. Make sure your hands are clean.

8. Cover the tank with a piece of glass after the fish are safely inside - to keep them from jumping out, to prevent dirt from falling in and to slow down evaporation. Always keep the tank very clean. Remove dead fish or rotted plants right away, before disease starts. Catfish and snails are good housekeepers. They eat scraps. Your aquarium should include a few of these scavengers. But snails reproduce very rapidly. Remove young snails, or soon there will be so many that they will destroy the balance of living things. Learn to recognize the tiny, clear ball-shaped snail eggs, so that you can remove the whole cluster of eggs at once. Pet stores also sell tools for cleaning the tank's floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Try not to crowd your fish. Allow two inches of fish length for each gallon of water. A 10 gallon tank can safely hold ten 2-inch fish, twenty 1-inch fish or 2 ten-inch fish.
• Read more about the kind of aquarium you want, or get advice from a pet store.