Are you excited to bring home some aquatic life? Before deciding on your favourite fish for the tank, it is essential to learn about setting up an aquarium at your place. There are a few essential fish tank supplies, steps and products to get your dream tank ready!

The charm of a well-designed fish tank with vibrant species twirling around in freshwater is blissful. It attracts peace, prosperity and happiness to one’s life. A beloved pet, many families love to bring home are tiny little, vibrant hued fishes with glistering fins and sparkling designs. Read below to know about setting up the fish tank for them. 

Quick Facts to Know Before Setting Up an Aquarium

• Understand the types of fish you are planning to pet, their requirements and the water bodies they live in.
• Slight cloudiness in the tank during the initial weeks is fine, and it fades as time passes. This is the result of ammonia spikes, which are a part of the usual tank cycling process.
• Keeping your tank water at an even temperature is essential as the two-degree fluctuation might result in stress to fish. A good tank heater works for both cold-water and tropical fish species.
• The average temperature in the tank for tropical fish must be around 22-27 degrees Celsius, while that for cold water fish must be below 22 degrees Celsius.

Steps to Set Up an Aquarium

Assembling, installing and fixing the new fish tank demands precision, carefulness and knowledge about its supplies. It is imperative to keep all equipment handy before you finally pet the amazing set of aquatic fishes. Taking a glance at these tanks is a soothing sight for all owners, but there are a few things to keep in mind beforehand.

Ready to set up your fish tank?

Step 1

Unbox the Aquarium

• Welcome home to the new shelter of your fishes! Unbox the tank and rest it carefully at a safe spot. Keep the background of the tank ready well in advance for quick installation.
• If you’ve ordered the tank with in-built lights, check it once by plugging it at the nearest point.
• Clean the inside of the tank with a clean microfibre cloth to remove dust and small particles.

Step 2

Wash all Gravels and Ornaments Thoroughly

• Always add the gravel, ornaments, and rocks to the aquarium after washing thoroughly with warm water before adding them to the tank.
• Never expose your fish to detergents or soaps as they include ingredients which might prove hazardous to the fish.
• For washing gravel, always put the colander on the plastic pan or bucket. Now add water, stir gravels, drain and repeat until they are free from debris.

Step 3

Fill Up the Tank

• Fill up the aquarium using fresh water until one-third level using a clean bucket. Ensure the water is at room temperature for a perfect setting.
• Using a specific solution to de-chlorinate the water is vital to ensure the health of your fish.

Step 4

Connect Airline Tub with Pump

• Establish a secure connection amongst the air pump with outlets inside the tank like the decorations or the air stones.
• Make use of a good quality check valve for locating your air pump safely below the aquarium. The check valve is placed near the air tubing outside the tank as it helps in stopping water from backing out from the aquarium while the power stays turned off.

Step 5

Aquascape the Tank with Plastic/Live Plants

• Along with adornments to your aquatic species, these plants also serve as a perfect arrangement for hiding the equipment.
• If adding live plants, ensure that you make use of warm water for filling the tank. It is advisable to plant its roots safely below the gravel surface while letting the crown be exposed.
• Let the live plants stay moist until you plant them, and a wet newspaper is good enough here. Special aquatic plant fertilizers are also available in the market for this purpose.

Step 6

Add Other External Filters

• Fill up the fish tank with the filter cartridge or other filter materials.
• It is an excellent idea to position them according to the mentioned instructions. Ensure that all of it is primed with water.

Step 7

Install the Pick-Up Tube

• Take the filter tube to the bottom of the aquarium without bringing it in contact with the gravel. Longer ones can be cut in length to let it reattach the intake cage.
• Keep the filter lid open and fill the filter with fresh water to ‘Prime’ the pump.
• ‘Cycling’ of the tank at regular intervals is vital for the filtration of old water and the removal of bacteria and other toxins that might prove hazardous to your fish.

Step 8

Keep a Water Tank Heater Inside

• Keep a submersible water heater near the flow in the tank and install a thermometer for temperature check but away from the heater.
• Allow the thermometer to be positioned in a way that it’s easily readable and be plugged into the system.
• Switch on the heater only when it’s entirely in water, or else the heating system might malfunction, overheat, or even the glass tube might burst out.

Step 9

Check Air Outlets and Make Settings

• Ensure proper water flow through the filer and keep a check on heater settings. It might take up to 24 hours for the system to stabilize and adjust to the settings.
• Monitor the aquarium after every few hours to ensure the system is working properly.

Bravo! You’ve done it.

Now, your fish aquarium is ready to be a shelter for new pet fishes you’re bringing home. The fully equipped and fish-safe tank is a perfect stop place to sit aside and play with the tiny fin friends!

Care and Maintenance of the Aquarium

Ensuring good water quality and timely replacement of water is essential to keep the freshwater tank healthy. Adequate filter and temperature checks with equipment monitoring are also important. The weekly water test is recommended to prevent any sort of bacteria or algae growth. Clean off the exteriors and interiors of your fish tank at timely intervals to keep it healthy for the fish!

Supplies Required

A basic list of essentials for setting up an aquarium includes an aquarium stand, cover, light, heater, thermometer, filter, water conditioner, freshwater substrate, décor, gravels, Airline tubing, air stone, check valve, live plants, refractometer and freshwater aquarium salt.

Winding Up

Before bringing home your favourite fishes, refer to the above guide and set up their aquarium for a warm welcome. Having the basic items ready can help you set up the fish tank quickly. Getting a knack for essential facts like the amount of water required, food requirements, fish you keep, breeding tips and other aspects can help you get the perfect set-up.

Minimal decoration will highlight the fish and allow them to swim around with ease. Do not overfeed them, and place the aquarium in the right place to ensure proper ventilation and sunlight. Though you might begin with a fish aquarium as a mere hobby, soon it can be a fascinating addiction to watch your little fish grow, develop, and bloom into unique personalities. 

So, choose their companions carefully and rescue the incredible sight of water nature around you for ages.

Keep reading more for such interesting facts and details about pets and their dwelling with us!