How To Set Up A New Fish Aquarium
Setting up a new aquarium will add beauty and enjoyment to any room in your home. There are a few things you need to know to get started right and avoid the disappointment and heartache of losing all your work 
and money by moving too quickly.
The very first thing you need to know is – Do not buy your fish at the same time you get your tank and supplies. This is the biggest mistake most people make when buying aquarium set ups. You and your family are in the store looking at all the beautiful fish and decide an aquarium would be perfect for that corner spot in the living room. You’re right.
Although it would seem to be the thing to do, now is not the time to buy those awesome fish. Your new tank needs to be prepared so you can introduce your fish in a healthy manner that will give you years of enjoyment. Very few people think they need to learn how to set up a fish aquarium, and unfortunately not many store employees instruct them differently. They happily bag up the fish along with all of the supplies and send the new fish owners on their way. Those fish usually do not make it past the first few days.
Things you will need to set up a fish aquarium:
- The size tank you pick for your family aquarium. Please decide before hand what types of fish you’d like to house in that tank and be sure it is of adequate size for the adult version of those species of fish.
- A good filtration system made for the size tank you have purchased.
- Enough gravel of the color of your choice and in an amount suited to the size of your new tank.
- A fish net, and the type of fish food for your desired fish.
- A hood and light set up.
- If you have city water with chlorine you will need to buy an additive that will take out the chemicals in the water, or buy distilled water for your tank.
- A ph testing kit
- If you have decided on tropical fish, you will also need a heater and a thermometer. The new adhesive style thermometers work best and last a long time.
- NO FISH
There are some kits you can purchase that will include all of the above for ease of purchase. When you get your new supplies home and set up the tank you will need to rinse the rocks well before adding them to the bottom. Be sure your tank is where you want it to be because once it is full of rocks and water it will be too heavy to move without breaking the seal on the glass bottom and possibly the glass itself.
There are two ways to cycle your new tank, the fishless method, and the fish method. The fishless method is the best way as it is the only way to insure your fish do not die in the cycling of the new tank. Research both methods carefully before making your final decision. Whichever way you choose you should still wait at least a week before attempting to add any fish to your new tank.
