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.
Don’t forget to visit our Aquarium Store.
I put my aquarium together about a month ago and everything seemed fine until last week and I am getting some kind of bromn (moldy) looking growth everywhere. Do you know what this could be?
thank you, Jamie
The growth you are seeing is most likely a type of algae. For more information read Prevention and Control of Aquarium Algae
Whenever I setup a new tank I like to let it sit without any fish in it for several days. I have other aquariums so I will mix in some of the water from an existing aquarium with the new one. This puts helpful electrolytes and cultures into the water, but you have to be sure the water is from a healthy tank.
These are some great tips to abide by for anyone setting up a tank for the first time. I would agree with what Joseph says, once you set up your tank let it sit and run for a little bit before putting the fish in. You don’t want to shock the fish too much and you don’t want to increase the odds of an algae growth.
I setup my new tank. I let it set for about 3 days without fish and I bought 2 mini sharks. They died within 3 hours. What did I do wrong?
When I am sucking out water to clean the tank. Do I have to do it orally or is there a gadget to do this for me
Looking for advice rather than giving it. It there a gadget that sucks water up when cleaning or does this need to be done orally
Looking for advice rather than giving it. It there a gadget that sucks water up when cl
Sorry but I don’t know how to ask for helpeaning or does this need to be done orally
Looking for advice rather than giving it. It there a gadget that sucks water up when cleaning tank or does this have to be done orally.
Sorry…don’t know how to ask for help
Hello
I used to raise tropical fish many moons ago, I believe I have created the first vail tailed guppy at that time. At this time I have set up a 30g tank, ran it for one week and ready to put fish in it. In the old days I never bought chemicals or anything and everything survived.
Now to answere your question, back then there was a bottom cleaner with a bag and worked with an air pump (I am looking for one also in shops) . At this time be carefull of what you realy need as to what they say you must have. Work with me and see what happens.
Dan
can i add demasoni cichlids along with 2 angelfish, 5 sharkfish n 2 black line rasbora? Tank size 200gallon
hi i have a 2 feet tank, with a canopy but there’s no lights, cn u plz suggest a cheap way to have lightings for it.
thanx!
I think people that always go so impatient and just pick the fish that are the prettiest and put them in a tank and never think about the consequences, have to clean dead fish bodies out the most.. Ive had many fish and usually take my time and learn about the fish that i like before i just put different fish with others…… And most of my fish last for a good ten years with no chemicals….. So my advice would have to be TAKE YOUR TIME TO PICK THE PERFECT FISH FOR YOU!!!
Hi, I just took to raising some comets and shubunkins recently. I followed what was given by guides but I ended up with quite a few deaths, including a couple of black moors and bullheads which I introduced to the tank. What could be the case? probably because its a new setup? i have a unique aquarium as this one is 30″ x 30″ but with a width of 17″ perhaps this could also be caused by design?