How do I set up a Home Aquarium?

Answer 1

I would reccomend buying the largest aquarium you can afford/have room for because a small tank won't be enough once you have it goiing well. Buy a kit that comes with everything you need (filter, heater florescent lights are best etc.) You want to have the tank set up and running for three to four weeks before adding fish to start the biological cycle that will break down fish waste. Otherwise the ammonia build up will kill them all quickly. Get something from an established aquarium to help seed your tank with beneficial bacterai (a bit of gravel, an aquarium decoration or a plant). I always use bottled water (distilled or reverse osmosis) since tap water, even when dehlorinated may contain phosphates wich will promote algea growth.

http://www.wikihow.com/Set-up-a-Freshwater-Aquarium
http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=16&cat=1980
http://www.worldcichlids.com/faqs/cycling.html

Answer 2

Well, the first thing to do is decide what you want. Fresh water or salt water. While salties tend to be more colorful, they take more work t maintain. Then you need to decide what size tank. Since this is probably your first one, I would do a freshwater and keep it below 50gal. Figure out where you are going to put the tank. Generally, you want to keep it out of direct sunlight. Once you have decided all this, you need to buy the necessary supplies.

A tank, a stand (unless you are going to keep it on a table, a heater, temperature gauge, aerator (adds oxygen to the water), water filter (the better you buy, the less work they are), gravel/marbles/etc. to act as a biomedium on the bottom.
You can ask the person at your local aquarium shop about different options.

I have a 20gal tank myself. I had a 90, but didn't have the room for a big one and gave it to a friend. In the 20 gal, I have another filter under the pebbles at the bottom and they really help keep the water clear. I also have an algae eater, who helps clean the algae off the glass (though I haven't seen him move more than 3 inches). You can buy real or artificial plants, a background, whatever you want as far as looks go. The most important thing is to set up a system where everything is functioning. I haven't had to clean anything but my filter in the 2 months I've had the tank. I have about a dozen fish in their and it is a nice accent to the room it's in.
I'm sure there are other things people will tell you about like water testing and ick prevention, but to really know about that, talk to a pro near you, then you can see what your options are and what you really would like. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

You would first have to buy the aquarium. Most of the time nowadays, they have all of the pump system in the box. Assemble it according to the directions, adding a bit of chlorine cleaner for tap water. Wait 24 to 48 hours before adding any fish, to let the water warm or cool to room temperature, and select fish. For beginners, salt water aquariums are almost out of the question, because it's extremely difficult to keep the salination correct. Select fish according to the size of the aquarium. 1 fish per 5 gallons. The bigger the tank, the larger the fish will grow.

Answer 4

u got so much info already it'd almost be a shame for me to add but what i do notice is that many people give different and sometimes conflicting info.
I had fish for YEARS, so i agree, that in short you need to get a tank, glass or plastic, a pump is useful and if its tropical fish you're after, a heater too. Skip the heater if you want goldfish.
never mind the saltwater and freshwater business for the moment, its advisable to start off humbly aint it?
Goldfish would be your best bet, they're hardy and pretty too.
You would need to place water in the tank, if you want gravel, its useful to get a plant or two that will attach to the gravel unless they're in containers already.
Modern pumps have natural aerators (and plants aerate the water too quite naturally) but because pumps can be dear, try a small tank so you'd need a small pump only (i have a clearseal one for each of my tanks - cause i have tropical fish too).
its good to place the tank near natural light for the plants to photosynthesize (or produce food) otherwise, the lid ought to have a light so that the plants can produce food and infuse the water with air.
Set all this up, the gravel, pump, plants, and in a day or so stick in one or two fish, they help with nitrite/nitrate cycles (dont worry about this, you learn as you go along). The best thing to do is change 10% of the water once a week and condition the water for the benefit of the fish. Get a pleco to help keep algae off the glass, otherwise, wipe the glass regularly to avoid mucky build ups which the pump can't deal with.
Having said this, enjoy your fish, do the same with tropical, only add the heater! Mollies or guppies breed non-stop so be warned, they make good starter fish for a tropical tank, have fun!! Whizzdom

Answer 5

Get your tank fish-ready by following these steps:

Determine the size and location of your aquarium. Be sure it's near a power source, but out of direct sunlight and drafts.
Place your rinsed-out tank on an aquarium stand designed to support the weight of a filled aquarium [one gallon (4 L) of water weighs about eight lbs. (3.6 kg)] If using an undergravel filter, place it in the bottom of the tank now.
Pour rinsed gravel into tank. Use 1.5 lbs. (.7 kg) of gravel for every gallon (4 L) of tank to make a 2"-3" (5-8 cm) layer on the bottom.
Fill 1/ 3 of the tank with water treated with dechlorinator.
Place decorations, thermometer and plants in desired locations. If necessary, connect air pump and air-line tubing to appropriate attachments.
Fill remaining 2/3 of tank with dechlorinated water.
Place heater where water flow from the filter will mix the heated water throughout the aquarium.
Follow manufacturer's instructions to set up filtration (a filter should be able to process all of the water in the aquarium 5-10 times per hour).
Place hood/light on tank and plug in (light should be on for 8-12 hours a day).
Run filter for 24-48 hours and adjust the heater to the appropriate temperature for the species of fish you will be adding.
For the next 24-48 hours, watch for tank cloudiness. If it does appear cloudy, use a tank-clarifying product.

Answer 6

you need:
1=tank
2=filter (ask shop which size filter you need for the tank size you have)
3=gravel and other decorations you want, plants, stones etc.

if you chose an under gravel filter put it togher and slide it in half fill the tank (with tapsafe treated water).
next put the gravel in and any decorations you have. top the water level so it is near the top.
if you chose and submurgeable filter put it in the tank and stick it on the glass (usualy up to 1cm under the water) but if you got an out side filter conect the tubes so one is in the water and one is out above the water.
then if they are tropical fish set the heater put it in the water and turn it on (never have it on out of the water and it should not touch the gravel or any thing else, juat the glass)

then leave every thing working for a week befor putting in fish. when adding fish only put in a few at a time (6 small fish or 3 bigger fish max) to avoid a nitrate bloom.
(if u got a light fix it to the lid and dont let it get wet)

Answer 7

The others above don't seem to be addressing the #1 reason you'd want the aquarium--the fish. Most fish, like zebras and neon tetras, prefer to be in schools. Angel fish are a pretty accent too, but they're harder to keep alive. My husband used to breed killifish. They're not as common, but they come in all colors and patterns. For a good source of both fish and supplies on the web, go to Aquabid.com. You can see pictures of all the types of different fish, and pick out the types you like. A word to the wise, though--someone above mentioned Siamese fighting fish. NEVER put two of them in a tank together. Neither one will survive, and neither will any of the other fish in the tank--they're called Siamese FIGHTING fish for a reason!

Answer 8

Buy a large house, surround it in fiberglass, and fill it with large fish and whatever else you choose. Viola, a real home aquarium. If you meant an aquarium in your home, well thats a different story.

The poster below me is REALLY desperate for some points.

Answer 9

buy the aquarium set it up and start with small cheap inexpensive fish until you have the pH balances and microbiology of the tank established and then move up to bigger more expensive. do some research to find out what kind of fish you want and get started it easy and Fun.

Answer 10

i'd recommend a gold fish. because they're easy to safeguard. especially a lot any tank will artwork. you dont want a huge one, 5 gallons will likely be positive. another aspect is that you should both use filtered water or get water air purifier earlier putting the fish in. if there is any more effective records that you want you may continually ask the puppy shop human beings.