Aquarium Decorations

Setting Up An Aquarium Fish Tank

An aquarium fish tank can bring the beauty and splendor of tropical or freshwater fish into your home or office, and if you follow sound fishkeeping principles when setting up your tank it will bring you years of enjoyment.

Planning your aquarium

A visit to your local pet store or specialist fish breeder will help you decide on the type of fish you’d like to have in your new aquarium fish tank. The staff at the store will also help you decide on the right size tank for the space available and supply all the necessary equipment and accessories that you will require.

However, don’t buy any fish, yet! You’ll need to establish your tank before you introduce any fish into it.

The first step is to thoroughly clean the tank. Don’t skip this important step just because the glass of the aquarium looks clean. Use a mild detergent in warm water to scrub out the tank. Rinse out the tank thoroughly to completely remove all traces of debris and detergent. Flush out the cleaned tank several times with fresh water to ensure there are no traces of detergent left behind.

Also clean all equipment that will be used in your new aquarium fish tank and rinse thoroughly. Even a tiny amount of leftover detergent can kill your fish so do not skimp on the rinsing process. Gravel should be rinsed under running water until the water runs clear. Plants can be stored in a clean bucket of water while you set up your fish tank.

Even a small aquarium fish tank is heavy – one gallon of water weighs about 10 lbs – so your new tank will require a sturdy stand. There are dedicated aquarium stands available that will provide a solid base, although a small fish tank might sit on another item of furniture. Use a layer of polystyrene tiles between the tank and the stand to even out any bumps.

When setting up your aquarium try to avoid placing it in direct sunlight, which will cause algae to grow in the tank. Remember it will need to be situated near a power outlet as many items of tank equipment require a power source.

Now you can fill your tank and check for leaks. Leave the water for several hours and confirm that the tank is not leaking and then drain the tank.

If you will be using an under-gravel filter place it in the tank first, following the instructions provided, then add the gravel, piling it a little higher towards the back of the aquarium to give the impression of distance within the tank.

Half fill the tank with water. Ideally, use dechlorinated water, or add chlorine remover in the recommended dosage. Place a dish in the tank on top of the gravel and pour the water gently onto the dish. This will create minimum disturbance to the gravel.

Next, install the filter and the heater if you will be using one. For an indoor freshwater aquarium fish tank a heater is rarely required. Tropical saltwater fish will generally require a heater to maintain the necessary temperature. If you are using a heater you will also need to install a thermometer in an easy-to-read location.

Now you can add your aquarium decorations. This could include a backing picture, rocks or other ornaments on the base of the tank. Create plenty of hiding places with the use of rocks and other decorations. Your fish will be glad of a place to hide from time to time. You can also install plants that need to be buried in the gravel at this time. Floating plants can be added when the tank is full.

Turn on the filter and the heater and ensure they are working before filling the aquarium to the top with dechlorinated water. This will start the process of tank cycling which is the process of eliminating excess ammonia from the tank.

Ammonia can be a problem when setting up a new tank as the bacteria that breaks down ammonia is not yet present. Over several months beneficial bacteria (nitrosomonas) will develop in the tank. The bacteria breaks down the toxic ammonia into nitrites. Because of the time it takes for the beneficial bacteria to develop in the tank it is recommended that you do not introduce fish for at least two weeks after setting up your tank.

When you are ready to add fish to your new tank try adding just a few at a time. You’ll bring them home from the store in a plastic bag filled with water. Float this bag, still sealed, on top of the tank until the water temperature in the bag matches the water temperature of the tank. This may take several hours. Don’t rush. When the water temperatures are the same you can carefully undo the bag. Let the fish swim out of the bag by themselves before removing the bag.

Watch your fish for several days or even several weeks to ensure they are healthy before adding more fish. Take your time to establish your fish population and you’ll give the biology of the tank time to adjust to the new fish and the waste they produce.

Always purchase your fish from a reputable dealer to avoid the likelihood of introducing diseased fish to a tank. Never add plants or fish from wild to a fish tank – the microorganisms and bacteria attached to fish from the wild can be deadly for fish in a tank!

Setting up and maintaining an aquarium fish tank involves a commitment of both time and money but will reward the dedicated aquarist with years of enjoyment.

About the Author

Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains
The Goldfish Site
to assist anyone who wants to get started with setting up an aquarium fish tank and keeping goldfish.

Choosing The Right Aquarium Décor

Aquarium Purple Rose Green Leaf Artificial Plants Decor $14.14

Blue Silicone Coral Shaped Ornament Decor for Aquarium $3.73

5 Pcs Artificial Plastic Tropical Fishes Decoration for Fish Tank Aquarium $5.28

Cats Paw white Coral 6 x 7″ Tank Aquarium decor Sea Shell $29.99

Aquarium Fish Tank Decor Green Plastic Water Plant $12.95

Aquarium Fish Tank Decor 4.3″ Green Four Leaves Clover $4.14

Aquarium Movable Mini Fish Floating Decoration 3 Pcs $2.38

5 PCS Plastic Lifelike Floating Decor for Fish Aquarium $5.54

5 Pcs Aquarium Tank Decor Plastic Artificial Swimming Fish $5.64

2pcs Manmade Red Green Underwater Plants Aquarium Decor $8.53

3 Pcs Floating Plastic Fish Aquarium Decor Yellow Black $4.06

Green Floating Fish Aquarium Tank Decor Leisure Hobby $5.83

Aquarium Plastic Plants Aquascaping Decoration Purple $4.50

Aquarium Decor 13.8″ Length Artificial Ball Tree Plant Green $14.03

Aquarium Tank Plastic Lifelike Decorative Fish Ornament $5.46

Aquarium Decoration..Bamboo Fence With Plastic Plants..Resin..Vivarium / Tank $9.00

Fish Aquarium Manmade Green Plant Decor w Ceramic Base $6.37

Ceramic Base Aquarium Green Plastic Plant Decoration $3.76

Wonderful Red Fish w Black Dots Print Aquarium Decor $5.38

Ceramic Tortoise Decoration Ornament For Tank Aquarium $3.85

Aquarium 9″ Height Artificial Plants Decor Green Red $3.42

17″ Green Plastic Plants Decor for Aquarium Fish Tank $7.83

AQUARIUM ORNAMENT TAKARA #7 LOBSTER SLIPPER CRAB DECOR AD27 $6.99

Lifelike Hippocampi Fish Plastic Decor for Aquarium $5.28

Two Tone Colored Plastic Grass Decoration for Aquarium $3.72

Ceramic Base Green Plastic Plants Aquarium Decor $5.95

Flower Detail Grn Aquatic Grass Decor for Tank Aquarium $10.92

Aquarium Tank Green Plastic Plant Ornament Decor 3 Pcs $4.38

19″ Height Wht Purple Plastic Plant Aquarium Decoration $5.65

Lovely Man-made Plastic Decorative Fish for Aquarium $5.67

Driftwood trunk Aquarium Ornament root WOOD DECOR #08 $21.99

Aquarium 3 Pcs Two Tone Plastic Aquascaping Plant Decor $7.17

10x Aquatic Plastic Plant Decor Green 4.1″ for Aquarium $7.46

Green Plastic Plants Grass Decoration for Aquarium Tank $9.40

5 x Colorful Plastic Floating Tropical Fish Decor for Aquarium $5.83

Tank Aquarium Plastic Decor Green Grass Ornament 15.7″ $3.78

Manzanita Burl fish , reptile aquarium decoration # 1007 $9.95

Flexible Tail Colored Plastic Fish Aquarium Tank Decor $5.57

10.6″ Green Plastic Plant Aquarium Ornament Decor 2 Pcs $4.73

Emulational Aquarium Decor Plastic Water Plants Green $3.33

Driftwood trunk Aquarium Ornament root WOOD DECOR #09 $20.99

Red Lotus Floating Fish Tank Ornament Aquarium Decor $2.84

Aquarium Coral Green Soft Ornament Decor For Fish Tank $3.75

Fish Tank 10 PCS Green Aquarium Plants Ornament Decor $14.09

9 pcs Aquarium Plastic Plants Tree Ornament Decoration $0.02

Tank Aquarium 3 Pcs Green Floating Seahorse Fish Decor $5.30

Green Plastic Plant Decor Ornament for Aquarium Tank $8.41

Plastic Grass Fuchsia Grn Decor for Fish Tank Aquarium $5.10

3 Pcs White Blue Plastic Plants Decor for Aquarium Tank $5.94

Plastic Floating Fish Decoration for Fish Tank Aquarium $5.32

Aquarium Orangered Plastic Grass Decor 4.5″ Height 3Pcs $9.07

Aquarium Fish Tank Bridge Ornament Decor for Fish Hide Breed Have Fun Place Cute $13.55

Aquarium driftwood decor cichlid ornament stump fish $2.25

10 Pcs Black Stripes Blue Yellow Plastic Fish Decor for Aquarium $8.25

Aquarium Aquascaping Green Plastic Grass Decoration x 10 Pcs $8.39

5 Pcs Assorted Color Ball Floral Shape Plants Decor for Aquarium $8.56

Driftwood trunk Aquarium Ornament root WOOD DECOR #10 $19.99

Flower Lotus Decor Ornament for Fish Tank Aquarium Pink $2.95

Aquarium Fish Tanks Decoration Natural Collection Tree $13.99

Home Aquarium Fish Pet Decoration Plastic Ornament New $4.77

Aquarium Tank Decoration Colorful Plastic Lifelike Fish 2 Pcs $3.86

Aquarium Aquascaping Plastic Leaf Water Grass Aquatic Plant Decoration Green 8″ $19.14

10.6″ Green Plastic Plant Aquarium Ornament Decor 2 Pcs $4.46

Oval Leaves Plastic Fish Tank Aquarium Fake Plant Decor $8.16

Aquarium Aquascape Artifical Ludwigia Plants Green Decor $14.34

Driftwood trunk Aquarium Ornament root WOOD DECOR #11 $19.99

Fish Tank Water Yellow Green Foam Lotus Aquarium Decor $4.58

9.8″ Height Emulational Plant Grass Aquarium Fish Tank Decoration $7.31

3 PCS Fish Aquarium Plastic Fish Jellyfish Decoration $5.37

Yellow Black Striped Plastic Fish Aquarium Decor x 5PCS $4.56

Tank Aquarium Green Plastic Decor Grass Ornament $3.76

Aquarium Pine Tree Shaped Plastic Decoration Green Ylw $15.37

Fish Tank Aquarium Red Green Plastic Grass Decor 11.4″ Height $8.77

Fish Tank Aquarium Decor Plastic Blue Grass Plant 12.2″ Height $21.73

Yellow Green Plastic Float Fish Aquarium Tank Decor $5.25

2 Pcs Red Green Plastic Plant Grass Decor for Aquarium $6.85

Aquarium Emulational Purple Blue Hottonia Inflata Plants Decor $5.42

Aquarium Fish Tank Decorative Green Red Plant Grass $5.99

Multicolor Flower Ball Grass Plant Decor for Fish Tank Aquarium $9.07

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

Underwater Orangered Soft Aquarium Coral Decor Oranment $5.49

Aquarium Fish Tank 8″ Green Plastic Plants Decoration $7.75

Aquarium 3 Pcs Floated Tail Plastic Fish Ornament Decor $4.22

Aquarium Tank Decor 3 Pcs Red Mouth Mini Plastic Fish $3.50

Aquarium Decoration Orange Green Leaf Artificial Plastic Plants $6.59

Aquarium Tank Hard Plastic Floating Fish Decor 3 Pcs $4.61

Aquarium Fish Tank Decorative Plastic Fish 5 Pieces $5.15

5 Pcs Colorful Plastic Tropical Fish for Aquarium Decor $5.28

Fish Tank Aquarium Artificial Floral Green Purple Plastic Plant Decor 15.4″ $6.72

Vtg Aquarium Fish Tank Decor Pottery Ceramic Yellow Green Rocks Pagodas Temples $19.99

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

New 9pcs Aquarium Plastic Plants Ornament Decoration $0.01

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

Aquarium Decorative Plastic Wiggle Tail Float Fish 3Pcs $3.81

Aquarium Fish Tank Decorative Green Red Plant Grass $6.00

Decorative Aquarium Fish Plastic Green Plant Grass Deco $3.68

Attractive Plants Decoration Fish Aquarium Ornament $22.35

GIGANTIC,12″,TROPICAL FISH, AQUARIUM, BATH, SEALIFE,NETSCAPES, NAUTICAL DECOR $9.98

Fishin For Rainbow Trout Refrigerator Magnet $3.95 Handcrafted in the USA to the highest standards by ” Decoration Sensation ” using licensed materials with great individual care and attention to detail. The image has been sealed between 2 sheets of crystal clear acrylic. We are certain that you will be completely delighted and satisfied with our product. All purchased Items will arrive via USPS and a the tracking # will be sent to you. We also of…

Deep Sea Jelly Fish Refrigerator Magnet $3.95 Handcrafted in the USA to the highest standards by ” Decoration Sensation ” using licensed materials with great individual care and attention to detail. The image has been sealed between 2 sheets of crystal clear acrylic. We are certain that you will be completely delighted and satisfied with our product. All purchased Items will arrive via USPS and a the tracking # will be sent to you. We also of…

Sunset Frogs Refrigerator Magnet $3.95 Handcrafted in the USA to the highest standards by ” Decoration Sensation ” using licensed materials with great individual care and attention to detail. The image has been sealed between 2 sheets of crystal clear acrylic. We are certain that you will be completely delighted and satisfied with our product. All purchased Items will arrive via USPS and a the tracking # will be sent to you. We also of…

AQUARIUM hd tv screen saver, ambience movie $10.99 DREAM WINDOW transforms your television screen to create a magic, inspiring and decorative environment. DREAM WINDOW offers a pleasant and aesthetic alternative to the standard black screen on a wall. It is appropriate for conventional televisions, LCD screens, plasma screens or video projectors. All filmed in high definition, each movie can be played non-stop and comes with various style sound tr…

Softsoap Aquarium Series Liquid Hand Soap 11.25oz. (Pack of 6) $15.99 Softsoap liquid hand soap with light moisturizers offers strong antibacterial protection that is clinically proven to eliminate 99 percent of germs. Dermatologist-tested soap gently cleans without leaving hands feeling dry. Light moisturizers help keep skin feeling smooth and soft. Pump bottle features an aquarium image for decoration. 7.5fl oz – Push Pump Dispenser – Moisturizing, Anti-bacterial …

12 pk Sea Animal Rubber Cupcake Topper Rings Put these on top of your cupcakes for a fun bakery designer look!…

3 Pcs Red White Orange Plastic Mini Fish Decoration for Auqarium $3.29 Lovely and beautiful design.Ideal decoration for the fish tank or aquarium.Unique design for these mini fishes, which can be wiggling up and down, just in the flowing water….

Compucable USB Mini Desktop Aquarium $7.72 USB Mini Desktop Aquarium – Using a PC is sometimes not the most calming of experiences. So why not bring a little peace and tranquility to your digital life with this mini desktop aquarium!? Just fill it with water and plug it into any available USB port. A built-in motor creates a current for the 2 included tropical fish (yes, they are fake), letting them swim gently back and forth. And for thos…

Hairgrass Aquarium Plant – Small – Green $2.89 A great addition to your aquarium to give it that realistic look….

Funky Fluorescents Garden Pagoda Aquarium Ornament $3.39 The Funky Fluorescent Garden Pagoda is an authentic coral reef replica with large swim-through caves and holes that create dramatic natural” aeration effects. IT is made of a durable, poly-resin material….