Assembling a new fish tank is quite simple. A rule of thumb to remember is to never buy the tank and fish on the same day. Most aquariums are made of clear glass, optiwhite glass, or acrylic material. Glass tanks offer scratch resistance but are much heavier than acrylic tanks.
Custom aquariums can be designed in any design the customer desires, for example, a custom tank was made out of an Apple Macintosh computer case, and some have been converted into coffee tables, sinks, and even toilets. Tropical fish tanks are very colorful and come with attractive aquarium accessories.
First of all, you will need to purchase the kit which includes a glass tank with an air driven gravel filter, plastic lid with fluorescent light, a pound per gallon of aquarium gravel, an air pump and a hanging heater, plastic plants, decorations. When deciding on the size of your fish tank, keep in mind that larger tanks are easier to clean, can hold many more fish, and provide more stable water conditions.
Once you have all your equipment, setting up your new fish tank is a piece of cake. Put your fish tank in a glass cabinet or somewhere where you enjoy and can take care of your fish. Make sure to place your tank away from direct sunlight and in a permanent location as moving your fish tank can be quite hectic. Place the Under Gravel Filter (UGF) in the bottom of the tank and the riser tubes in their sockets, referring to the installation instructions on the filter container.
Next, rinse the gravel and spread it out in an even layer, avoid many dips in it as it slopes towards the rear of the tank, to simplify your cleaning job. Now you can add the heater and water pumps somewhere you can see it so you know when it’s on. The air pump must be placed above the water level to prevent the pump and other things from being damaged.
Heaters and air pumps must be unplugged or else they may break when you add water. Wash well and place all your decorations. Add the water, once it’s full let it sit for an hour or so, to saturate the air stones and to equalize the temperature of the heater. Wait a day or two before fishing to make sure all your gear is working properly.