DIY Fish Aquarium

Starting your own aquarium can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Aquariums come in various shapes, sizes and are made from different materials. Starting your own can help create a conversation piece for your guests and loved ones to admire. Aquariums also serve as social habitats for a variety of pet fish and aquatic life. Freshwater aquariums are much easier to maintain than saltwater tanks. Beginners should start with freshwater.

  1. Equipment

    • The most important part of an aquarium is the tank. Fish tanks can come in a varied assortment of shapes and sizes. They can also be acrylic or thick glass. Pet stores carry many different types---from 5-gallon tanks to 200 gallons. If it's your first time putting an aquarium together, start out small with a 20-gallon tank. Choose a proper filtration system and a submersible aquarium heater, which can also be found in many pet stores. These vital accessories will come in packaging to tell you what size of aquariums they are designed to work for. Many fish tanks will also come with their own stand. If the fish tank you acquire doesn't come with one, make sure you use something that will hold its weight with water in it. For a 20-gallon aquarium, use a sturdy, solid desk or dresser.

    Decor

    • Be creative when decorating your aquarium by experimenting with different colors and textures. Aquarium gravel can be purchased in an endless variety of colors and sizes and can be found in any pet store or fish store. Throw in some polished stones and quartz crystals to add your personal touches to it. Make sure anything that is put in the aquarium is thoroughly washed, rinsed and dried to assure the health of your pet fish. Choose a variety of living and artificial aquatic plants such as bamboo and even small water lillies if you can find them.

    Livestock

    • Stock your tank with an appropriate community of aquatic life. Many fish, such as guppies and mollies, get along well together. Black Moors get along with these kinds of fish, too. Other community tank mates can include snails and pleco fish, which will help keep the tank clean of algae. Other fish that can't be added to these community tanks, but do well together are Oscar fish, Convict Cichlids and many other fish from the Cichlid genus. These fish have temperaments that range from assertive to aggressive and also come in many attractive colors.