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Make a home for your fishy friends
Instead of buying an aquarium for your fish, why not create one yourself? Here's a DIY guide to building your own tank.
Create your own tank!
Size: Start with a 10- or 20-gallon aquarium, which is large enough for a selection of fish.
Location: Set the tank in a place that's convenient to a sink or water source. This will make
It is easier to fill and clean the tank. Do not put the tank in direct sunlight, since this makes it harder to control the temperature and may cause too much algae to grow in the tank. Be absolutely, completely, positively positive: A 20-gallon aquarim filled with water and gravel weighs more than 200 pounds, so you won't be able to move it once you've set it up. Take time choosing the location, and set it on a super sturdy table or counter.
Just Add Water (Not!) When you fill your aquarium, use clean tap water. Let it stand for several days to "age" so some of the chemicals found in tap water can evaporate. You can also buy a chemical neutralizer at the pet supply store.
Most fish are happiest in water that has a near neutral pH level of around 7. Test your water with a kit from the pet supply store. Some fish require water that's more or less acidic or alkaline, so ALWAYS ask someone at the aquarium shop about this. They'll tell you how to adjust the water in your aquarium.
Once your aquarium is set up and going, you'll need to remove several gallons of water every week or two and replace it with clean, aged water. By doing this, you'll remove any chemicals that have built up.
To keep the water at 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit for your tropical fish, you'll need an aquarium heater--make sure it's the right size--and a thermometer for the tank. Once the tank is filled with water--but BEFORE you put the fish in--put the heater in the tank and plug it in. Start at a low temperature and gradually increase the setting over a couple of days. When the heater keeps the water at the correct temperature, you're set.
About a week after the tank has been set up, start your underwater community with a few hardy fish, such as platys. These fish will provide the bacteria needed for a healthy tank. After that, add a couple of fish every week or so.
An old rule of thumb is to have one inch of fish per gallon of water. That means, for example, you could have 10 one-inch fish in 10-gallon aquarium, or five two-inch fish in the same size tank.
When you bring fish home from the store, they'll be in plastic bags. Float the bags in the tank for at least 15 to 30 minutes to make sure the temperatures in the bag and in the tank are the same. Open the bags carefully and let your new fish swim out on their own.
