*This is a collaborative post.
Aquariums are an awesome tool that can help introduce your kids to the weighty responsibility of caring for their first pet.
It can also educate them on the fascinating marine life that calls our oceans home and why taking care of our planet is so important.
They can be a beautiful addition to any home, bringing vibrant life to your kitchen, living space, and beyond.
Are you thinking of starting one for your family? Here are some handy tips to ethically and safely build a kid-friendly aquarium at home, that both you and your children will love.
Understand your space available
In order to determine what kind of fish you can include in your aquarium, you must figure out the available space your home offers to accommodate a large fish tank.
Take time to consider the look and feel of the tank you want to include.
Is there a corner of a living space or a beautiful nook in your family room? Measure the space and determine the maximum size available.
Figuring out the direction you want to go in for your at-home aquarium is crucial to deciding your fish, lighting, and accessories that go with it.
Choose your fish, then your tank
There are many popular fish, but not all are beginner-friendly. While many may love the look of the quirky Pacu, it takes more experience to care for this delicate tropical fish properly.
Some great options for beginner fish include minnows, common goldfish, tetras, and betta fish.
Just be careful and take the time to research the fish you’re after. Male betta fish do not mix well with other bettas, so there should only be one in a tank at a time.
Try making it a family project to teach your children about the new pets you are bringing home. Once you understand the fish, you’ll know the type of tank you’ll need.
While the common goldfish may seem small, they love to swim longer distances, and their size can be misleading when considering how much room they need to thrive.
Always err on the side of caution and go a little bigger for the tank you choose. Your fish will ultimately thank you.
Add a nutrient-rich foundation and aquatic plants
Consider your new fish’s behaviour patterns. You can add quirky hiding spots from coral, sea sponges, rocks, and tiny pirate ships. Ask your little ones what colours and accessories they’d like to include.
Be sure to add nutrient-rich soil, sand, and rocks for solid bedding to hold your plants in place and provide the right environment for your tiny marine life. Lighting is equally important to ensure your fish can easily find food and shelter.
If you are still trying to figure out where to begin, ask your local pet store for guidance on the best substrate for your tank.
Use an effective water filtration system
Filtering your water is crucial to sustain life in your aquarium.
It’s best to start with a solid filtration system to ensure your fish are safe and happy. Consider buying an aquarium water filter from a trusted retailer, like Finerfilters fishkeeping systems, for the cleanest water in your tank.
Filters like these give you total control and peace of mind over the water chemistry of your fish tank. They create expertly purified water free from dangerous chemicals for your fish, often found in tap water, like chlorine.
Welcome your fish home
Once everything is placed in your tank and your filter has run for some time, it’s time to add your beautiful fish! Your kids will love to watch their tiny new pets swimming and living their best fish lives in the comfort of their home.
An at-home aquarium is a wonderful educational addition to any space that allows your children to see the wonder of wildlife first-hand.
Looking to revamp more spots in your home? Check out our post on creating a magical playroom here!
They’re so pretty and watching them is so calming. It’s a good way to introduce children to the responsibilities of pet ownership but I have to confess that I was the one who always said no to an aquarium at home.
These tanks look so beautiful. I would love to have another one one day but I do feel like take a lot of time to look after and clean etc so it will be in the future when work isn’t a priority and I have the time.
Some of the fish have beautiful colours! It used to be my sons https://www.instagram.com/p/C_vHXx4oLYI/ aisle when we visited Pets at home
Helpful post – looks good!
There look rather cool – would make the perfect Christmas present
That aquarium looks gorgeous. I’d love one myself, but I’ve heard it’s a lot of maintenance.
this has been very handy reading as I want to add an aquarium in the living room
I hope your children keep their interest in the fish. Your tank looks awesome
Aquariums are fantastic and I love to watch them. Great post. Pinned #MMBC
We had a lovely tank in my son’s room for a few years; I was surprised to find that we needed time to acclimate our water and plants and things BEFORE getting any fish. LOL. We were total newbies when it came to fish care.
That looks amazing!
We tried an aquarium but we killed two loads of fish despite our best efforts. Such a pity as they’re so relaxing to watch.
I have always liked the idea of having an aquarium but the upkeep and cleaning puts me off a bit!
Great tips such a great way to get kids away from tv
Would love to create this for my son. It also helps I love fish I think they are so relaxing!
Our fish tank was no way near as ambitious. However our downfall was the fish died despite the greatest of care. Such a shame as it was really nice watching them.