Are you planning to help your child maintain an aquarium? If so, be aware that you’re both in for a world of duties. Along with being responsible for cleaning the tank, you both are also tasked with monitoring chemical levels, replacing tank water, and feeding the fish. Avoid potential failures by researching the best tank […]
Are you planning to help your child maintain an aquarium? If so, be aware that you’re both in for a world of duties. Along with being responsible for cleaning the tank, you both are also tasked with monitoring chemical levels, replacing tank water, and feeding the fish.
Avoid potential failures by researching the best tank sizes, decorations, and fish species that are easy for young beginners to care for.
In this blog, we provide you with best choices you and your child can make in aquarium care—let’s take a look!
For beginner aquarists, choosing the right tank size is essential to a successful aquarium. Take your child’s age into consideration before deciding on a tank. A 20-gallon tank size or larger is usually a better choice for beginners than a smaller one—the higher water volume will keep the temperature and chemistry stable. It also gives your tank the ability to function as a mini ecosystem and even self-clean every once in a while.
Make sure that your aquarium has an adequate stand or prop that can support its weight. Many fish tanks do not look like they weigh much, but once you fill them with water, fish, and other items, they can become as heavy as a bookcase.
Many children and teenagers prefer using vibrant gravel and decorations for their aquariums. Most colored gravel is safe to use as long as they’re designed specifically for aquariums. The real fun comes with choosing decorations.
From mermaids to underwater castles, there are numerous creative options your child to choose from. You can purchase your aquarium decor from your nearest Petland location and our pet counselors can help you out. You should also avoid using live plants (for now) and opt for plastic plants to give your fish a place to hide.
This part might be a bit tricky—most beginner aquarists want to buy as many fish as possible once their tank is set up. Word of advice: avoid the temptation and go slow. Buy the tank first, set it up with the right amount of water, filtration devices, lights, chemical levels, and wait a day or two. Waiting ensures that your tank’s temperature and chemicals stabilize properly.
When your aquarium is finally set and running, you can start purchasing your fish. For freshwater tanks, be sure to choose one of the top 10 best freshwater fish for your aquarium. If you own a saltwater tank, take a look at our top 7 best saltwater aquarium fish for beginners for some great options. We recommend purchasing 2-3 fish for your tank and acclimatizing them to their new environment. Wait a few days before heading back to the store and purchasing more fish. This process allows your fish to grow accustomed to the water and chemical levels, preventing shock and other potentially fatal results.
Take the opportunity to teach your children about proper aquarium care. Most children can understand how important it is to clean a tank and change the water regularly. Older children and teenagers can grasp the more complicated process of the nitrogen cycle that occurs naturally in an aquarium.
A thorough explanation can help them understand what goes on when they check the water chemistry. Make sure to bring picture books, magazines, or online videos about aquariums.
When choosing fish for your tank, talk to your children about the characteristics of each fish species, including their temperament and size. And of course, if they’re ready, have your children clean and maintain the tank’s ecosystem—and keep a close eye for any mistakes!
There’s a chance your child might mess up a few times; tell them not to worry! Make it a habit to clean and check for normal levels as you would for any other pet. Your fish deserves a healthy and beautiful home so be sure you and your children are regularly observing for sudden changes in your tank. In fact, one of the changes you may face as an aquarist is algae. It can be a tricky little beast to get rid of so check out our blog, How to Control Algae Growth in Your Aquarium for our tips!
