Creating a Colorful and Family-Friendly Aquarium
Aquariums offer a great deal of enjoyment for children. They will certainly delight in assembling one with your help, followed by the pleasure of observing the fish glide through the water. It’s highly probable that your children will appreciate an aquarium that is vibrant, colorful, and welcoming for families. However, the question remains: where do you begin?
If you want to learn more, we have everything covered for you in this post! You’ll learn how to build a stunning saltwater aquarium right at home. Let’s get started!
Why Build a Family Aquarium?
There are many different reasons to build a family-friendly aquarium. You can design the tank however you want, and they’re an excellent source of entertainment. Plus, taking care of the fish is a great teaching tool for kids of any age. Many aquarists say they had their first tank as a child, which impacted them heavily.
What You Need
Before you get started, you want to make sure that you have the proper equipment. You will need:
- An aquarium
- A tank cover with a light
- A stand for your tank
- A filter
- A heater and thermometer
- Gravel and gravel vacuum
- Decorations
- Fish food
- A net
- An algae scraper
- Test strips
We understand that looks like a lot, but most aquarium kits will include almost everything on that above list. You’ll still likely need to get gravel, fish food, and decorations on your own. Of course, you’ll also need to get fish!
You want to set up the tank first. Then, allow it a week or two to “settle.” During that time, make sure to test the water often. You want the pH, heat, and other factors to be at a level suitable for the fish species you want to get.
Tank Decoration Ideas
Your kids are sure to love bright gravel and other fun decorations. However, it would be best if you also created an environment that the fish feel comfortable in. One of the best options is a saltwater tank since you can decorate it with colorful reefs. That way, your tank is appealing to everyone in the family, and the fish feel right at home.
You can use plenty of artificial corals if you don’t want to maintain a natural reef. These decorations come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. You will want to spend time with the family choosing the decorations and setting up the tank together.
Rocks, glass without sharp edges, clay pots, and wood are also great for fish tanks. It’s essential that you don’t gather these items outside since you could introduce parasites to the fish tank. Instead, buy all of your decorations from a shop.
Fish for Your Family Tank
One of the best choices for a saltwater family tank is the yellow tang. It’s a very vibrantly colored fish that gets along well with other saltwater community fish. That means you can place different species in the tank with the yellow tang.
Many families enjoy this since it allows them to create a very colorful fish tank. Kids love the colors and enjoy watching the fish swim. Yellow tangs also get along with:
- Clownfish
- Angelfish
- Puffers
- Blue tangs
- Lionfish
Additionally, yellow tangs and their tank mates are very easy to keep. Your family will have plenty of fun watching these beautiful saltwater fish interact with one another. Plus, kids of all ages should be able to take care of them, with a little bit of help. Raising fish will teach responsibility and make your children curious about nature.
Consider Adding Shrimp
Saltwater shrimp are also well-suited for a family-friendly tank. Kids love to watch these little guys stroll around the bottom of the tank. Shrimp also help keep your tank clean- they eat debris and fish waste. Many families choose shrimp as their “bottom feeders” for a saltwater tank.
As long as you carefully consider the saltwater shrimp species you add to the tank, they won’t bother your fish and act as the “cleanup crew.”
How to Set Up Your Tank
Always start by cleaning the tank and placing it where you want it. It’s challenging to move the aquarium after it’s full of water, so set it up on the stand beforehand. You also want to leave enough space behind the fish tank for your electrical connections, including the heater, filter, and lights.
Next, install all of your tank’s equipment. Then, run a “wet test” before adding the salts, gravel, and fish. This test ensures that all of your electronic equipment is working. You want to know that the filter, heater, and other devices are running correctly. During this time, also keep an eye open for leaks.
You can empty the tank after you finish this test.
Add the Gravel and Sea Salt
Now, you want to add the gravel before filling the tank with water. You’ll want to follow the instructions on your sea salts carefully. It’s essential to check the salinity levels until it’s at the proper amount for your fish.
Add the Decor
Finally, you can add your decorations to the tank. This part of the setup is the most fun for kids! You’ll want to offer them plenty of colorful items that are safe for your fish tank. Once your aquarium is all set up, you can add the fish when all the conditions are at a comfortable level for them.
Introducing More Fish
Many families start with a few colorful fish and introduce more to the tank later. Doing so allows you to feel more comfortable with taking care of the fish before adding more. Keep in mind that adding fish will raise the ammonia levels in the water, so you need to test often.
Enjoy the Tank With Your Family
The best part of making this type of fish tank is enjoying it with your family. You and your loved ones will enjoy each other’s company as you watch the fish swim around and interact with their environment. Making a stunning, colorful tank will make the aquarium fun for everyone to watch!
