Beginner's Guide to Setting Up Your First Aquarium & Using the Petco Community

Fish can make awesome pets but figuring out everything you need to get set up can be tough.

Below is a list of 10 items you need to set up your tank. 

Keep in mind after you set up your tank it needs to run for at least 24 hours before you get fish, possibly longer. You'll also need to make sure you've used a water conditioner to condition the tap water and make it ideal for your new fish! I recommend having your water tested before purchasing fish to make sure the water is safe for your new pets. 

1. A fish tank. 

I recommend the Aqueon MiniBow White LED Desktop Fish Aquarium Kit, 5 gal. - Aqueon LED MiniBow Aquarium Kit. Bow front aquarium, that is stylish space-saving design with a big-tank quietflow filtration.

Aqueon MiniBow White LED Desktop Fish Aquarium Kit, 5 gallon

Aquarium filter and pump included

LED lighting brings your aquarium to life

2. A net. 

I recommend the Petco Aquarium Fish Net - Can be used for fresh or saltwater fish - a must for handling fish. 

3. Gravel

I recommend Petco Aquarium Gravel - Gravel aids in propagation of beneficial bacteria. Adds depth and beauty to aquariums, water gardens, ponds and terrariums. Made of non-toxic fish safe materials and colors. Safe for use in freshwater and marine environments.

4. A Water Conditioner

I recommend Tetra AquaSafe Water Conditioner - Quickly makes tap water safe by neutralizing chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals harmful to your fish while enhancing your fish's natural, protective slime coating.

5. Aquarium Test Strips

I recommend Tetra EasyStrips 6-in-1 Aquarium Test Strips - Measure six important water quality levels -- nitrate, nitrite, hardness, chlorine, alkalinity, and pH. The test strips are designed from the same technology used in medical and scientific laboratories, giving you fast and accurate results.

6. Fish Food

I recommend Aqueon Tropical Flakes - Formulated with natural ingredients and colors with added vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients for a healthy diet. Specially formulated so that fish utilize more of what they eat, creating less waste.

7. Aquarium Plants

I recommend Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium Plants - Natural looking and beautiful. Assorted plants are great for filling in areas of your aquarium while creating a natural environment.

8. A hideout for fish

I recommend Blue Ribbon Pink Pixie Castle Aquarium Ornament - Enriches your aquascape by providing interest and hiding places for your fish

9. An aquarium background

I recommend Hagen Marina Reversible Aquarium Background in Planted Oasis/Slate Wall - Beautiful Planted Oasis reverses to Slate Wall for 2 backgrounds in 1! Helps eliminate water stains from appearing. Hides tubing and power cords.

10. Fish

Petco has a wide variety of fish but make sure your fish are compatible as many are not. Click HERE to see which fish get along. 

Petco is a wonderful place for first time fish owners as their staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. My daughter picked out a fish she wanted and the very patient Petco employee made sure to catch just the one she asked for. I was amazed out how well they treated my daughter. It was a wonderful experience and is sure to be an experience she'll never forget. 

Petco.com also has amazing resources and even offers the Petco Community where pet owners can come together to ask each other questions or read useful pet care tips and articles such as...

What Happens if You Don’t Regularly Clean Your Freshwater Aquarium? 

By BrentNpetco

Friend or Foe? Freshwater Fish Compatibility for a Happy Tank 

By PetcoBlogger

Click HERE to find a Petco store near you!

Click HERE to learn more about the Petco Community!

Follow Petco on social media!

    

Disclosure: I received product(s) for free, in exchange for my honest review. I only recommend products I've used personally, and believe will be good fit for consumers.