Aquarium, a small replica of the water world in your home is fundamentally a container with controlled conditions suitable enough to maintain aquatic life and fishes in a constrained space over a long period of time. Procuring an aquarium, planning it and acquiring all the equipments for setting it up may take up a certain amount of time; from about a few weeks to a month but careful organisation in the initial stages of preparation can save a lot of time and effort later. [...]

Placing the aquarium requires a bit planning, especially about the amount of space required and how accessible it will be for regular cleaning and maintenance. The aquarium has to be cleared of dirty water and waste every month or preferably every week and this cannot be possible if it is placed in a position difficult to reach. However households with small children should be careful about the height in which the aquarium is placed. IF it is too low then the children might knock it down and get hurt in the process. So placing the aquarium is crucial in terms of accessibility and safety. It should be placed somewhere that is easy to access but at the same time should be away from the place of daily and frequent activity or interference. It should also be remembered that an aquarium is very heavy. A 10 gallon/40L aquarium may weigh above 150 pounds/70kgs, majority of the weight owing to the glass and water with the gravel used for decorations adding to it. So, the location and stand chosen for the aquarium should be sturdy and strong enough to withstand the pressure and not collapse under the weight. [...]

A beginner can choose from a wide array of aquariums, they come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing a big aquarium or a smaller one depends on the space available and the time and effort that can be provided for its maintenance. However, a medium sized aquarium, something in the range of atleast 10 gallons/40L is usually preferred over smaller variations as they provide enough space for the fish and also require less frequent water changes. Bigger aquariums have larger volume of water to dilute the fish waste and thus can be kept for a longer period of time without changing the water. Smaller aquariums also undergo more rapid changes in temperature and water chemistry which is harmful to the fish. Larger volume of water ensures that temperature rise or fall is not abrupt and this helps the fish to thrive better. A 30 gallon/120L is deemed ideal for beginners as has all the advantages of a bigger aquarium and choosing one even bigger than this does not add much to the advantages. It is easier to maintain and also provides protection against rapid changes in the water values. [...]

The final process before you can enjoy an aquarium is setting it up. This is the culmination of all the previous planning and decisions and only after the successful completion of this stage can you have a healthy aquarium.
The first step in setting up the aquarium is thoroughly cleaning the container and all the other items that is going to go into the aquarium. Using a small amount of dish washing liquid with warm water to clean the container removes all the dirt, dust and contaminants. However the detergent needs to be washed off completely from the surface of the container by repeated rinses with warm or hot water as even traces of the detergent left behind can be injurious to the fish.
The gravel or sand that would go in the water should be cleaned next. About half a bucket of gravel or sand should be cleaned by holding under running water only. The bucket should not contain any trace of detergent. Keep moving the gravel inside the bucket while washing until the water runs clear. [...]

Aquariums can be interesting pieces of artwork apart from being a safe habitat for fishes provided it is set up carefully and creatively. For art and safety to creatively combine into a masterpiece, it is all important to utilize the available safe decorations which make the aquarium look grand without interfering with the well-being of the fishes. By well-being of the fishes, their natural adaptation to the artificial environment is referred to. It can only happen if the decorations recreate their natural environment underwater without any dangerous artefact of the aquarium hanging around. This might end up preventing the fishes from exhibiting their normal instinctual behaviours. The natural behaviour of the fish species is significant to make the aquarium lively and a treat to the eyes, thereby making the aquarium set up a success. To make the aquarium unique, sufficient investment is needed which would depend on the grandeur in which you are willing to build the aquarium and species of fishes you wish to include. [...]