How to set up your first aquarium or fishtank

There’s nothing worse than running out of ideas to keep the kids entertained over the school holidays! If you’re looking for a fun holiday project for kids, or simply want to invite a little calm into your life, why not set up an aquarium in your Singapore home? Aquascaping as a hobby is a lot less complicated than it might seem. And if you’re not sure where to buy a fish tank in Singapore, you can just visit the experts at Fishyhub. With the help of this specialty online aquarium shop, setting up your first fish tank can be a fun and easy activity for the whole family. There’s a wide range of aquarium fish and plants available for putting together your dream aquascape.

Why set up an aquarium in Singapore?

For starters, aquariums are living works of art. Colourful fish and gorgeous aquascapes come together to create a little zen corner that offers respite from our hectic lifestyles. A desktop aquarium or home office doesn’t take very much space and is a great way to de-stress when you’re taking a break. Putting together an aquarium in Singapore is also very easy. In fact, this is the ‘aquarium capital of the world’! There’s a wide array of ornamental fish to choose from, and you’ll also find specialty aquarium shops with knowledgeable staff.

Ready to take the plunge? Here’s what you need to know before getting your first aquarium in Singapore.

Five tips for your first aquarium

#1 Choose the right fish tank

The first decision you’ll need to make is what size of tank to get. It’s a common misconception that larger tanks mean more work; in fact, tanks smaller than a foot require more frequent water changes as waste tends to accumulate faster. For a first tank, opt for a one foot or two foot tank. These should fit easily in most homes. A one foot tank could also fit on a large work desk allowing your fish to keep you company while you work!

#2 Cycle your fish tank!

Many first-time aquarium enthusiasts make the mistake of adding fish straight to the water. What they don’t realise is that fish tanks need to be ‘cycled’ before the introduction of any fish. Cycling refers to the process of cultivating the bacteria that’s necessary to break down ammonia and nitrates produced when fish waste is broken down. Getting this nitrogen cycle up and running is an essential first step before adding fish. While the process used to take several weeks, special additives allow you to introduce fish almost immediately. For a more detailed explanation of the process, visit Fishyhub’s blog.

#3 Pick basic equipment and conditioners

A basic aquarium requires a few components: a suitable filter, adequate lighting and a water conditioner. A filter is essential to maintain clean water for your fish. It also has a dual function as an air-pump because it can aerate the water. Lighting is essential not only for plants to grow but also to help maintain a circadian rhythm for fish. Finally, suitable quantities of water conditioner are needed to dechlorinate Singapore’s tap water which contains chlorine, a chemical harmful to fish.

Because an aquarium is a closed environment, filters are essential to maintain clean water for your fish. The most basic filter is a mechanical one that filters debris and larger waste particles. Bio sponges filter the water using the previously mentioned ‘good bacteria’ while filtration aids like active carbon help purify the water through chemical reactions. A combination of the three filtration methods is the best way to ensure a healthy environment for your fish.

#4 Design your aquascape

One of the most fun parts of starting an aquarium is designing the aquascape. The style of the tank can vary wildly depending on preferences. Want a little zen in your life? Opt for the Iwagumi style that uses grass-like plants and rocks to depict serene mountains and fields. If you want something more exotic, choose a wild jungle style with lush greenery or a more organised Dutch garden style with colorful plants. Another simpler style includes a biotope aquascape that closely replicates aquatic environments found in nature.

#5 Choosing your aquarium fish

The final and most exciting part of setting up an aquarium is picking your fish! While it might be tempting to choose a variety of pretty looking fish, it’s essential to differentiate between marine saltwater fish and freshwater tropical fish. It’s also important to choose the right types of fish, shrimps and snails that get along with each other. In addition, ensure the tank isn’t overstocked with too many creatures. On the flip side, some small community fish also have schooling instincts and get stressed when they’re alone.

To make choosing your fish, snails and other species a little easier, FishyHub has a 24/7 concierge service team who can help you with this process. Furthermore, the aquarium shop offers an intelligent recommendation engine that suggests suitable tankmates on its digital platform. It also recommends the right kinds of plants and fish based on your aquarium keeping levels.

Set up your first aquarium in Singapore with help from Fishyhub

Eager to set up your first fish tank? As one of the largest aquarium shops in the world, Fishyhub offers an incredible variety of ornamental fish and aquatic plants – all of which can be browsed on their website. You can also shop a wide range of tanks, lights, filters, substrates, fish food and anything you’ll need for your first tank. There’s also an aquarium blog with handy tips written by experts as well.

If you’re still intimidated by the prospect of setting up a tank from scratch, Fishyhub offers a variety of aquarium starter packs from just $150. Each comprehensive pack includes a tank, filter, lighting, decorations (including plants) along with fish food. The packs are delivered, and FishyHub’s adventure team will also set up the aquarium completely and design the aquascape based on your preferred style. On-demand guidance on maintenance will also be provided as a long-term service after that. This is an ideal option if you just want to admire a gorgeous aquarium without any of the work!

For more information on Fishyhub, click here.

Looking for more things to do in Singapore this weekend? Here are some other fun activities.

Dinesh Ajith

Dinesh is a seasoned writer and editor with seven years of experience covering travel, restaurants and bars. His interests include film photography, cheesy 90s monster flicks, and scouring the island for under-the-radar craft beer bars.