Anyone who desires to enjoy the aquatic beauty of a fish tank can do so fairly quickly and easily by purchasing a 10-gallon starter tank. A quality starter tank will have many of the essentials needed to provide a safe, comfortable environment for your aquatic animals. These items should include the 10-gallon tank and its cover, lamps, a carbon filter and effective water conditioner/dechlorinator to keep your pet’s home clean. You may have to buy things like gravel, light bulbs, live plants, bubble stones, food and of course, the fish, separately.

Your first consideration after you acquire all the necessary materials is where to put the aquarium. This is critical as your tank could weigh up to 100 pounds. Make sure the table or stand you use can support such weight.

As you begin to set the tank up, keep in mind that you will need between 15-20 pounds of gravel to lay a proper foundation. With most of the tank's real estate taken up by rocks, you’ll need to keep the fish population to a minimum. Limiting the tank to two or at most, three fish to start with will cut down on grime and pollution so you won't have to clean it as often.

Rinse everything with water, including the gravel, but don’t use any cleansers as this could hurt your fish. Gravel will be laid first and then any adornments. Hook things like bubble stones or wands to an airline hose and place them in the tank. Plants should be put into a half filled aquarium for easier placement. Once everything is to your liking, you can fill the tank with water, making sure to add dechlorinator and an aquarium salt if desired.

Adding beautiful fish is the final step to building a tank that is sure to bring you and your family enjoyment for years to come.