Your first aquarium: where to put it and why there's no rush

Setting up an aquarium has a touch of magic about it: a little piece of river or sea in your living room. But the most important part happens before the first fish arrives, and hardly anyone sees it. Get it right and you'll save yourself a lot of heartache.

The spot: think about it once

A full aquarium weighs an enormous amount, and moving it later is a nightmare. Choose the right place from the start.

• A sturdy, level stand built to bear the weight of the full aquarium.
• Away from direct sunlight, which warms the water and sends algae through the roof.
• Away from radiators, draughty windows and doors that fly open.
• With a socket nearby for the filter, the light and, if it's tropical, the heater.
• In a quiet corner, not in a hallway where it'll get knocked as people pass.

Cycling, made simple

Fish produce waste that turns into ammonia, a substance that's toxic to them. In a mature aquarium, beneficial bacteria living mainly in the filter convert that ammonia into nitrites, also toxic, and then into nitrates, far less harmful, which are removed with water changes.

The problem is that in a newly set-up aquarium those bacteria don't exist yet. Cycling is precisely the time they take to settle in. It usually takes several weeks, and skipping it is the most common reason fish fall ill in a new aquarium.

How to tell if it's ready

Eyeballing it won't do here: the water can be crystal clear and still not be safe. Use water test kits to measure ammonia and nitrites. When both stay at zero for several days running and nitrates start to appear, the cycle is complete.

• Keep the filter running at all times, including during cycling.
• If you use tap water, treat it with a conditioner to remove the chlorine.
• Add fish gradually, not all on the same day.
• Ask which species are compatible with each other and with your aquarium before you buy them.

Patience, the best decoration

While you wait, make the most of it by placing the gravel, plants and decorations, adjusting the light and checking everything works. It's the creative part, and it also gives the bacteria time.

If at any point you see fish gasping at the surface or with odd marks, test the water and consult a vet or a specialist fish shop.

At Petuki you'll find decorations, artificial plants and accessories so your aquarium looks gorgeous while it matures.