The following pages will guide you step by step through the stages involved in setting up an aquarium. Before installing your aquarium please research the needs of fish you intend to keep. This will help you to create the ideal environment for them and in return they will provide you with many years of pleasure. I also recommend noting down a plan for the installation. There is nothing worse that getting near to completion and then realizing that something is missing or simply won't fit. Always plan ahead.

After deciding carefully where to position the aquarium, you can begin to set the foundations for the tank

As you can see from the photograph, I am using a steel two-tier stand. Later I intend to install another tank in the otherwise empty space below the main set up.

I like to place a piece of ¼ inch thick plywood directly on the stand. Metal stands are not always perfectly square and this helps me to align the stand with the back and, in this case, side walls. It also ensures that I will place the aquarium square on the stand. Additionally, the plywood allows me to place a weight (the bucket of water in the photograph) on the stand while I level it. I have found that as weight is added to stand, i.e. the aquarium is filled, it will "settle" on the floor and may not end up level.

A final advantage for using a plywood base in this particular installation is I will be able to screw in a light fitting for the lower aquarium. Remember I mentioned you should always plan ahead.

Using a spirit level, check that the stand is level front to back and left to right. Do this on all edges of the stand and adjust as necessary using wooden spacers.

Time spent ensuring the stand is on an even plane now will prevent years of irritation later when the water level appears to "slope" away from the top edge of the tank