How to turn a storage box into an aquarium

Every household loves pets, whether it’s furry friends or aquatic ones. Aquariums and fish tanks can be quite expensive depending on the size and the materials used. However, you can quite easily create your own aquarium using a spare storage box in your house by following the instructions below, saving not only your bank balance, but the earth too!

Step 1: Check your storage box

Before you even begin to turn your storage box into an aquarium, you should check whether the box is designed to hold large quantities of water. If the plastic used for your storage box is not strong enough, the risk of water leaking dramatically increases. It’s also vital that you check the type of plastic used. Certain types of plastic are not suitable for aquarium use and can have a harmful effect on the fish in the aquarium.

Step 2: Place the box

After you have checked whether your storage box is suitable to be converted into an aquarium, you now have to decide where to place it. Almost any location is fine as long as you leave enough room to fit an external filter (if needed) and don’t place it in direct sunlight.

Step 3: Add gravel and water

When you have decided where your aquarium is going to be placed, it is then time to add the water and gravel to the aquarium. The gravel that is going to be used in the aquarium should be washed before it is placed in the container. You should also make sure that the water is safe for fish. Quite often, the water is ‘contaminated’ with chlorine. Before anything else is placed in your aquarium, you need to neutralise the water with a de-chlorinator.

Step 4: Install the filter and heater

The filter and heater are the two most important components when installing a new aquarium. An ideal filter to use in a storage box aquarium would be a canister filter. This filter is designed to go inside the aquarium and works with any size. Although its primary function is to return cleaned water, the canister filter can also work as a heater as it manages to heat the water when passing through the filter. This filter is especially useful if you are going to have tropical fish in your aquarium.

Step 5: Add decorations

Adding decorations to your aquarium, such as plants or plastic ornaments, will help your fish settle into the aquarium as it gives them a place to hid and make them feel safe. Although the decorations are largely for the view, some fish can respond better to decorations which remind them of their natural habitat and allow them to settle into the aquarium better.

Step 6: Wait 24 hours

After your aquarium has been filled with water, gravel, filters, heaters, and decorations, you should leave it alone for 24 hours. This allows the aquarium to settle and stabilises the water temperature.

Step 7: It’s ready

After you have waited for 24 hours, your storage box aquarium should now be ready to use. All that is left to do is to allow your fish to acclimatise to the water and release them in your new aquarium.

You should have now created a fully functioning aquarium, for the whole household to enjoy!