Tetra have just released their new 30L aquarium, perfect at getting children into the fun and interactive hobby that is fishkeeping and they invited us to set one up.
The Tetra ‘Despicable Me’ aquarium complete set contains the basic equipment and food and care samples you need to get started, as well as a useful set-up brochure and Minions decorative elements.
In the box is:
- Robust glass aquarium (4 mm thick glass) with outer dimensions of 30 x 27.5 x 42 cm (30l volume)
- Robust lid with a practical hatch for conveniently feeding the fish
- Energy-saving LED light (6 watts) with a service life of up to 50,000 hours (11 years)
- Powerful filter (3.5 watts) with easy-to-replace filter cartridges
- TÜV certified with a 2-year warranty
- Food and water conditioner samples
- Set up and maintenance brochure
- Double-sided background poster with Minions visuals
- Minions figure with a suction cup
Having not kept fish before, we found the easy to read brochure perfect to ensure we got the tank just right before we added our fish.
How to set up a fish tank for the first time
1. Location, location, location
The first thing you need to do is to find the perfect location for the fish tank. It should be:
- Not too loud, so that the fish don’t get scared
- Not too close to radiators, heaters or directly at a window
- Near a plug socket or extension lead
- Plenty of room around it so you can watch and feed the fish
2. Go Shopping
Although the tank comes with a filter you still need to buy all the things that make it a real home for your fish.
- Aquarium gravel
- Plants
- Items for decoration – it is important that the fish have somewhere to hide
If you plan on keeping tropical fish, a heater is also required as the water temperature needs to be between 24 to 27 °C to allow the fish to thrive.
3. Add the equipment
- Stick the poster to the wall behind the fish tank
- Wash the gravel under a tap and then spread throughout the aquarium
- Install the technical equipment
- Half fill the tank with water
- Add the plants, water conditioner and top up with water
- Add your ornaments
4. Leave to settle
A new tank is incapable of supporting fish until the filter matures, but using Tetra Safestart speeds up this process. We were advised to use this, switch the filter on for three days and leave before adding the fish.
5. Choose your fish
Initially we were going to get goldfish, but we could only have two in a tank this size so we decided on having tropical fish instead, so also added a heater which takes 24 hours to get the tank up to the right temperature.
The kids really want Guppies, but they are quite delicate by nature, so we were advised by Pets at Home to introduce some more hardy Tetra’s to the tank who will help to get the water in a tank stabilised.
6. Add the fish to your tank
Take the sealed bag that your fish came in and float it on the surface of your aquarium’s water. Allow the bag to sit for fifteen minutes to acclimatize to the different water temperature.
Then open the bag and add a cup of your aquarium’s water to it. Reseal the bag and let it float again for a further 15 minutes.
Use a net a introduce the fish to the water from the bag, don’t pour the water in as it may contain harmful bacteria or dirt from the tank they came from.
7. Feed the Fish
Leave the fish for 24 hours before feeding them for the first time and only use a small pinch of food – giving them too much food means it will end up at the bottom of the tank which has a negative effect on the water quality and the health of the fish.
8. Tank Care
It is important to change part of the water at least once a month to keep the aquarium and fish in good condition and replace the filter cartridges every four weeks.
Our thoughts on keeping fish
The kids have been nagging me for pets for some time now for pets and I have to admit I saw keeping fish as the easy, and cheaper, option, but despite the tank coming with much of the equipment needed it did surprise me how much more I spent.
The Tetra Starter Line Aquarium has an RRP of £59.99 and I easily spent a further £50 on a heater, gravel, plants, ornaments and equipment and a further £15 on fish (so far).
The kids love it though and have drawn up a rota to feed the fish. I often catch them just stood there watching the fish swimming around and having the minion picture on the wall behind the tank adds so more fun.
We currently have 7 fish: Matilda – a rummy nose Tetra; Terence – a glowlight tetra; Chuck – a penguin Tetra; and 4 neon tetra’s – Darwin, Poseidon, Triton and Violet. The kids are looking forward to adding the guppies in a couple of weeks.
For more information about fish care, please visit the Tetra website for tips and advice.
Do you keep fish?
Disclaimer: We were sent the Tetra Starter Line Aquarium for the purpose of a review. All opinions are our own.
I kept fish for years before having the children, a large tropical tank with about 30 fish in it. We bought a small 8L tank a few years ago and the children love it. We went through a stage of our male guppys eating each other but since we have switched to neons they have been very happy. Fish tanks are such a calming influence and it’s a nice easy thing for kids to start with, at least they don’t need walking 😉
I love this! Takes me back to when I was a kid and we had a huge fish tank in the front room.
We have a fish tank and the kids love it, I think it’s great for kids to have any kind of pet to look after.
Whenever I see fish I just want to quote Finding Nemo all the time. My brother used to have a few fish that he loved and cared for. If he didn’t have a crazy pug that would probably find her way into the tank, I think he’d have loved having all these decorative options! Especially considering he loves Despicable Me!
Ahh! I have saved this page. I won one of these tanks last week and this is a great guide in how to set it up and introduce the fish to it. I can’t wait to get some fish x
This tank looks great and I love that is has the little Minion aspects! My two little ones have been asking me to get fish for some time now and this tank sounds like it would be perfect for them to have their very own little fish in!
I love the idea of getting a pet for children. Fish are a perfect pet because they are easy to keep. It gets them into the habit of being responsible for another living thing.
I love the skull in your tank it adds an instant bit of colour and it’s so nice to have some fish at home, I always used to have them as a kid x
My Sister and I kept fish when we were younger and I’m hoping to get some for E when she’s old enough. This tank looks great, and I’m glad it shows you the before and after care of the fish and tank.
That skull is amazing! What a great looking tank!
I think kids would love this aquarium and would hopefully enjoy the responsibility of caring for the fish!
This looks so bright and funky. Even as an adult, I would much prefer to keep fish in this than in a regular tank.
oh this needs to be hidden from my husband he had for years all the different fish and tanks even the big marine ones that took forever to clean , he would buy this straight away for our 3 year old if he seen it being so much easier to take care of
I love fish and we have a fish tank. I’ve kept fish for several years, but we are moving house so our fish tank is looking a bit bare at the moment. Love this fish tank!
We don’t have our fish anymore but you’ve just inspired me to get some more!
I have always had fish outside, I also had one inside up to about 4 years ago. When Lucas is older and wants a bit of responsibility a fish will definitely be the first pet. He would love this tank to as he is minion mad x
Awww my nephew would so love this, I know I would as have always had finish tanks as a kid but not as an adult.
This is so lovely. The fish look so beautiful as well. Our little lady has just been given a hamster, and I think it is good for the children to have the responsibility of a pet
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting fish for my children, so its interesting that you say you’ve spent quite a bit more on it than you initially thought…
This tank is amazing. I know I would have loved it when I was younger. We never had fish because my parents didn’t want to clean the tank – can’t say I blame them.
Thanks for such a thorough and informative post, my daughter has been wanting to have a fish as a pet and we might just go get this tank
I have always wanted an aquarium for as long as I can remember. Plan on getting one soon. This looks great.
How cool is this. I love the sugar skull in the tank. I always had fish when I was a kid and love them.
This is such a lovely idea. We don’t have any pets at all at the moment but the children love visiting the local fish store in our garden centre. I’ll have to see if they have this model there
Haha, this is so cute! I love it!! I used to have a huge tank when I was a student, I stupidly bought a little ‘shark’ and it ate 90% of the inhabitants. Ooops!
Katie xoxo
This is such a cool fish tanks. I love that skull head.
Oh I love this! My girls are desperate for a fish tank and I keep saying not yet, but I know when I eventually cave they would love this!
Ahh this is fab! Thank you for taking the care to write such an informative post about setting up a fish tank – I had no idea how careful you needed to be. Would love this one day!
Since we got a fishtank in the livingroom, Isla wants one for her bedroom. Might surprise her with this one!
I’m planning on getting the kids a tetra kit at some point! H 🙂
I always wanted a tank of fish! I wouldn’t mind getting a few soon :)relatively easy to look after!
This is a great little fish tank! My daughter loves minions so would love this!
I love the love how you decorated your fish tank. The multi-colored gravel and the artificial plants really compliment each other. The Neon Tetras are also one of my favorite fish to keep in a small aquarium.
I have bookmarked this blog. My daughter is keeping fish. She is a big fan of betta fish. I teach her how to take care of her fish perfectly. Thanks!
Great article!
Reminds me of childhood memories of me and my dad setting up our huge fish tank!
Keep up the awesome work!
I love adding fun ornaments to my sons fish tanks. He has ADHD and his fish tank is one of the only things that clams him somedays. I tell him to go feed his fish and he calms down instantly.
Oaw! This is really a good one for beginners to make an aquarium. You really describe perfectly how to make set up a nice and healthy aquarium for fish. And I love the fish tank images you share. Thanks for sharing.
Nice fish tank I love it. I just want to buy it. But please tell me how much fishes are incide the tank ?
Nice skull head and Despicable Me figures in the tank. I’ve always wanted a fish tank when I was younger. Now I can get one of my own!