Aquarium

Quick Answer: The Aquarium is a clear rectangular observation tank with a hinged lid, as pictured, for keeping water plants, pond animals or small fish where students can watch them. A school aquarium turns topics such as food chains, photosynthesis and the nitrogen cycle into something a class can follow for weeks.

Setting Up the Tank

A new tank needs a stable, level surface that can take the full weight of the water, away from direct sunlight, radiators and draughts. Direct sun encourages green algae and heats the water quickly, whereas a bright spot with indirect light suits plants without overheating. Rinse the tank with plain water only, since detergent residues harm fish and invertebrates.

Tap water often contains chlorine or chloramine added for disinfection, so treat it with a dechlorinating conditioner before animals go in. The tank then needs time to cycle: bacteria colonise the gravel and any filter, converting toxic ammonia from waste into nitrite and then into much less harmful nitrate. Until that community is established, add animals a few at a time and test the water.

The hinged lid reduces evaporation, keeps dust out and stops animals from jumping or climbing out, and it lifts for feeding and maintenance. An Air Pump for Aquarium 180 L/h can supply an airline, and pond samples caught with the Plankton Net can be held here for a few days of observation.

Specifications

What a Classroom Tank Teaches

• Watching bubbles of oxygen rise from pondweed under a lamp as evidence of photosynthesis
• Keeping pond snails, water fleas or larvae to study feeding and life cycles
• Building a simple food chain from algae to grazers to predators
• Testing water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to follow the nitrogen cycle
• Studying fish behaviour, gill movements and responses to light

Care & Handling

• Change part of the water regularly with dechlorinated water at a similar temperature rather than emptying the whole tank.
• Feed sparingly; uneaten food decays and fouls the water.
• Wipe algae from the inside with a soft pad, and clean the outside with a damp cloth rather than spray cleaners.
• Lift the tank only when it is empty, supporting it from underneath.

Why Choose LabEquip

Primary and secondary schools, biology labs and teacher-training colleges choose a tank like this when they want living material on hand across a whole term. LabEquip supplies it through the General Lab Products range; confirm the size that fits your bench through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a new aquarium run before adding fish?

Allow the tank to cycle first, which commonly takes several weeks, until tests show ammonia and nitrite falling to near zero. Adding a few hardy animals at a time, rather than a full stock at once, keeps the water stable.

Why did the water turn green?

Green water is caused by free-floating algae, usually because of too much light and too many nutrients from uneaten food or waste. Reduce direct sunlight, feed less and make partial water changes to clear it.

Can tap water be used directly?

Not safely for animals. Chlorine and chloramine in treated tap water harm fish and invertebrates, so use a dechlorinating conditioner. Rainwater or pond water can be used for pond animals if it comes from a clean source.

Does the aquarium need an air pump?

A lightly stocked tank with plenty of plants can manage without one, but an air pump improves circulation and gas exchange, especially in warm rooms or when more animals are kept. It is a sensible addition for a school tank.

Who looks after the aquarium during school holidays?

Plan ahead: a healthy tank with few animals can go several days without feeding, but longer breaks need a named person to check it. Automatic feeders exist, though they can overfeed and are no substitute for a visit.

What animals are suitable for a school tank?

Pond snails, water fleas, freshwater shrimp, caddis larvae and hardy small fish are common choices. Keep predators such as dragonfly nymphs apart from the animals they eat, and return wild-caught animals to their pond after the study.

Last Updated: September 2026