1. Provide plenty of places for your aquarium animals to hide. Studies have actually shown that the more places a fish has to hide, the less likely they are to do so! Hiding spots also provide safe spots of refuge for smaller fish in the aquarium
2. Make sure that the bottom of your aquarium is fully supported by your aquarium stand. If you have any gaps in the structural integrity of your aquarium, it is much more prone to breaks and leaks.
3. You should be sure to rinse out all of the materials you are going to be placing in the aquarium with water. Do not use soap or detergents, soap can cause toxic results for the fish in your aquarium. Just rinse the equipment with distilled water.