Some of the most popular water conditioner brands include Kent Detox, Seachem Prime, API tap water conditioner, and Tetra Aqua Safe.Īlternatively, you could buy aquarium water from a fish store or if you have access to filtered water in your home, you can use that provided that your water filter system removes chlorine. Water ConditionerĪ water conditioner is needed to dechlorinate tap water and detoxify it before adding it to the tank.Ĭhlorinated tap water is extremely unhealthy for your fish, so removing it along with other contamination issues is the best way to ensure healthy water for your fish. Make sure the filter you’re going to buy can process a lot of water and it isn’t too loud. HOB filters are recommended for smaller tanks, while canister filters are better suited for larger tanks. There are various filter types that are used in aquarium, but the two most common ones are hang on back (HOB) style filters and canister filters. preventing cloudiness and the accumulation of toxins in the tank.

The aquarium filter helps remove decaying matter, excess food, fish waste, suspended particles, etc. This may cost more, but it will also give you the opportunity to hand pick items based on preference and need. If you’re not going to invest in an aquarium kit, you’re going to need to buy all the necessary equipment separately. You don’t want to keep the tank in direct sunlight, so choose a place that gets some natural light but not in excess.īesides the room, make sure you have a sturdy piece of furniture with a flat surface that can support the weight of the tank along with all the other equipment (filters, lights, etc.).Ĭabinets are recommended for larger tank, while any sturdy furniture with a flat surface will do fine for smaller tanks. You can pick out each item for the tank yourself, or you could go with an aquarium kit for beginner aquarists that includes the tank, filters, water conditioner, fish food, and other things you may need.īuying a kit with everything included can be cheaper than choosing each item separately.Ī quick search on Amazon for aquarium kits will return many examples of all-inclusive kits for beginners that ship with everything needed to set up your tank.Īnother thing to consider is where exactly are you going to keep your tank. If you already know the type of fish you’re going to keep, check their tank requirements and size your tank accordingly based on the number of fish you want to keep.Įven so, I don’t recommend choosing a tank smaller than 10 gallons, in fact a 20-gallon tank is the best for beginner aquarists. Larger tanks are also more stable than smaller tanks, so if in doubt, pick the larger tank. Sizing the tank correctly is important for the health and wellbeing of your fish. Here’s how to set up your freshwater aquarium in 5 easy-to-follow steps: 1.

Therefore, until you get some experience under your belt, I recommend starting with a freshwater tank. They require additional equipment, special lighting and additional work during water changes. Saltwater aquariums are more expensive to set up and maintenance is also more precarious. If any problems were to arise in maintenance, freshwater fish are less fragile than saltwater ones. They’re also much hardier, which means they’re more forgiving than saltwater fish. The reason I recommend starting out with a freshwater aquarium is that freshwater fish are less expensive than their saltwater cousins.

I hate to burst any bubbles, but there are significant differences in the maintenance regime of the two. Many beginner aquarists will go into fishkeeping believing that there’s no difference between maintaining a freshwater aquarium and a saltwater aquarium. If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with a freshwater tank. In this guide to freshwater aquariums, I’ll walk you through the steps to set up your first freshwater tank.īy the end of my beginner-friendly guide, you’ll know: If you’re serious about setting up an aquarium, you’ll find that there are many things to consider like fish compatibility, tank size, water chemistry, and tank maintenance. For many, fishkeeping looks like an easy enough hobby, but hear me out when I tell you that there’s more to it than meets the eyes.

20 gallon fish tank fish ideas