Fish Tank Supplies Checklist: Everything a New Aquarium Needs
What a new freshwater aquarium needs before fish: tank, lid, filter, heater, light, conditioner, test kit, substrate and food, with sizes from vets and makers.
Contents12 chapters
All guides
Freshwater aquarium setups by tank size and fish: filters, heaters, lights, water care and food, with husbandry numbers from veterinary and welfare sources.
Part I
Tanks and setups
The first-tank checklist, tank sizes from 5 to 75 gallons, betta and goldfish setups, and substrate and decor.
Aquarium Substrate and Decor: Gravel, Sand, Aqua Soil, Driftwood
Aquarium substrates compared: gravel, sand and aqua soils, how driftwood and limestone change pH, rinsing and safe decor, and silk vs plastic plants for bettas.
Betta Fish Tank Setup: Tank Size, Heater, Filter and Decor
How to set up a betta tank: 5 gallons or more, a heater for 76 to 81°F, a gentle filter, a lid and soft decor, from University of Illinois vets and the RSPCA.
Fish Tank Sizes Compared: 5, 10, 20, 29, 40, 55 and 75 Gallons
Standard aquarium sizes side by side: dimensions, empty and filled weights from Aqueon, what each size suits per vets, and the stand and stocking caveats.
Goldfish Tank Setup: Why Bowls Fall Short and What to Buy Instead
Goldfish need a filtered tank of 20 to 29 gallons or more, not a bowl. Tank size, filters, temperature and whether a heater is needed, from vets and the RSPCA.
Part II
Filtration and water
Filter types compared, cycling a new tank with test kits and conditioners, and how to clean a tank without undoing the cycle.
Aquarium Filters: Sponge vs Hang-on-Back vs Canister vs Internal
Sponge, hang-on-back, canister and internal aquarium filters compared: how each works, maker tank ratings, upkeep and which suits bettas, goldfish or big tanks.
How to Clean a Fish Tank: Water Changes, Gravel Vacuums and Algae
How to clean a fish tank: how much water to change and how often per the RSPCA, VCA and makers, gravel vacuuming, algae, and filter care that keeps the cycle.
How to Cycle a Fish Tank: Nitrogen Cycle, Test Kits and Conditioners
How the nitrogen cycle works, how long cycling takes, fishless cycling step by step, test kits and what water conditioners do, from UF/IFAS, VCA and makers.
Photo: kerinin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0Part III
Heat and light
Which fish need a heater and what size, running costs, and aquarium lights for viewing or for plants, with timers.
Aquarium Heaters: Do You Need One, What Size, and Which Type
Which fish need an aquarium heater, what wattage for your tank size from Aqueon's chart, what a heater costs to run at US electricity prices, and heater safety.
Photo: Ewkaa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Aquarium Lights: LED, Planted-Tank and Timer Setups Compared
Aquarium lighting explained: light for viewing vs for plants, what PAR means, how many hours a day from the RSPCA, why a timer helps, and where to put the tank.
Part IV
Fish food
Flakes, pellets and freeze-dried foods by fish, how much and how often to feed, vacation feeders, and gifts for aquarium keepers.
Fish Food Guide: Flakes, Pellets, Frozen and Freeze-Dried, by Fish
Which fish food to buy for bettas, goldfish and tropical fish, how much and how often to feed per vets and the RSPCA, freeze-dried treats and vacation feeders.
Gifts for Aquarium Keepers: Useful Gear and Fun Picks, by Person
Gifts for aquarium keepers by person: the child who wants a first fish, betta and goldfish keepers, planted-tank hobbyists, travelers and fans without a tank.