Setting Up a Small Nano Freshwater Aquarium up to 10 Gall
Setting Up The Ultimate 50-125 Gallon Freshwater Aquarium3. Setting Up a 20- 55 gallon Freshwater Aquarium – The Shopping List and Basics.
Here we have created a list of the equipment, the best picks and the information you’ll need to get started for an aquarium up to 55 gallons. this will help you what will become a most enjoyable, educational and artistic hobby! We have also included a brief description of the purpose for each item.
Setting up a small freshwater aquarium is an exciting step into the world of the aquarium hobby! There is a variety of products that you will need to easily get started. This is for up to 20-55 gallon aquariums which are great choices for planted aquascaping or small community fish tanks and breeding.
The Essentials
The Aquarium
Many sizes and shapes are available. Choose a size and shape that fits well in the area you plan to place it. Choose glass over acrylic aquariums as they are easier to clean and keep nice without scratches. Glass aquariums come in rimmed traditional aquariums and rimless aquariums. Rimless aquariums are more modern an can be made to look exceptional. Rimmed aquariums offer better security for fish species that may jump. Choose between low Iron ultra clear or regular glass. Low Iron glass is the most desired and offers a clean look but this is a personal preference. Hydra Aquatics, Mr Aqua, and UP Aqua started the nano rimless aquarium trend and make the best rimless aquariums. Aqueon is a good choice and can be purchased locally if a plastic rimmed aquarium with lid is desired.
Rimless Cube Aquarium
18″ x 18″ x 18″
35″ x 18″ x 20″
See all the Rimless and Iconic Aquariums
A Cover for Your Aquarium
More modern rimless aquariums don’t typically use plastic or glass hoods with lighting, so clips allow for lids to fit beautifully. Lids help prevent fish escape and reduce evaporation. Clip sizes range from 5mm to 10mm.
Lighting
No aquarium is complete unless it is lit and enjoyable to view. Fluorescent Lighting is available for traditional rimmed aquariums and LED is an upgrade. More light is needed for live plants and LED should be chosen for densely planted aquascapes. Many very unique and nice fixtures that we prefer are made by Hydra Aquatics, Kessil, UP Aqua, and Rainbow Lifegard and Hagen.
Box Filter / HOB (hang on the back) Filter
Filters water & keeps the tank clean. Easy to install and maintain, with adjustable flow, this 3-stage filter keeps water crystal clear. Quick & easy cartridge changes make this filter an excellent choice. Azoo Mignon filters are great choices for small aquariums. In addition to the Seachem Sicce Tidal Filters. Always buy at least one size larger than what manufactures recommend.
Additional Filtration
Additional filtration is very important in heavily loaded aquariums; OASE internal filters have models that have an internal heater which would eliminate the need to purchase a heater! Or as mentioned above an internal sponge filtered powered by an air pump is a great choice.
See All Internal Filters
Canister Filters
A great option instead of a hang on filter for this aquarium range is a canister filter. Canister filters offer a larger, more efficient filtration system and can be customized and made even more more efficient.
See this video on packing a canister filter. Oase BioMaster canister filters are the best rated and in our view the best canisters made. They offer a quick clean prefilters and models with internal heaters so you can get that out of your aquarium. Here is a review and video on some of the models. We use these almost exclusively on our display and planted aquariums.
Air Pump
Moving water is essential for maintaining adequate oxygenation for fish and the many biological activities taking place in the small freshwater aquarium. An air pump increases oxygen when powering an air stone and can be used to increase filtration when used to power a Hydra Aquatics Sponge Filters. If you want the quietest pump made the Hydra Aquatics Silent Giant is the best and can run multiple smaller aquariums see the test. Oase is the next most quiet and Azoo and Danner make more economical models but are the best at their respective price points.
Airline Tubing
Airline tubing moves air from the air pump to airstones and other air driven equipment. Airline tubing is also used in planted aquariums for CO2 systems.
Check Valve
A check valve assures that water moves into the water and cannot siphon back into the air pump through the tubing. Mr Aqua makes our favorite airline Check Valve.
Gang Valve (optional)
A gang valve allows division of air flow from an air pump. This allows you to split one air pump to multiple devices or aquariums. You can even power the “Diving Dog.” If you are not smiling or do not get the joke you can see the Penn Plax item here.
Heater, 100-150 watts
An aquarium heater keeps water temperature stable. Oase makes some of the best heaters made and they are UL listed and follow the most current safety standards.
See All Heaters
Thermometer – monitors water temperature
You will need a thermometer. It used to make sure the tank temperature is at the correct level and to make sure the water you are changing from the tap is at the same temperature if the aquarium when doing water changes. Oase and other companies make nice stick on quick view digital versions but they are optional and in addition to a must have floating thermometer.
See All Thermometers
Gravel or Planted Substrates
Gravel, or another substrate,helps aquarium filtration, adds decoration and a base substrate for anchoring live plants. For densely planted aquariums use the best soil substrate from Mr Aqua or Azoo. For fish only systems or for top coats in planted aquariums choose the best substrates from Carib Sea.
Ammonia, Ammonium, Chlorine Remover and Tap Water Conditioner – Dechlorinator
Always prepare tap water for aquarium use. Chlorine in municipal water system kills fish. Take great care to remove chlorine before adding tap water to your aquarium! AquaLife Complete makes the best water conditioner available. Not only is it the safest, it does the most to prepare tap water and prevent disease and stress for you aquarium inhabitants. Patented, designed and made in the USA AquaLife Complete is our best pick for water conditioners and does what other companies sell two bottle for. Better stores offer refills that provide savings for the customer and are environmentally responsible.
Starting Bacteria Culture
Staring bacteria cultures are mandatory to shorten the cycling process and make the aquarium safe for the fish and plants. Not all bacteria are created equal. Testing show Activate works better than competing brands and when used at the maintenance weekly dose helps fight algae, nitrate, phosphate and lesson buildup of waste. For increased effectiveness we also offer AquaLife “seeded” BioMatrix that can be used along with activate thus insuring a healthy start to the aquarium. Use these with Ammo for fish less cycling. Use them also if plants are a small quantity of fish are being introduced instead of fish less cycling.
Algae Scrubber
You will need an algae scrubber pad to keep the walls of your aquarium clean and algae free. AquaLife and Hydra Aquatics make our favorites. In addition, consider an additional magnet cleaner or Algae scraper on a stick.
Food
Feed high quality foods. Include flakes and a variety of at least two types. AquaLife and Sera make the best dried foods along with Ocean Nutrition and Francisco Bay Brand who make both frozen and freeze dried nutrition food. CSPro is the best flake food we have used.
Gravel Cleaners and Water Changes
You will need a gravel cleaner also called a siphon cleaner along with a Feeder & Cleaner from Hydra Aquatics to remove waster and make water changes and maintenance easier. You can use the Feeder and Cleaner to remove any uneaten food, fish waster or to stir up debris while siphoning it out with the siphon cleaner.
Water Testing
Water Testing is essential to a healthy, well-functioning aquarium. Test your water frequently in the set up phase and at regular intervals over the life of the aquarium.
Ammonia will kill your fish! Test often in the early stages of set up.
Decorations
Plastic or Live Plants – Plant decorations give fish places to hide and add interest to your aquascape. Live plants help maintain good water quality.
When are you ready for fish?
For your aquarium to support fish and other livestock, it must first go through a repeating chemical cycle to handle the wastes that your fish produce. Without these processes taking place fish are quickly poisoned by the ammonia and nitrites from their wastes and they will die. You can choose whether to cycle your aquarium with fish or without fish. If you elect to cycle without fish, use AMMO by AquaLife following the instructions on the bottle along with Activate Freshwater. Another excellent product for speeding up this process even more is seeded Biomatrix which is available at our local facility.
If you are cycling with livestock, buy only a few inexpensive fish (3-4) at first and make sure they are hardy species. It is not uncommon to lose a few fish in the initial stages. Adding Activate Freshwater every time new fish are added helps prevent this. Seeded AquaLife BioMatrix makes this process even better. You can fully plant the aquarium with live plants for this type of cycling as plants help the process. Do water changes as needed to reduce stress and to prevent any debris or dead plant leaf matter from building up in the aquarium.
Buy only fish that are treated and quarantined before they are purchased and are treated in the bag when you purchase them. We use medical grade oxygen and follow a quarantine and treatment procedure for all of our fish. This is a sign of a quality dealer who cares about the livestock and the customer. Always test to an eye on your ammonia and nitrite levels, particularly in the early stages of populating your aquarium.
Seeded Biomatrix is pre-packed in a filter bag with water.