5 Steps to A Better 10 Gallon Fish Tank

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5 Steps to a Better 10 Gallon Fish Tank

A 10-gallon fish tank is the most sold fish tank size in the USA each year. Because they have so many sold, they are also one of the most affordable fish tanks. Additionally, kit-sold fish tanks often come with lower quality equipment which makes them more competitive. This guide will help you get your 10-gallon fish aquarium up and running in five easy steps.

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1. Upgrading your lighting. Many fish tanks today have built-in LED lights. Unfortunately to keep the cost down, these lights are only enough to illuminate the aquarium. Upgrading to an aftermarket LED light, such a 20-inch Finnex Stingray, will allow you to get great color out of your fish as well as grow live aquarium plants. Make sure you grab a glass top for your aquarium so you can let your new light shine through.

2. Proper filtration is important. A 10-gallon fish aquarium will typically house smaller fish so we recommend something with slower flow. There are many options for filters when it comes to fish tanks. We prefer small hang on back filters like an AquaClear 20 or a sponge filter that runs on an air pump. Having a filter on your aquarium will not only collect the waste fish produce but help break down toxic chemicals such as ammonia and prevent them from harming your fish.

3. Heating When people think of an aquarium they often think of brightly colored fish. These are tropical fish and require temperatures ranging from 74 to 84 degrees. To warm the water above your home’s ambient temperature, you will need a fish tank heater. The more powerful your heater, the colder your house will be. A 100-watt heater is sufficient for most situations. It will work well with a 10-gallon fish aquarium. You’ll be glad you picked up that glass top for your fish tank because heat rises and leaves through the top of the water unless you trap it in with the glass.

4. Get the right chemicals Most fish stores carry an overwhelming amount of chemicals that can go into a fish tank. The essentials every aquarium owner must have are a dechlorinator to remove chlorine and chloramine from your water to make it fish safe and a test kit to monitor how the water is doing. All aquarium owners agree that these are must-haves. These are the essentials. You’ll need to be able to use them and choose the best ones. The pharmacy won’t give you a random medicine, would they? You wouldn’t take the same risk with your fish tank.

5. Decorating your fish tank is a great way to make it more fun. Pick what type of fish tank you want. Is it a princess themed tank with a castle, or is it a natural aquarium with wood, rock and live plants? Live plants have the benefit of helping passively clean your aquarium when paired with a good light that you bought in step 1 and fed with plant fertilizers you may have picked up in step 4. No matter how pretty your tank may be, ensure that it is safe for all the fish you plan to put in it. It is a FISH tank and should be set up optimally for them. Avoid sharp objects such as stones, sticks or fake plants. Use silk instead of plastic plants. Instead of looking for decor with sharp edges, choose decor that is rounded. We believe that to really bring your fish tank to life add some real aquarium plants.

You now have the basics for a 10-gallon fish aquarium. Don’t be afraid of doing more research, especially about the care of your fish. Find a local shop that will help you. Unfortunately, not all fish stores are not equal, even in the same store there can be different levels of knowledge between the staff. My last word of advice is to research everything before you buy it. If someone recommends something to you, whether it is in person or online. Make sure that you do your research and decide if this is the right thing for your tank. You can start that journey by seeing what we recommend in the playlist below. This is a great way to get started in your own research about the fish tank type you’d like to create and enjoy.