Everything You Need for a New Aquarium (from 5 to 75 Gallons)

One of the most common questions we get at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store is, “What do I need to set up my new fish tank?” The answer is a bit complicated because the exact type of aquarium light, heater, or other accessory that we would recommend can vary greatly depending on the size of the aquarium and other requirements. The following list contains the most frequently used accessories for setting up fish tanks ranging in size from 5.5 to $75 gallons.

Before You Begin…

This article is intended to be a quick reference for those who need a “cookie cutter” shopping guide. The following resources will help you to understand each product category better and make your selections.

– Light: Aquarium LED Lighting Guide and How To Pick The Best Planted Aquarium Lamp – Heater How do you choose the right aquarium heater? Substrate or Gravel: How do you pick the best substrate to plant your tank? Filter Which Fish Tank Filters Should You Buy? Sponge Filters – The easiest fish tank filter ever – Freshwater Fish Tank Cycling – How To Prepare For New Fish. – Fertilizer Which Plant-Based Fertilizer Is Right?

Aquarium Setup 5.5 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 5.5-gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon versa 16″x8” hinged top in glass –

Light (for a tank that has no plants or low lighting plants):

Finnex Stingray Clip-On LED and Wi-Fi timer –

Light (for tanks with high light plants)

Finnex Stingray 16” LED & Wi-Fi timer

Heater:

25W to 50W heater

Substrate:

5 lbs of gravel, sand, and/or plant substrate

Filter:

Nano sponge filter with air stone, check valve, airline tubing, and USB nano air pump –

Number of Live Plants:

3-4 plants

Fish stocking ideas:

5-gallon tank recommendations

A 5-gallon aquarium with cherry shrimp

10-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 10-gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 20×10″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for tanks without plants or with low light plants)

— –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Finnex Stingray LED 20″ and Wi Fi timer –

Heater:

50W to 100W heater –

Substrate:

10 pounds of gravel, soil, or plant substrate

Filter:

Small sponge filter with air stone, check valve, airline tubing, and USB nano air pump –

The number of live plants:

6 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

Recommendations for 10-gallon tanks

15-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 15 gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon versa 24″x12′ hinged glass top –

Light (for tanks with no or low-light plants):

— –

Light (for tanks that have high light plants)

Finnex Stingray 24″ LED and Wi-Fi timer –

Heater:

50W to 100W heater –

Substrate:

15 pounds of gravel, soil, or plant substrate

Filter:

Small sponge filter containing check valve, small sponge filter, and airline tubing.

Number of Live Plants:

8 plants

Aquarium Setup 20 Gallon High

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon high tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 24×12″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for tanks without plants or with low light plants)

Finnex Stingray 24 inch LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Light (for tanks that have high light plants)

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 24″ –

Heater:

100W heater

Substrate:

20 pounds of gravel or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Medium sponge filter with check valve, air stone, airline tubing and USB nano or Aquarium Co-Op pump –

The number of live plants:

10 plants

Ideas for fish stocking:

Recommendations for 20-gallon tanks

Setup a 20-Gallon Long Aquarium

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon long tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 30×12″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light plants):

— –

For tanks with high-light plants, light is important:

Finnex Stingray 30-inch LED and Wi Fi timer –

Heater:

100W heater

Substrate:

20 pounds of gravel or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Medium sponge filter with check valve, air stone, airline tubing and USB nano or Aquarium Co-Op pump –

Numerous Live Plants

10 plants

Stocking ideas for fish

20-gallon tank recommendations

Breeding pair of German blue rams in a 20-gallon tank

Aquarium Setup for 29 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 29-gallon tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa hinged glass top 30″x12” Aqueon Versa

Light (for tanks without plants or with low light plants)

Finnex Stingray 30-inch LED and Wi Fi timer –

For tanks with high-light plants, light is important:

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 24″ –

Heater:

Two or three 100W heaters

Substrate:

30 pounds of gravel or sand.

Filter:

Medium sponge filter, with check valve, airline tubing, and Aquarium CO-Op air pumps –

Numerous Live Plants

13 plants

Ideas for fish stocking:

29-gallon tank recommendations

40-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 40-gallon breeding tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 36-x18″ hinged Glass Top –

Light (for a tank that has no plants or low lighting plants):

Finnex Stingray 36″ LED and Wi-Fi timer –

For tanks with high-light plants, light is important:

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 36″ –

Heater:

Two 100W heaters

Substrate:

40 pounds of gravel, soil, or plant substrate

Filter:

Large sponge filter with check valve, airstone, airline tubing and Aquarium Co-Op pump –

The number of live plants:

18 plants –

Stocking ideas for fish

Recommendations: 40-gallon Tank

Boesemani rainbowfish housed in a 40 gallon tank

Aquarium Setup for 55 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 55-gallon Tank –

Lid:

Two Aqueon Versa 24″x12″ hinged glass tops –

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light plants):

Finnex Stingray 48″ LED and Wi-Fi timer –

Light (for tanks that have high light plants)

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 48″ –

Heater:

Two to three 100W heaters

Substrate:

55 pounds of gravel, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

Two medium sponge filters with two air stones, two check valves, airline tubing, and two Aquarium Co-Op air pumps –

Numerous Live Plants

20 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

Recommendations for 55-gallon tanks

75-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 75 gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 48”x18” hinged-glass top –

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light plants):

Two Finnex Stingray 48″ LEDs and Wi-Fi timer (with a power strip) –

For tanks with high-light plants, light is important:

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 48″ –

Heater:

Three 100W heaters

Substrate:

75 pounds of gravel or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Two large sponge filters with 2 air stones, 2 check valves, airline tubing and 2 Aquarium Co-Op pumps.

Numerous Live Plants

26 plants

Discus in 75-gallon aquarium

Next Steps

If this is your first fish tank, you may also need to get the following additional supplies:

– Tank stand that can support the weight of your aquarium – Rocks, driftwood, or other decorations – Water conditioner and starter bacteria to make the aquarium water safe to live in – Fish food to feed the animals – Easy Green all-in-one fertilizer and/or Easy Root Tabs to feed the plants – Aquarium siphon to clean the fish tank – Ammonia and multi-test strips to check if your water is safe and clean

You have now purchased all of the items you need to give your fish a home. Follow our step-by–step guide for setting it up and quarantining the fish. Good luck with your aquarium purchase and enjoy the outdoors every day.