The Best Fish Tank Set Up for Beginners Will Consist of These Things
- An affordable tank and supplies
- An aquarium that is easy to maintain.
- An aquarium filter that has easy access to maintain.
- A reliable and accurate heater.
- It is very important to know the right type of lighting for a beginner.
- Aquarium substrate that is easy to clean as well as being a good fit for the fish you select.
- Fish appropriate for beginners and the size of tank.
This list is not all inclusive of course. However this list is very important and valuable and is what I feel a person who is new to the aquarium hobby to should strongly consider.
I go into further detail below on each aspect of what you need to know for setting up an aquarium and what I think is important for a beginner to the hobby to really follow and understand.
By following my suggestions below I know I will be saving you money and quite a few headaches in the aquarium hobby.
Selecting the Right Sized Tank for a Beginner
When you decide to commit to having an aquarium set up, I wouldn’t recommend a beginner go out and purchase a really expensive tank set up. Your first aquarium set up should be a modest investment.
As nice as a 75 gallon might look to a beginner it might not be the best choice if you are new to the hobby. I don’t think you need to go as small as a 10 gallon aquarium however I would recommend you start with something around a 30 gallon tank.
A 30 gallon aquarium gives you the option of choosing numerous fish species to purchase that would be suitable for a 30 gallon aquarium. This is just a suggestion so if you want to purchase a bigger or smaller tank that is your choice.
My reasoning for this is:
- Don’t spend a ton of money on an aquarium, supplies and fish and then find out you really don’t want to be in the hobby anymore.
- A tank approximately 30 gallons or so is easy to maintain as far as water parameters go. Smaller tanks can have problems with parameters out of whack very quickly but a 30 gallon is small enough and big enough that you should be able to keep the water safe for your fish.
- 30 gallon aquariums are still easy to clean. In this hobby the bigger the tank the easier to clean because you can get inside and do something. A smaller tank like a 5 to 10 gallon are harder to clean especially if you have a bunch of structures and plants.
- A tank that is around 30 gallons is big enough to have some beautiful fish and shouldn’t break the bank when it comes to purchasing what you need.
Selecting an Aquarium Filter Fit for a Beginner
Beginners in the hobby don’t need to worry themselves with what filtration system is the ultimate system for their set up. A beginner doesn’t need an external canister filter or an under gravel filter. I would suggest you keep it simple.
I feel the best filters for a beginner are tank filters that hang on the back of the aquarium.
I recommend Aqua-clear aquarium filters. They are priced right and they last a very long time, better yet is they do what a filter is meant to do. They filter the water efficiently and they don’t use a lot of power. This is important because you will have your filter running 24/7.
There are other brands that hang on the back of the tank I just prefer Aqua-clear.
In my experience, a couple of the best things about these filters is they provide easy access for cleaning and are always very quiet when running.
An Aquarium Heater Suggestion for the Beginner
A good aquarium heater will provide a consistent temperature throughout your tank without ever boiling your fish. Don’t worry your fish won’t boil.
When selecting a heater I do recommend you upgrade to a more expensive submersible heater. Most aquarium kits come with a heater that sticks mostly in the water but the top pops out of the water which is where you find the controls for the temperature.
A submersible heater can be placed in locations that make it easier for the heater to do its job keeping your tank water temperature as accurate as possible throughout the aquarium.
Try to find a heater that has a very clear and easy to read temperature setting so you can easily see the temp on the heater when looking through the aquarium water.
So the heater should have the temperature dial as well as a thermometer so you can read the temp right on the heater. Some heaters come with an LED digital temperature reading. If you can afford one of the heaters with an LED screen then you should get that.
The Best Aquarium Lighting for a Beginner to Consider Buying
If you purchase a complete aquarium package and have the option of getting an LED light then purchase that option even if it costs you a few dollars more.
Led lights are great because they take very little power to operate. They are very bright which will make colors in your tank pop.
LED lights are also great because they do not generate any heat which means they will not affect the water temperature in the aquarium.
If you think you might be getting into live plants then an LED is a must to ensure good health and growth in the plants.
The Best Aquarium Substrate and Decorations for Beginners
When first starting a tank and setting up the rocks and plants you are probably most interested in what looks awesome. I would recommend you first figure out what fish you are going to purchase and set your tank up based on the fishes needs. Make sure the set up replicates the fish’s natural habitat as much as possible.
Once you establish the fishes requirements do yourself a favor and don’t over crowd the tank with too many plants and larger objects.
Keep the tank as lean and clean as possible. This will make cleaning so much easier. If you overcrowd the tank then cleaning the tank will be much more difficult.
What Fish Should a Beginner Select for Their Tank?
I have a great article on good fish for a 10 gallon aquarium which would all be a great selection for a beginner’s new tank regardless of the size.
Whether you use my site or not for determining which fish are right for you make sure you know if the fish you want are passive or aggressive.
It is important as well to find out what tank mates would best suit the fish you’re interested in. you might find you can have some fish you wanted and also that some of the fish you wanted might not be suitable in the tank with others.
The Most Important thing a Beginner Should know about their new Tank Set Up.
Buying your first aquarium and getting it all set up then purchasing fish is so much fun. To make sure your first tank starts successfully you must learn about the Nitrogen cycle of an aquarium. This step is just as important if not more important than any of the steps above.
The Nitrogen cycle has to do with the water parameters being at a specific level for Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonia. If you put your fish in too soon without checking that these levels are safe your fish will most likely die.
If I can add anything else I would just say for your first tank set up keep it as simple as possible. You shouldn’t expect to have an elaborate aquarium set up for the first time.
A beginner in the hobby is always so excited to get started and should always just keep it simple.
Once you have a tank running for a while you will gain more knowledge and be able to try different equipment and fish as you progress in the hobby.
With that being said I highly recommend you read my article on the Nitrogen Cycle.
Another recommendation would be to check out any of my recommended pages.
