Setting up a tank

Placement

Think about where the fish tank will be. Do you have a stand already? Will you buy with one with a dedicated stand? These all are big factors when thinking about setting this up. Make sure the stand or furniture can support its whole weight. This is important as a full aquarium weighs a lot with all the gravel and decorations – thus you do not want to add any additional stress onto the glass (cracked glass is every aquarist´s worst nightmare).

Tank size

Bigger is always is better in aquariums. You might be tempted to buy a smaller one, but one rule is never to go underneath 20l (5,5g). If you intend to have anything smaller than that, you can only have shrimp, snails or just some plants. Bear in mind that 20l tank is only suitable for a single betta fish so if you plan on having a community tank, you have to go higher up, ideally go for 50l+. Reason why is because you will be creating a closed off ecosystem, which is a lot easier to manage in larger volumes of water. The smaller the environment, the more often you have to do water changes and problems might occur.

Fish

Choosing the right fish which are compatible with the tank size, temperature and among other fish can be a challenge. It is best to select fish from all three parts of the tank top, middle and bottom so all areas are inhabited if it is a community tank. Best beginner fish which do not require much space would be a betta. They only need 20l as minimum (they will appreciate any extra space in bigger tanks) and have individual personalities. I would say to stay clear of livebearers such as guppies as they would quickly multiply and overwhelm your tank if you do not get single sex. Regarding amounts, aqadvisor is best in this and can help you determining which fish could fit into your tank and which won´t. It is not foolproof but helpful tool overall.

Filter and heater

These are the most important elements in your tank. Beneficial bacteria will grow in your sponges inside the filter and heater will keep your tank at the right temperature. There are many different kinds and brands online, I would recommended getting an Eheim or a Fluval. Remember, that it is always better to get a higher powered filter than what your fish tank requires so you rather have some extra filtering power. Some fish prefer stronger currents, some weaker, make sure you read first about what they require. Regarding heaters it is a bit more tricky, as you will find that in any brand, there will be some bad ones.

Decor

A more stylistic choice, however, most fish need hiding places. I prefer natural looking ornaments to mimic their original environment but it is not a requirement. Wood is necessary for sucker fish, as they graze on it. Caves and rocks are good options too. Gravel is essential and depending on the fish you are getting – goldfish would need sand (otherwise they might choke on gravel), corydoras and loaches prefer sand or fine gravel to dig in.