5 Steps to a Better 10 Gallon Fish Tank
A 10-gallon fish tanks is the most commonly sold size in the USA. With so many sold, they are also the cheapest fish tank sold and, when sold as a kit, quality equipment is often swapped out for cheaper equipment to be more price competitive. This guide will help you get your 10-gallon fish aquarium up and running in five easy steps.
1. Modern fish tanks come with LED lighting. 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. Fish tanks come in many different types of filters. 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. A fish tank heater is required to heat the water above the house’s temperature. The colder your house runs, the more watts you’ll want to use. A 100-watt heater is sufficient for most situations. It will work well with a 10-gallon fish aquarium. It will be a great investment. The heat rises and leaves water through the top of the tank unless the glass is sealed.
4. Make sure you have the right chemicals. Fish stores often stock a wide range of chemicals that could be used to build 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. Everyone agrees that these are the must haves. After that things like bacteria additives, plant fertilizers, and medications are good to have on hand, but you’ll want to know how to use each one and to choose the right ones. You wouldn’t just grab a random medicine off the shelf at the pharmacy, right? Don’t give up on 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 beautiful your tank looks, ensure it is safe for the fish that you will be keeping inside. After all it is a FISH tank, and thus should be setup optimally for them. Don’t use stones, sticks, or fake plants that are sharp. Instead of using plastic plants, try to find decor that has rounded edges. 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. Look for a good local shop that can provide support. Not all fish stores are created equal. There may be differences in knowledge among staff members even within the same store. My last word of advice is to research everything before you buy it. You should always research everything that is being recommended to you. Below is a playlist that will guide you on your journey. This playlist is a great place to start your research on the type of fish tank that you would like to have and then enjoy it!