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. To help simplify things, we have itemized the most common things we use when setting up a new fish tank, ranging from 5.5 to 75 gallons in volume.

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 Light. – 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 Filter Should You Get. and Sponge Filters: The Easiest Fish Tank Filter Ever – Starter Bacteria: Freshwater Fish Tank Cycling – How to Prepare for New Fish – Live Plants: Quick Guide: How to Plant Live Aquarium Plants – Fertilizer: Which Planted Tank Fertilizer Is Right for You?

Aquarium Setup – 5.5 Gallon

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 5.5-gallon tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 16″x8″ hinged glass top –

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

Finnex Stingray Clip on LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Light (for tanks that have high light plants)

Finnex Stingray 16″ LED & Wi-Fi timer

Heater:

25W to 50W heater

Substrate:

5 pounds gravel, sand or plant substrate

Filter:

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

Numerous Live Plants

3-4 plants –

Fish stocking ideas:

Recommendations for 5-gallon tanks

Cherry shrimp in 5-gallon aquarium

Aquarium Setup for 10-Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 10-gallon tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 20×10 inch hinged glass top

Light (for a tank without plants or low-light plants):

— –

Light (for tanks that have 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 check valve, air stone, airline tubing and USB nano pump –

The number of live plants:

6 plants –

Fish stocking ideas:

Recommendations for 10-gallon tanks

Aquarium Setup for 15 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 15 gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 24″x12″ hinged glass top –

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

— –

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

Finnex Stingray 24 inch LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Heater:

50W to 100W heater

Substrate:

15 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:

8 plants

20-Gallon High Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon high tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 24″x12″ hinged glass top –

Light (for a tank without plants or low-light plants):

Finnex Stingray 24 inch LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 24″ –

Heater:

100W heater

Substrate:

20 pounds of gravel, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

Medium sponge filter, with check valve, airline tube, check valve and USB nano pump.

The number of live plants:

10 plants

Stocking ideas for fish

20-gallon tank recommendations

20 Gallon Long Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon long tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 30″x12″ hinged glass top –

Light (for a tank without plants or low-light plants):

— –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Finnex Stingray 30 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, airline tube, and USB nano pump or Aquarium CO-Op air pumps –

The number of live plants:

10 plants –

Ideas for stocking fish

Recommendations for 20-gallon tanks

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

Aquarium Setup 29 Gallon

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 29-gallon Tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa hinged glass top 30″x12” Aqueon Versa

Light (for a tank without plants or low-light plants):

Finnex Stingray 30 LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 24″ –

Heater:

Two or three 100W heaters

Substrate:

30 pounds of gravel, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

Medium sponge filter with check valve, airstone, airline tubing and Aquarium Co-Op’s air pump –

The number of live plants:

13 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

29-gallon tank recommendations

Aquarium Setup 40 Gallon

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 40 gallon breeder tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 36″x18″ hinged glass top –

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light 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 or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Large sponge filter, with check valve, airline tubing, and Aquarium CO-Op air pump –

The number of live plants:

18 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

Recommendations for 40-gallon tanks

Boesemani rainbowfish in a 40-gallon tank

Aquarium Setup for 55 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 55-gallon Tank –

Lid:

Two Aqueon Versa 24×12 inch hinged glass tops

Light (for tanks with no 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 or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Two medium sponge filters with 2 air stones, 2 check valves, airline tubing and 2 Aquarium Co-Op Air Pumps –

The number of live plants:

20 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

55-gallon tank recommendations

75-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 75 gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 48×18″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for a tank without plants or low-light plants):

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

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

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 two air stones and two check valves. There is also airline tubing.

Number of Live Plants:

26 plants

Discus inside a 75-gallon tank

Next Steps

This is the best time to start a fish tank.

– A tank stand that can hold the aquarium’s weight. – Driftwood or rocks to decorate the aquarium. – Water conditioner to keep the water safe for your fish. – Easy Green all in one fertilizer and/or Easy root tabs to feed your plants. – Aquarium siphon to clean your fish tank. – Multi-test strips to ensure your water is clean.

Now that you have purchased the necessary components to give your fish the perfect home, make sure to follow our step-by-step guide for setting up the tank and quarantining new fish. Good luck with your aquarium purchase and enjoy the outdoors every day.