5 Steps to a Better 10 Gallon Fish Tank
The most popular size fish tank in America is the 10-gallon. Because they have so many sold, they are also one of the most affordable fish tanks. Additionally, kit-sold fish tanks often come with lower-quality equipment in order to make them more competitively priced. 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. There are many choices for fish tank filters. We prefer to use small, hanging back filters like the AquaClear 20 or a sponge filtration that is powered by 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. You will need more watts if your house is colder than it is. A 100-watt heater is sufficient for most situations. It will work well with a 10-gallon fish aquarium. You’ll be glad you picked up that glass top for your fish tank because heat rises and leaves through the top of the water unless you trap it in with the glass.
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. These are essentials, everyone agrees. 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. It’s not like you would just pick up a random medication from the store shelf. Why take the same chance with your fish tank?
5. Decorations! One of the fun parts of setting up your fish tank. 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 you decorate your tank, make sure it’s safe for the fish you’ll be putting into it. 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. Use silk instead of plastic plants. Instead of looking for decor with sharp edges, choose decor that is rounded. 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. There are many fish shops that may not be the same. Even within the same shop, there might be different knowledge levels among staff. I would recommend that you research everything before buying 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!