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. If you’re interested in learning more about each product category to better understand them and tailor your selections, the following resources are for you:

– Lighting and How to Choose the Best Aquarium LED Light. – Heating: How To Choose the Right Aquarium Heating – Gravel Or Substrate. How Do You Pick the Best Substrate For a Planted Aquarium? – Filter. Fish Tank Filters. Which one should you get? Sponge Filters and Freshwater Fish Tank Racing – How to Prepare For New Fish – Live Plants – Quick guide: How to Plant Aquarium Plants – What Planted Tank Fertilizer Should You Use?

5.5-Gallon Aquarium Setup

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Aquarium:

Aqueon 5.5-gallon tank

Lid:

Aqueon Vera 16″x8” hinged glass top from Aqueon

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

Finnex Stingray Clip On LED and Wi Fi Timer –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Finnex Stingray 16″ LED & Wi-Fi timer

Heater:

25W to 50W heater –

Substrate:

5 pounds of gravel, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

Nano sponge filter, check valve and airline tubing with check valve.

Number of Live Plants:

3-4 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

5-gallon tank recommendations

Cherry shrimp in a 5-gallon aquarium

Aquarium Setup for 10-Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 10-gallon tank

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 20″x10″ hinged glass top –

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

— –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Finnex Stingray 20″ LED and Wi-Fi timer –

Heater:

50W to 100W Heater

Substrate:

10 pounds gravel, sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Small sponge filter with small check valve, check valve and airline tubing.

Numerous Live Plants

6 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

Recommendations for 10-gallon tanks

15-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 15-gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 24″x12″ hinged glass top –

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

— –

Light (for tanks that have high light plants)

Finnex Stingray 24” LED and Wi Fi timer –

Heater:

50W to 100W heater –

Substrate:

15 pounds of gravel or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Small sponge filter with small check valve, check valve and airline tubing.

Numerous Live Plants

8 plants

20-Gallon High Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon high tank

Lid:

Aqueon Vera 24″x12” hinged glass top

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

Finnex Stingray 24 inch LED and Wi-Fi Timer –

Light (for tanks that have high-quality light plants)

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 24″ –

Heater:

100W heater

Substrate:

20 pounds of gravel or sand or plant substrate

Filter:

Medium sponge filter with check valve, air stone, airline tubing and USB nano or Aquarium Co-Op pump –

Number of Live Plants:

10 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

20-gallon tank recommendations

20 Gallon Long Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 20-gallon long tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 30×12″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light plants):

— –

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

Finnex Stingray 30″ LED and Wi-Fi timer –

Heater:

100W heater

Substrate:

20 pounds of gravel, 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

Fish stocking ideas:

Tank recommendations for 20-gallon sizes

Breeding pair with German blue rams, in a 20-gallon tank

29-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 29-gallon tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 30×12″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for a tank with no 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:

One or two 100W heaters

Substrate:

30 pounds of gravel, soil, or plant substrate

Filter:

Medium sponge filter, with check valve, airline tubing, and Aquarium CO-OP air pump –

The number of live plants:

13 plants –

Fish stocking ideas:

Recommendations for 29-gallon tanks

40-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 40-gallon Breeder Tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 36×18″ hinged top in glass –

Light (for tanks without plants or with 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, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

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

Number of Live Plants:

18 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

40-gallon tank recommendations

Boesemani rainbowfish kept in a 40-gallon aquarium

55-Gallon Aquarium Setup

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 55-gallon Tank –

Lid:

Two Aqueon Versa 24×12″ hinged glass tops

Light (for a tank with no plants or low light plants):

Finnex Stingray 48” LED and Wi Fi timer –

Light (for a tank with high light plants):

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 48″ –

Heater:

Two to three 100W heaters

Substrate:

55 pounds of gravel, sand, or plant substrate –

Filter:

Two medium sponge filters with two air stones, two check valves, airline tubing, and two Aquarium Co-Op air pumps –

The number of live plants:

20 plants

Ideas for stocking fish

55-gallon tank recommendations

Aquarium Setup for 75 Gallons

–

Aquarium:

Aqueon 75-gallon Tank –

Lid:

Aqueon Versa 48″x18” hinged glass top

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

Two Finnex Stingray 48 inch LEDs and Wi Fi timer (with power strip)

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

Fluval Plant 3.0 LED – 48″ –

Heater:

Three 100W heaters –

Substrate:

75 pounds of gravel, soil, or plant substrate

Filter:

Two large sponge filters with 2 air stones, 2 check valves, airline tubing and 2 Aquarium Co-Op pumps.

Number of Live Plants:

26 plants

Discus in a 75-gallon aquarium

Next Steps

You may need the following supplies if you have a fish tank for the first time:

Tank stand to support aquarium weight.

Once you’ve purchased all the components necessary to provide the best home for your fish, follow our step-by guide to setting up the tank. Good luck with your aquarium purchase and enjoy the outdoors every day.