Aquarium equipment checklist
Everything a freshwater tank needs, sized for your tank. Each item explains what to look for, and the table shows the heater, filter and gravel for common tank sizes.
To start a freshwater tank you need: a tank and a stand that can hold it, a filter, a heater and thermometer (for tropical fish), gravel or sand, a water conditioner, a liquid test kit and a gravel vacuum.
Set it up, then cycle it for several weeks before adding fish. For a list sized to your exact tank and fish, use the stocking calculator: it builds a shopping list once you add your fish.
Heater, filter and gravel by tank size
Sized for tropical community fish in a room at 65 °F (18 °C), so the heater copes on cold nights. Gravel is for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep.
| Tank | Heater | Filter flow | Gravel | Water weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 gallon | 25 W | 10–20 GPH | about 15 lb | 25 lb |
| 5 gallon | 25 W | 20–30 GPH | about 15 lb | 42 lb |
| 10 gallon | 50 W | 40–60 GPH | about 25 lb | 83 lb |
| 15 gallon | 75 W | 60–90 GPH | about 35 lb | 125 lb |
| 20 gallon | 75 W | 80–120 GPH | about 35 lb | 167 lb |
| 20 gallon long | 75 W | 80–120 GPH | about 45 lb | 167 lb |
| 29 gallon | 100 W | 115–175 GPH | about 45 lb | 242 lb |
| 40 gallon | 150 W | 160–240 GPH | about 75 lb | 334 lb |
| 55 gallon | 2 × 100 W | 220–330 GPH | about 75 lb | 459 lb |
| 75 gallon | 2 × 150 W | 300–450 GPH | about 100 lb | 626 lb |
| 125 gallon | 2 × 250 W | 500–750 GPH | about 150 lb | 1043 lb |
Work out your own numbers with the heater, filter flow, gravel and tank weight calculators.
The essentials
What every freshwater tank needs before the first fish goes in.
- Aquarium tank or kit (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Use a stand rated for your tank: water alone weighs about 8.3 lb per gallon. How to choose
- Aquarium filter (opens Amazon in a new tab)Pick one rated 4–6 times your tank volume per hour for a community tank. How to choose
- Adjustable aquarium heater (opens Amazon in a new tab)Use the heater calculator for the right wattage for your tank and room. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Smooth gravel about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Use the substrate calculator for the exact amount. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- A bucket used only for the aquarium (opens Amazon in a new tab)Never use one that has held soap or cleaning products. How to choose
- Fish net (opens Amazon in a new tab)A fine, soft net is gentler on fins.
- LED aquarium light (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
- Tight-fitting lid (opens Amazon in a new tab)Many fish jump, especially when startled.
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For cycling a new tank
A new tank needs several weeks to grow the bacteria that make fish waste safe.
- Pure ammonia for a fishless cycle (opens Amazon in a new tab)Use ammonia with no soap or scent. Dose to about 2 ppm. How to choose
- Bottled nitrifying bacteria (opens Amazon in a new tab)Can help a new tank cycle. Still test the water before adding fish. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
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Fish food
Match the food to how and where your fish eat. Each fish page lists what that species needs.
- Micro pellets or flakes for small fish (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small enough for tetras, rasboras and other nano fish.
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Algae wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Sinking food for plecos, otocinclus and other grazers. How to choose
- Freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp (opens Amazon in a new tab)A treat that carnivores and insect eaters love. Feed it a few times a week.
- Betta pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Feed a few pellets once or twice a day; bettas overeat.
- Sinking goldfish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Sinking food helps fancy goldfish avoid swallowing air.
- Cichlid pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Larger pellets for cichlids and other big fish.
- Shrimp food (opens Amazon in a new tab)Shrimp mostly graze, so feed lightly.
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Cleaning and maintenance
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- Algae scraper or magnet cleaner (opens Amazon in a new tab)Use a plastic blade on acrylic tanks: metal scratches. How to choose
- Replacement filter sponge (opens Amazon in a new tab)Rinse sponges in old tank water, never under the tap. How to choose
- Outlet timer for the light (opens Amazon in a new tab)A steady 6–8 hours of light a day is the easiest way to limit algae. How to choose
- GH and KH test kit (opens Amazon in a new tab)Measures hardness and buffering, which matter for soft-water and rift lake fish. How to choose
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Live plants
Easy plants help keep water clean and give fish cover.
- Easy live plants (anubias, java fern) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Hardy plants that need no CO2 and suit most fish. How to choose
- Java moss or other live moss (opens Amazon in a new tab)Shrimp graze on the biofilm that grows on moss, and baby shrimp hide in it. How to choose
- Root tabs (plant fertilizer) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Feed rooted plants like amazon swords and crypts. How to choose
- Aquarium-safe gel super glue (opens Amazon in a new tab)Attaches anubias and java fern to rocks and wood. How to choose
- Aquasoil for planted tanks (opens Amazon in a new tab)Feeds plant roots, but softens water and lowers pH. How to choose
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Health and new fish
For quarantining new fish and treating common problems. Always follow product labels, and ask an aquatic vet when unsure.
- Small quarantine tank (10 gallon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keep new fish apart for about 4 weeks to protect your main tank. How to choose
- Drip acclimation kit (airline tubing and valve) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Lets new fish and shrimp adjust to your water slowly. How to choose
- Aquarium salt (opens Amazon in a new tab)Only for salt-tolerant fish, and never in tanks with scaleless fish or shrimp. Follow the label. How to choose
- Ich medication (opens Amazon in a new tab)Read the label for scaleless fish, loaches and invertebrates. Ask an aquatic vet if unsure. How to choose
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Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start a fish tank?
A tank on a stand that can hold its weight, a filter, a heater for tropical fish, a thermometer, gravel or sand, a water conditioner, a liquid test kit and a gravel vacuum. Then cycle the tank for several weeks before adding fish.
What size heater do I need?
For a typical tropical tank in a room at 65 °F, a 20 gallon tank needs about 75 W and a 29 gallon about 100 W. Colder rooms need more. Our heater calculator works it out for your room and tank.
What size filter do I need?
Pick a filter rated about 4–6 times your tank volume per hour for a community tank: 80–120 GPH for 20 gallons. Goldfish and big cichlids need 6–10 times; bettas need gentle flow, such as a sponge filter.
Is an aquarium kit worth buying?
Kits are a convenient start, but the included heater and filter are often small for the tank. Check their ratings against the table on this page and upgrade the ones that fall short.
Do I need a heater for my fish?
Tropical fish such as tetras, bettas, guppies and corydoras need a heater in most homes. Cold-water fish such as goldfish and white cloud minnows usually do not.