Getting the right size fish tank can play a big role in the success or failure of your first tank and making the right choice will depend on a couple of factors.
As a general rule, fish tanks from 10 to 20 gallons will be perfect for the first-time fishkeeper. This range of fish tanks is the perfect medium between being too small, resulting in unstable water parameters, and being too big, making upkeep and maintenance more difficult.
The factors which will determine the size of your fish tank are the following:
- Budget
- Location of the tank
- Fish you plan to keep
- Amount of maintenance you are willing to do.
What is your budget for the fish tank?
The cost of a fish tank will not only include the cost of the tank itself, but the following as well:
- Filter – the larger the tank, the larger your filter will have to be. Sponge filters are very cheap, while some of the higher-end canister filters can be quite expensive.
- Heater / Chiller – Bigger tanks need bigger heaters accompanying higher electricity cost, especially in wintertime and colder climates. If the temperature in your home is regulated, you might not need a heater for the fish tank.
- You will need some light for the tank. Aquarium lighting can range from cheap led s to costly reef lighting. I have experienced excellent results growing live plants with regular 6500K led floodlights available for about $10 for a 20W unit at Amazon.com.
- Substrate, You will need some substrate for the bottom of the tank ranging from gravel or sand to aqua soil if you wish to grow plants. Some easy plants will even grow in just regular sand or gravel.
- Live plants are relatively cheap and will add a lot of life to your tank. Aquarium plants can range from very easy to grow to very hard and demanding plants.
- The cost of the livestock you wish to add. Smaller fish can range from about $1.50 for a neon tetra to about $5 for some of the more expensive varieties.
Example cost of setting up a fish tank
Mid -Spec tank
In the following example I will show the real cost of setting up a 10-gallon tank and stocking it with livestock. Prices for the equipment I got from Petco, Amazon.com as well as Aquarium Co-Op.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 Gallon tank (Petco) | $19.99 |
| Nano hang on back filter (Aquarium Co-Op) | $17.99 |
| Fluval submersible heater( (Petco) | $21.99 |
| Finnex Stingray LED light (Aquarium Co-Op) | $34.99 . |
| Fluval Stratum 8lbs (Amazon) | $24.49 |
| Dwarf Saggitaria plant (Aquarium Co-Op) | $8.99 |
| 10 x Cardinal tetras (Aqua Huna) | $28 |
| Total | S156.44 |
The total for setting up our example fish tank is $156.44, and it includes nice equipment that strikes a balance between being budget friendly and also being quality equipment.
High Spec Tank
In this next example I will spec the same 10-gallon tank with some of the best equipment to illustrate the price difference.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 Gallon tank (Petco) | $19.99 |
| Aquaclear hang on back filter (Amazon) | $32.99 |
| Fluval Nano Aquarium heater (Aquarium Co-Op) | $24.99 |
| Fluval Plant 3.0 LED Light (Aquarium Co-Op) | $149.99 . |
| ADA Amazonia version 2 aqua soil (Aqua forest aquarium) | $55.98. |
| Dwarf Saggitaria plant (Aquarium Co-Op) Cryptocoryne wendtii plant (Aquarium Co-Op) | $8.99 $8.99 |
| 10 x Cardinal tetras (Aqua Huna) | $28 |
| Total | S329.92 |
The cost of the higher-spec tank is more than double that of the mid-spec tank, with the biggest price difference being the Fluval Plant LED.
If you wish to add a pressurized CO2 system for the plants another $100 to $200 can be added to the cost.
Budget Tank
In this example I will use equipment that are cheap compared to the other examples, but will still give you a fish tank with perfectly happy and healthy fish.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 Gallon tank (Petco) | $19.99 |
| Coarse sponge filter (Aquarium Co-Op) USB Nano-Air pump (Aquarium Co-Op) | 3.99 $9.99 |
| Fluval Nano Aquarium heater (Aquarium Co-Op) | $24.99 |
| 10 Watt LED Floodlight (Amazon.com) | $10.99 |
| Pool filter sand | $10.99 |
| Dwarf Chain Sword plant (Aquarium Co-Op) | $8.99 |
| 10 x Cardinal tetras (Aqua Huna) | $28 |
| Total | S117.93 |
By using the items shown in this example you can bring down the cost to $117.93 for setting up the whole tank.
The dwarf chain sword plants will grow just fine in the sand with the 10 watt LED, and the sponge filter will keep your fish healthy with minimal maintenance required.
In our examples we used a 10 gallon tank as the starting point, but nothing will prevent you from starting with a bigger tank if you wish. Here are some prices for different sized tanks.
| Tank size | Price |
|---|---|
| 10 Gallon tank | $19.99 |
| 20 Gallon tank | $49.99 |
| 40 Gallon tank | $99.99 |
| 55 Gallon tank | $149.99 |
Where are you going to place the fish tank?
Do you want a tank for your children in their bedroom, or will it be a display in your living room?
A tank can also be placed on or near your desk where it can have a calming influence during your work day.
It would be best if you carefully considered where you are going to put the tank. A 10-gallon tank will be about 2 feet in length, whereas a 60-gallon tank is about 4 feet.
There should be adequate space for the tank, and if placed on a table or desk, the whole base of the tank has to be covered; otherwise, it may crack.
The tank should also be in a space where it does not receive direct sunlight as this will cause unwanted algae, and algae are one of the main factors that will cause first-time fish keepers to quit the hobby.
You can place a 20 Gallon tank on a desk or table where the bigger tanks are better suitable for having their own dedicated stand.
You should also ensure that if you are not placing the tank on its own dedicated stand, the table or desk you are putting it on can take its weight and not collapse.
The tank should also be placed near a power outlet to run the filter, heater as well as aquarium lights.
Once you have decided where you are going to put the tank you can move on to the next step.
What fish are you planning to keep?
Do you want a community tank with a mix of many different fish , or maybe a species only tank with a big school of only one type of fish?
The size of fish you are planning to keep is one of the main determining factors in the size of your fish tank. The bigger the fish is, the more space they will need.
Some schooling fish species does best in groups of 6 or more, and that is another factor to consider.
Fish ranging from 1 to 4 inches will do fine in a 20-gallon tank. When you exceed the 4-inch mark, you will need to start looking at a bigger tank.
Fish suitable for a 10 to 20-gallon tank
Tetra species
Most tetra species are a perfect fit for a 20 gallon tank.It should be noted that they are a schooling species and does best in groups of at least 6 and preferably more.Their bahaviour will be more natural , and the fish will be less stressed with more of the same kind around.
Some of the more popular tetra species include the following:
- neon tetra
- black neon tetra
- green neon tetra
- cardinal tetra
- ember tetra
- rummy nose tetras
- silwertip tetras
One exception to this is Congo tetras where the spectacular males can get about 4 to 5 inches in size, and they will do much better in a larger tank of 30 gallons or more.
Advantages of keeping tetras
- Very easy to keep. In the past, some species like cardinals had a reputation of being difficult to keep, but that has changed in later years, with most fish being captive-bred and not wild-caught.
- A School of tetras can be a spectacular sight, especially in a planted tank where their vivid colors will stand out against the green of the plants.
- Easy to feed with most commercially available fish foods.
- Not aggressive towards other fish
- Suitable for community tanks of 10 – 20 gallons.
Disadvantages of keeping tetras
- Does not have “personality” like some other fish
- Not much more
Liverbearers
These include fish that has been a staple in the aquarium industry for many years . a Special mention can be made about guppies that is available in many beautiful variations and colors.
- Mollies
- Platies
- Swordtails
- Guppies
They are also very easy to keep, colorful and will suit any community aquarium.
Advantages of keeping livebearers
- Very easy to keep
- Available in a wide variety of colors with some very beautiful variations.
- Suitable for community aquariums and 10 – 20 gallon tanks.
Disadvantages of keeping Livebearers
- Guppies breeds very easily, and you may soon find yourself with an overstocked tank, and will have to remove some of them. The fry can always be sold to your local fish store, or be given away.
Bettas
If you are looking for a spectacular centerpiece fish full of personality a Betta for your 10 to 20 gallon tank you cannot go wrong with a Betta.
Male bettas are available in all the colors of the rainbow, and they are even suitable for a community tank together with the smaller tetras or livebearers.
Here are some of the different Betta varieties available:
- Crowntail
- Half Moon
- Plakat
- Double tail
- Delta
Advantages of keeping bettas
- Very beautiful fish available in many different colors and varieties
- Full of personality and will interact with you when you are near to the tank
- Can be kept in a community tanks of 10-20 gallons
Disadvantages of keeping bettas
- You cannot keep male bettas together as they will fight, and eventually, one of the males will kill the other one. Female bettas can be kept together in a community tank, as they are not as aggressive towards each other.
How much maintenance are you willing to do?
When choosing what size fish tank to get, the last consideration for you will be the maintenance that has to be done on the tank to keep your fish healthy and prevent algae breakouts in the tank.
Good fishkeeping practice will have you do the following:
- A weekly water change of 20% to 30% of the tank’s water. Replacing some of your aquarium water with fresh water every week has several benefits, including removing any built-up toxins in the water. It is one of the golden rules that will ensure a healthy fish tank.
Replacing 20% of a 10-gallon tank will be much easier than doing the same on a 55-gallon tank, and that must be kept in mind when first setting up the tank.
- The filter has to be cleaned regularly, ranging from weekly to monthly, depending on the type of filter and the stocking level in your tank.
Coarse sponge filters require minimal maintenance only once every six months or more, while the filter material in hang-on back or canister filters need to be cleaned on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
You can rinse filter media in some of the tank water to preserve the beneficial bacteria, which might be harmed by the chlorine or chloramine in the tap water.
- Any algae build-up on the glass of the tank needs to be removed weekly. You can do this with a sponge or plastic atm, or credit card. It would be best if you avoided magnetic algae cleaners sold at most pet shops as they tend to scratch the tank glass over time. This tends to happen as grains of sand or substrate get caught between the magnet and the glass surface, and the result is scratched glass.
A clean-up crew consisting of some algae eaters can help with the removal of algae from your tank. Just be sure to avoid some of the plecostomus species as they will quickly outgrow a small tank.
Maintenance on a small tank will be less time-consuming than on a larger tank, and this should be kept in mind when choosing what fish tank to get.
