So, you have decided that you want to set up an aquarium and keep fish. You have done a bit of research, and you understand what it takes to take care of fish, and you are prepared to take the responsibility of having their little, fishy lives in your hands. Good, so now what? Where do you start? That's where I come in, I am here to explain to you the step by step process of assembling a freshwater fish tank, from purchasing your equipment, to adding water and decorations, to adding your first fish. By following this set of instructions, you will successfully set up a small ecosystem, and have a beautiful addition to your home.

Start with the tank.

If you are just starting out with keeping freshwater fish, do not go crazy and buy a huge 75 gallon tank. Bigger tanks require much more maintenance, you are better off starting with a smaller tank, 20 gallons is perfect, it is big enough to allow you to keep a wide variety of fish, but it is not too big that maintenance will be a chore.

Next, you need a filter

The filter is a very important part of the fish tank, it is what keeps the fish in your tank alive, so it is not wise to go for the cheaper filter. I personally recommend the Bio-Wheel filters. They are an excellent filter, silent in the water, and very effective. They are also not overly priced.

Now that you have a filter, you need a light for your tank

This is one of the less important parts of your tank, unless you are planning on keeping live plants in your tank. So pick on out that looks pretty, the wattage is not important, and it will not harm your fish.

Time for a heater

The heater is another very important part of the tank if you are planning on keeping tropical fish, which, unless your planning on goldfish, then you are most likely going to have tropical fish. So again, don't go cheap here, get a good heater like the stealth heaters they carry at Petco. It is also a good idea to get a stick on thermometer, to make sure that your heater is working. This would also be a good time to mention that you should get a net, make sure it is long enough to reach the bottom of your tank.

Now the fun part, Decorations

OK, so now it is time to purchase the decor for your tank. You need gravel, about one pound of gravel per gallon your tank is, and try to stay away from the popular blue hues, a nice white or cream or even black would look very nice. Then, you need decorations like a sunken ship, or a roman Colosseum, and some plastic plants.

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