How to Set Up a 10 Gallon Tropical Aquarium

This article covers how to set up a ten gallon aquarium. Ten gallon aquariums are perfect for small(er) rooms because the tank is small!

Steps

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    Purchase the aquarium if you haven't already. Talk to the sales assistants. Lots of the staff usually have an aquarium or experience with one. They can provide you with some great advice!
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    Set up the tank. This means placing the tank on a table or an aquarium stand. Place the filter/bubbler in, as shown in the manual. This varies by product. Make sure it is set up properly.
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    Rinse the purchased stones/sand/gravel before pouring into the empty tank. Some aquariums come with stones/gravel already included.
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    Place the scenery and decorations in the aquarium. This may include real plants, fake plants, rocks, or other decorative items. Remember to rinse the (fake) plants and hiding spots for the fish. Never put rocks that you found outside in your tank. These may cause illness to the fish.
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    Fill the 10 gallon (37.9 L) aquarium with water. Make sure the heater, filter and/or bubbler works properly. Make sure the temperature is perfect. Different fish like different temperatures.
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    Wait. Once everything is set up, you have to wait a week or two before you can buy any fish. This establishes the tank making sure it is safe for the fish.
    • The safest way to add fish would be to first add ammonia to the aquarium. Then, add some good quality live bacteria and test daily until the ammonia and nitrite levels are at zero before adding the fish.
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    Consider bio-support and freshwater salt. These are always a good thing to have available for the cleaning of the tank. This is a good thing to add during the waiting phase. Fish, like black Mollies, need to have freshwater salt or else they will not live as long.
    • Follow the instructions on the bottles to make sure you don't add too much or too little in the aquarium.
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    Control the pH level of the tank. The pH of the tank is important, as the water being too acidic or basic may kill your fish. Pet stores sell pH tests, along with many solutions to adjust the pH of your tank. Some fish may flourish under certain pH levels as well, while some may suffer.
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    When you purchase fish, make sure you don't put too many fish in at once. They may get crowded and scared. Remember, you should have no more than ten 1–2 inch (2.5–5.1 cm) fish in the tank. Putting in too many fish at once can cause overcrowding!
    • Recommended fish are guppies, platies, small tetras, habrosus corydoras (or other small cories), mollies, and small barbs. The store workers can help answer your questions and help you choose appropriate fish for beginners or experts!
    • Overcrowding your tank might make it harder to maintain safe ammonia levels and to keep everything in order.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Which keeps a 10 gallon tank cleaner: under gravel filter out outside filter?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    An outside filter is better than an under gravel filter. However, an undergravel filter may be your only option depending on the aquarium.
  • Question
    What is the diameter of a twenty-liter tank?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This depends on the design of the tank; it could be thin with a small diameter, or it may be squat with a larger diameter.
  • Question
    How far from the top of the tank do I fill it with water?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    About 1-2 inches. Make sure the filter and any other cables/tubes are not fully submerged.
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Warnings

  • Don't completely clean a tank unless you have to. This will kill off beneficial bacteria and stress out your fish, as well as creating a lot of work for you to do!
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  • A 2/3 water change is good once a week or every other week. Note that this is for tropical aquariums - not saltwater/marine aquariums.
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  • Don't buy too many fish at once. A distressed fish may die.
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about aquariums, check out our in-depth interview with Marshall Stephens.

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About This Article

Marshall Stephens
Co-authored by:
Marshall Stephens
Aquarium Specialist
This article was co-authored by Marshall Stephens. Marshall Stephens is an Aquarium Expert at Private Oceans Aquariums in West Palm Beach, Florida. Marshall has over 20 years of experience in the aquarium industry and focuses on captive-bred animals. They specialize in tropical and marine aquariums and are a contributor to the Loggerhead Marine life center in Jupiter Florida. This article has been viewed 19,360 times.
20 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 25
Updated: December 24, 2022
Views: 19,360
Categories: Aquariums
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