1. A hood with a lighting system
2. Light bulbs (If not included in your hood)
3. Filtration system
4. Gravel for the bottom of your tank
5. Plants, fake or live (I prefer live they help to make it more realistic)
6. Rocks for your fish to hide behind
7. Air pump (This is optional I like it because it helps to add oxygen to the water)
8. Any accessories you want to add to make your tank more pleasing to the eye
9. Airline tubing
10. Water conditioner
11. Fishnet
12. Fish food
13. Heater
14. Thermometer
Tank Setup:
(It is a good idea not to set up your tank in direct sunlight, as it can cause excess algae growth)
1. Add the gravel to your tank. You need 1 pound of gravel for every gallon of tank you have(If you have a 20 gallon tank buy 20 pounds of gravel). It is important that you rinse the gravel thoroughly before adding it. If you have an air pump add that in before you put the gravel in, so it is covered up and not seen.
2. Your gravel needs to be slanted so that there is less in the front than there is in the back.
3. Now you need to add the water. Place a bowl in the tank and pour your water over the bowl so that you do not mess up the gravel you just added.
4. Treat your water with a product that will de chlorinate the water. You will need to let the tank run for 3-5 days before you can add fish.
5. Add your plants and rocks to the tank and have them setup any way you like.
6. Add your filter to the tank and plug it in. Now you just wait and let your tank cycle the water and particles for a few days.
7. After a few days add some starter fish (goldfish) and allow them to help the tanks nitrogen cycle get rolling. After a couple weeks of the starter fish you can then add fish of your choice.
