Everything You Need To Know About
Peaceful Freshwater Aquariums
Almost!
Peaceful Community
For a peaceful community tank, you must have at least 5 gallons with a proper heater and filter. Peaceful community tanks can be as many gallons as you would like. Weekly water changes must be performed and overstocking your tank should be avoided. Temperature depends on whether you are setting up a tropical community of a sub-tropical community.
Tropical Community
A tropical community is set at a consistent temperature around 76-80 °F. This is a very popular community choice with a lot of fish and plant options.
Sub-Tropical Community
The sub-tropical community is set at a lower temperature, (64-72°F) with added oxygen/aeration during the warmer months of the year. This is a less popular community with fewer options for fish and plant life.
What You Need:
1. Fish Tank
2. Heater
3. Water Conditioner
4. Gravel + Decor
5. Plants
6. Fish Food
7. The FISH!
5+ Gallon Tank
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I recommend starting with at least 10 gallons and then upgrading when necessary
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You can easily purchase a kit that comes with a tank, filter, heater, and an LED equipped lid
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Freshwater fish should have a source of lighting consistent day/night cycle
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Some freshwater fish are known for jumping so it is recommended to have a lid
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The larger the tank the more fish you can have!
Heater
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If you are setting up a freshwater tropical community than you need a consistent water temperature of 76-80 °F
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If you are setting up a freshwater subtropical community than you might not need a heater during warmer seasons but you probably need a heater in the colder seasons (64-72°F)
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I recommend fully submersible heaters, get a thermometer so you know the temperature
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Make sure to unplug the heater when you are doing large water changes
Gravel and Decor
5-10 gallon tank = 50 watt heater
20-30 gallon tank=
100-200 watts
40-50 gallon tank=
100-400 watts
75+ gallon tank=
200-600 watts
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Always purchase aquarium safe gravel or sand and rinse it with hot water to get off any dust or debris - never boil or use soap on your gravel
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Some fish prefer sand instead of gravel
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Avoid sharp/pointy decor to avoid tearing fins - look for smooth decor with hiding spots
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You will need 1 lb of substrate for every 1 gallon in a standard tank
Plants
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Real plants produce oxygen and help naturally filter the tank - which is especially important in smaller tanks
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Some fish will dig up plant roots so floating plants are a good alternative
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A hardy, easy plant is the Anubias species
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If you choose fake plants then I recommend silk instead of plastic
Water Conditioner
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It's important to get water conditioner to make your water safe for any fish
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You can use tap/sink water in your tank WITH conditioner to neutralize chlorine or any metals that might be present - testing your water parameters is very important
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You can also purchase pre-treated water from pet supply stores or use bottled water - however, the mineral content may vary
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Don't use local pond/lake/river or rain water
Fish Food
Learn about testing your water parameters!
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There are 5 types of food - flakes, pellets, freeze-dried, live, and frozen
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Giving your fish a varied diet will make them happier and healthier
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Protein (shrimp/worms/larvae) should be the first ingredient
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Avoid fillers like wheat flour or rice meal
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Always thaw your frozen food before feeding
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Some fish food is specific to certain fish - make sure you get the correct food!
The Fish
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A good guideline to follow is 1 gallon of water per 1" of fully grown fish
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A 20 gallon tank can have 20" of fish; ex. 5 fish that reach 4" when fully grown
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Sometimes overcrowding a tank can reduce aggression depending on the species
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When adding new fish to an existing community it helps to rearrange the decor to reduce aggression towards the new fish
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Always research before adding any new fish into your community
Learn about the nitrogen cycle before adding fish!
Learn about fish compatibility!