1. number of fish in your tank
It is better to keep the tank a little understocked since
a. there is more space for the fish to swim and grow
b. a smaller amount of pollutants are produced
c. fewer water changes are needed

2. the type of filtration used

3. The amount of fish food and debris.

For a fully stocked aquarium with adequate filtration, 25% of the water should be changed weekly. If the aquarium has only a few fish, the water may be changed every two to three weeks, as this reduces the stress on the fish. If the fish are overfed, the excess food will settle at the bottom of the fish tank and it will have to be cleaned more often.

Gravel vac ( with an extension) or aquarium vacuum - it is usually available at pet shops, but can be made at home using airline tubing to suck out the debris from the gravel

Algae scraper - remove the algae from the plants

Clean bucket - should not have been used for cleaning with detergents or soap, since even small amounts of residue can harm the fish. It is used for changing the water in the aquarium

Some fish require a lot of care, so they should be avoided initially. Neon tetras are hardy fish and other types of fish which are remain less than an inch long. Each fish should cost less than 10 dollars.

The “look” of the aquarium depends on the owner’s taste. For a natural look, use natural rocks, live plants, driftwood

Tanks of different sizes can be purchased at the local pet store, petsmart and walmart. Some of the common tank sizes and prices are:
1. 55 gallon - 160 $
2. 30 gallon - 95 $
3. 10 gallon - 40 $
4. 5 gallon - 30 $
5. 2.5 gallon - 12 $

Most suppliers will provide accessories like lights, filters, water conditioners and food free with the tank

2. Good starter fish are for a 10 gallon fish tank:
schooling fish like neon tetras  )
bottom feeder like 2 cory doras
1 male betta OR 3 female bettas (never put 2 males together or male & female, they are likely to attack each other)
Since these fish are all tropical and require a temperature of 76-82 degrees, so you will need a thermometer as well to check your temperature

3. Do regular waterchanges after you have finished the cycle and you have more fish, the recommendation is a partial waterchange of 25% weekly with a gravel siphon

4. Do not overfeed your fish, feed them only twice a day what they will eat in a period of 3-5 min at each feeding

5. Do not keep your fish tank near a window where sunlight enters the room, that causes algae growth . Leave your light on for 10-12 hours only during the day and turn it off at night for 12-14 hours (use of a timer is recommended.)

6. Fish are categorized into tropicals, semi-aggressive, aggressive, cold water fish . When you buy fish from the pet shop, always get fish from only one category only

7. It is advisable to buy a complete aquarium kit, which comes with the tank itself, filter, heater, hood and light bulbs

8. Also after you added fish you have to replace your carbon cartridge every 4-6 weeks