10 Gallon Aquarium Ideas

Having an aquarium can be fun and exciting for everyone in the family, young and old alike. Creating your own aquarium takes patience, creativity and knowledge on how to maintain a healthy underwater ecosystem. A good idea for beginners is to start with a 10-gallon aquarium. There are many things you can do to bring a small aquarium to life with beauty, and following the tips below can help you do this easily.

  1. Basics

    • For a 10-gallon aquarium you will need about 5 pounds of aquarium gravel rock. You can buy just about any color, but many prefer for their fish tanks to have a more natural appearance and opt to purchase smoothed river rocks of neutral tones. The filtration system should be top feeding, and appropriately powered for a tank of this size. A small aerator pump can be connected to a single bubble stone to provide oxygen for the water quality, while giving an extra bit of visual appeal.

    Fish

    • Keep only small species of fish in your 10-gallon aquarium, such as guppies, ghost shrimp, mollies and dwarf frogs. Keeping a few snails in the tank can also provide a little extra boost to the water filtration, making it a better habitat for the health of your fish. Other small aquatic pets can include fiddler crabs and baby red-eared sliders. Keep in mind that just because a fish is small doesn't mean it is docile. Be prepared to learn by trial and error which small fish can get along together in a small aquarium.

    Decor

    • Proper decor is essential in owning the perfect 10-gallon aquarium. Always include plenty of places for fish to hide and get some solitude. To achieve this, include a few small rock formations in the corners of the tank, in conjunction with some live and artificial plants, such as bamboo and other aquatic flora. To accentuate the look of natural-colored gravel, throw in some brightly colored crystals or gems.