Learn About The Procedure Of Setting Up A 50 Gallon Aquarium Here

Want to buy a fish tank?

But confused about finding the right size for you?

If you have recently got into the fish-keeping hobby, a 50 gallon tank would be the right fit for you. It is neither too small nor too big, and you can easily manage it.

With small fish tanks, there is the issue of maintenance, as small tanks heat up or get contaminated easily. 

While with the large ones, you have so much to look after that it might get confusing, especially if you are a newbie.

Although I generally recommend large fish tanks to a newbie, 50 gallon is also a right size as it falls in the middle.

So let us get started with the step-by-step procedure of setting up a 50 gallon aquarium.

But first… you will need a tank!

STEP 1: CHOOSING A 50 GALLON TANK

If you are of the opinion that a small tank would limit your creativity, 50 gallon will be a wonderful pick for you, as it gives you a lot of freedom in choosing as many types of fish as you want. From freshwater to reef, to paludariums, in this size, you can do it all.

Let’s review some of the best ones out there:

SEACLEAR ACRYLIC AQUARIUM COMBO SET – MOST AFFORDABLE

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This 50 gallon aquarium is available in a combo set which means that it includes a tank, a reflector and a light fixture.

It is made of acrylic, which is undoubtedly stronger than glass and weighs half compared to it.

And for a tank of this size, weight matters!

Acrylic material makes it less prone to cracks and scratches. It means that this tank is safe to keep around children. Its seams are almost invisible and the best thing is that it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

You can purchase it from Amazon at a reasonable price, in any color of your choice - Black, Blue or Clear.

The kit does not provide every necessary equipment, so you will have to purchase them separately.

However, it is an ideal kit if you have a preferred brand for filter and heater.

FEATURES:

• Made of acrylic
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Available at a reasonable price
• Holds temperature better than glass tanks

SEACLEAR ACRYLIC 50 GALLON AQUARIUM – BEST STARTER KIT

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This tank is my another pick from SeaClear, which is one of the most reputable brands in the aquarium market.

This kit is ideal for beginners as it comes with all the necessary equipment. You don’t have to purchase anything separately.

The kit provides a tank, built-in filtration and a hood with inbuilt lighting.

The system has a wet or dry biological filtration system which is attached at the back of the tank.

It has chambers to accommodate biological, chemical and mechanical filter media. Also, there is enough space to include your own heater and protein skimmer, if you want to have a saltwater setup.

FEATURES:

• Made of acrylic
• Lightweight
• Durable material
• Easy to set up
• Instruction guide is included
• Dimensions are: 36*15*16 inches

STARFIRE 50 GALLON AQUARIUM – BEST MARINE OR REEF TANK

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If you want to set up a reef or marine environment, this tank is the right choice for you.

It is available in a package which includes the choice of a black or white cabinet, a sump, skimmer, tube piping, bulkheads, filter media and return pump.

The only thing not included in the kit is lighting, which you have to buy separately.

FEATURES:

• Premium quality
• Stand comes assembled
• Available at a reasonable price
• Dimensions are: 24*24*20 inches
• Cabinet is heavy-duty and has two hinged doors.

You can purchase it from Amazon.

STEP 2: CHOOSING THE RIGHT STAND

For putting the tank in a safe place, you need to have a stand.

Some kits include a stand while many are available without it. For a 50 gallon aquarium, choosing the right stand is a tough task.

You will have to explore so many websites and stores, until you land on the perfect one.

Aquarium stands are available in various materials and shapes. Some have a cabinet included while some don’t.

Some are water-resistant while some are not. So you have to make a thorough research before landing on one.

Here are some stands for your 50 gallon aquarium:

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STEP 3: BUYING THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

For an aquarium, you have to buy a number of equipment like heater, pump, filter, etc. So I will talk about each of them here and also mention my favorite of them all, for a 50 gallon fish tank.

These are some of the most essential equipment for an aquarium:

HEATER

Before buying a heater, please decide on the type of fish you want to have and the type of environment you want to create. For a tropical environment, a heater is very important while for a freshwater environment, that is not the case.

You can buy this heater for your 50 gallon aquarium from Amazon:

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FILTER

Filters not only take care of the fish and food waste, but they also create current. So before buying a filter for your tank, you should be aware of the type of filtration your fish requires.

In a 50 gallon aquarium, you can install an internal as well as an external filter. The choice is up to you! 

Just pay attention to the filter’s capacity – it should cycle the tank about 3 to 4 times in an hour. Otherwise, it will not be a good purchase.

You can buy this filter for your 50 gallon aquarium from Amazon:

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HOOD

A hood comes handy especially when you have an active fish species inside of your tank. If you don’t have a hood, the fish might jump out of the water, and eventually die. So it is better to take precautions.

You can buy this hood for your aquarium from Amazon:

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So these are the important equipment that you need to install in your aquarium, before adding water and fish to it.

STEP 4: ADDING WATER

Did not think that adding water could ever be an important step?

Well, you might be wrong! As in an aquarium setup, adding water is a crucial step.

The reason being, tap water contains harmful chemicals in it, which might harm the fish. It usually contains chlorine in it, which is not harmful for us humans, but for fish, it is toxic.

 So you have to dechlorinate the water before adding fish it.

Also, make sure to cycle the tank afterwards, so as to encourage the build-up of necessary bacteria in the tank.

It is good bacteria which provides nutrients to the fish. In its absence, the creatures might fall sick easily and die.

Keep in mind to measure the pH level of water and check it for nitrites, nitrates and ammonia, and treat it accordingly.

STEP 5: ADDING FISH AND OTHER CREATURES

Now that you have treated the water for harmful chemicals, it is time to add fish to it.

Adding fish is not just about opening the packet of fish that you have got from the pet store, and adding it into the water.

There are certain things you have to keep in mind, as fish is a sensitive creature and it might fall sick if there is even a slight bit of change in environment.

When it comes to the choices of fish you can have in a 50 gallon aquarium, there are many.

So let us go through the types you can keep in a 50 gallon tank:

A 50 gallon tank is a wonderful choice for a species-only, community, reef, aludarium as well as a simple saltwater set up.

You can stock a good range of species in it including some non-fish inhabitants like crabs, snails and shrimps.

STEP 6: LOOKING AFTER THE TANK

Your work is not done here!

After getting an aquarium, you are bestowed with the lifetime responsibility of looking after it as well as the creatures living inside it!

Since they cannot speak for their own, you have to be responsible. Feed them regularly, but do not overfeed them, or keep an automatic feeder.

Clean the tank every month and the water every week. Do not let the waste build-up!

Let me know in the comment section below about your choice of aquarium tank. Did you face any problem in setting it up and if you need any detailed advice on setting up a 50 gallon aquarium, let me know in the section below.

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[Revised and Updated for July, 2019]

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Written by Debra Hutchinson, founder of FishXperts