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Bedding and habitat for your fish: getting the size right

This is the structural purchase — and where mistakes cost the most: too small, badly placed, badly sized. Our guides give serious minimum dimensions for a fish, the materials that last, and the traps of entry-level products.

The key point : The bigger the tank, the more stable — and therefore easier — it is: 60 litres is a good start, and the goldfish bowl belongs to another century.

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• Beginner 60-litre freshwater aquarium: budget and cycling

Our dedicated guides

• Community aquarium or species-only tank: which is right for a first setup?

  Community aquarium or species-only tank: pros, cohabitation risks and advice for choosing how to set up your first aquarium.

• Budget for a first brackish water aquarium: the real cost to get started

  How much does a first brackish water aquarium cost? Tank, filtration, salt and salinity monitoring, budgeted item by item.

• Upgrading to a bigger aquarium: moving your fish without the stress

  How do you upgrade to a bigger aquarium without breaking the biological cycle or stressing your fish? Steps and mistakes to avoid.

• Setting up a 60-litre freshwater aquarium: the key steps

  How to set up your first 60 L freshwater tank without mistakes: equipment, the nitrogen cycle, planting, and adding fish gradually.

• Axolotl tank and care: cold water, setup and a safe floor

  Temperature, gentle filtration, substrate, and volume: how to set up a safe cold-water tank for an axolotl, an amphibian that is fragile in the heat.

• How many fish in a 60-litre aquarium? The realistic calculation

  How many fish can you keep in a 60-litre freshwater tank? The centimetre rule, the overstocking mistakes, and examples of a balanced community.

• Fishless cycling: the ammonia method

  How to cycle a new aquarium without fish using the ammonia method: dosing, duration, seeding and testing for a reliable cycle before the first fish.

• Which First Fish Should You Choose for a 60-Litre Aquarium?

  Which fish to start a 60-litre freshwater tank with? Hardy species, the right stocking order, and the overstocking mistakes to avoid.

• Lake Malawi African Cichlid Aquarium: Hard Water and Décor

  How do you set up a Lake Malawi cichlid aquarium? Hard, alkaline water, stacked rockwork, and dense stocking to reduce aggression.

• Why Is a Male Betta Aggressive? What to Know Before Tank Mates

  Male betta (Siamese fighting fish) aggression is a documented territorial behavior, not quirkiness. Why two males never cohabit and what tank mates to consider.

• Guppy Reproduction: Why the Population Explodes and How to Manage It

  Guppies breed very fast with no intervention needed. Why this rapid reproductive strategy exists, and how to avoid overpopulation in a community tank.

• Nano shrimp tank: the essential equipment to start off right

  What equipment does a nano shrimp tank need? Volume, gentle filtration, the right substrate and a full budget: the complete checklist for keeping Neocaridina.

• Betta tank of 20-30 litres: the ideal setup, step by step

  How do you set up a 20 to 30 litre betta tank? Low-flow filtration, heating, resting plants and a lid: the ideal setup explained in detail.

• Garden pond for goldfish: volume, equipment and budget

  How do you build a garden pond for goldfish? Minimum volume, frost-free depth, filtration and predator protection: the complete guide with budget.

• Aquarium stand: the weight mistake beginners keep making

  An aquarium stand must bear 1.5 times the tank volume in kilos. Calculating the real weight, furniture to avoid, levelling: avoid the fatal mistake.

• 60-litre aquarium: dimensions, real weight and where to put it

  A 60-litre tank is not a trinket you can set down anywhere: here are its usual dimensions, its real weight once filled and the criteria for choosing a good spot.

• Which fish live well together in a 60-litre aquarium

  A successful 60-litre community tank depends less on the number of fish than on matching temperament and needs. Which species to choose, which to avoid.

• Corydoras: why a group of at least six and a soft substrate matter

  The Corydoras is a gregarious catfish that is often poorly housed: too few tank mates, on an abrasive substrate. Here is why the group and the floor matter as much as water quality.

• Betta in a bowl: what a welfare study actually shows

  Keeping a betta in a plain bowl is still common, but a study comparing several tank sizes shows a clear effect of space and furnishings on its behaviour.

• Brackish aquarium: which species and how to set it up

  Between fresh and salt water, brackish has its own favourite fish and rules. Which species to choose, what salinity to aim for and how to set up a brackish tank as a beginner.

• Goldfish tank size: how many litres, how many fish and why growth depends on it

  A goldfish needs far more than a bowl: at least 50 to 60 litres for the first fish, then 40 to 50 litres each. Why water volume drives its growth and health.

• Goldfish: cold water, heaters and the ideal temperature

  The goldfish is a cold-water fish, but 'cold' does not mean freezing. What temperature to aim for, whether it needs a heater, and how to protect it from thermal shocks and hot summers.

• Goldfish or Koi in a Garden Pond: What's the Difference Before You Decide?

  Goldfish and koi look alike in photos, but their adult size, lifespan and the pond volume they need are worlds apart. The benchmarks to choose without regret.

• What Tank Setup for Shrimp and Nerite Snails Living Together?

  Dwarf shrimp and nerite snails are a classic nano-tank pairing: no competition, no predation, and cleanup duties naturally split between them. Volume, parameters and setup to plan for.

• Budget for an Amano and Red Cherry Shrimp Tank: The Real Cost, Item by Item

  A nano shrimp tank costs less than a fish aquarium, but it is not free either. Starting equipment, the price of the shrimp themselves, and monthly upkeep, broken down item by item.

• Betta Sorority Tanks: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

  A sorority tank houses several female bettas together, but the cohabitation is trickier than it looks: females can be just as aggressive as males. The numbers, volume and layout that actually matter.

• Preparing a Piece of Driftwood Before Adding It to Your Aquarium

  Poorly prepared driftwood floats, releases too many tannins at once, or introduces unwanted organisms. Soaking, boiling and choosing safe wood types before decorating your tank.

• New or second-hand aquarium: which should you choose to get started?

  New or second-hand aquarium? Buying used cuts the price in half or better, as long as you check the seals, scratches and equipment. The full comparison, prices included.

• Freshwater or saltwater: where should you start in fishkeeping?

  Freshwater or saltwater for a first aquarium? Freshwater costs 4 to 5 times less and forgives mistakes. Comparison of budget, maintenance and difficulty.

• The 10 first-aquarium mistakes (and how to avoid them)

  The 10 first-aquarium mistakes: tank too small, fish bought the same day, overstocking, excessive cleaning… The complete list for a successful start.

• Goldfish in a bowl: why it only seems like a good idea

  The goldfish bowl only seems like a good idea: a goldfish needs at least 50 litres per individual, filtration and companions. Explanations and costed alternatives.

• How many fish in an aquarium? The rule to avoid overstocking

  How many fish in an aquarium? Remember 1 cm of adult fish per real litre, half that for heavy polluters. Calculation method and examples by volume.

• 120-litre aquarium budget: the complete price, item by item

  What budget for a complete 120-litre aquarium? Allow 350 to 550 € new, 200 to 300 € with smart choices. The breakdown: tank, cabinet, tech, substrate, plants, fish.

• An aquarium at the office: good idea? Constraints, budget and suitable species

  Setting up an aquarium at the office: calming and community-building, as long as you manage weekends, air conditioning and responsibilities. The full guide with budget.

• Active Substrate (Aqua Soil) for Planted Tanks: What It Does and How to Maintain It

  Unlike sand or neutral gravel, active substrate gradually releases nutrients and slightly lowers pH. How it works, its benefits and its limits over time.

• Why You Should Quarantine Aquarium Plants Before Adding Them to Your Tank

  Unwanted snails, parasite eggs, pesticide residue: an un-quarantined plant can bring far more than greenery into a balanced tank. A simple method before planting.

• Goldfish Alone or in a Group: Do You Need More Than One?

  Goldfish are usually bought one at a time, but they're a naturally social species. What group living changes (and doesn't), and the volume it takes.

• High-End Planted Aquascape Budget: What Does a CO2 Tank Really Cost?

  Nutrient substrate, CO2 diffuser, strong lighting... a proper aquascape costs a lot more than a basic planted tank. The real budget, item by item.

• Silent Cycling: Can Plants Skip the Fishless Cycle?

  Silent cycling uses fast-growing plants to absorb ammonia from day one. Does it really work without a classic nitrogen cycle in place?

• Shrimp and Betta Cohabitation: Good Idea or Guaranteed Risk?

  The betta is a natural predator of small shrimp. When cohabitation can actually work, and why it usually fails.

• Shoal Size and Aggression: Why a Small Group Goes Wrong

  Too few individuals in a shoal of schooling fish concentrates aggression on just a few. How many do you actually need for peaceful cohabitation?

• Tank Background Color: A Real Stress Factor

  Blue, black, white, red: the color of an aquarium's background and decor measurably affects a fish's cortisol and stress levels.

• Structured Decor: What a Study Reveals About Fish's Real Preferences

  A behavioral study shows fish clearly choose the most structured areas of a tank when given the option.

• Fish Sleep: Why Real Nighttime Darkness in the Tank Matters

  A zebrafish study shows constant light disrupts sleep much like insomnia, with consequences for tank management.

• Custom-Built or Off-the-Shelf Aquarium: Which Should You Choose?

  A made-to-order tank or a series model: comparing lead times, budget and the cases where custom-built is genuinely worth the extra cost.

• Corner or rectangular aquarium: which should you choose for your home?

  Corner or rectangular aquarium? A corner tank saves floor space but costs 30 to 50% more per litre and is harder to maintain. The full comparison.

• Beginner reef aquarium budget: the real price, line by line

  Going reef costs 3 to 5 times more than freshwater: expect 600 to 1,000 € for a first complete 100-150 litre tank. The full breakdown, line by line.

• Aquarium in a rental: what are the rules with your landlord or flatmates?

  Setting up an aquarium in a rental raises three questions: floor load, water damage and landlord agreement. What to check before investing in a tank.

• Clownfish and Anemone: Understanding Their Symbiosis Before Housing Them Together

  The clownfish-and-anemone pairing made famous on screen doesn't just happen in a reef tank: conditions, species compatibility and limits to know.

• Neon tetra: shoal size, welfare and setting up the tank

  Six neons is not enough. What a study on group size in home-aquarium fish shows, and how to set up a tank where the shoal behaves normally.

• Swordtail: why two males will not share a tank, and how to set the tank up

  Dominance hierarchy, relentless chasing, harassed females: what research has measured in the green swordtail, the sex ratio that works, and the tank shape that lowers aggression.

• Classroom or office aquarium: what actually changes versus a home tank

  School holidays, rotating caretakers, a budget shared between several people: the real constraints of a shared-space aquarium, and how to plan for them before buying anything.

• Reef tank: fine sand, coarse sand, or bare bottom?

  The substrate choice in a marine tank affects bottom-dwelling fish behaviour, maintenance workload and nitrate management. A comparison of the three options and their real trade-offs.

• Annual killifish eggs: the storage box temperature decides on diapause

  In the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus, a few degrees during substrate incubation send embryos into diapause or let them develop straight through. What the study shows.

• Glass or acrylic: which material should you choose for your aquarium?

  Glass or acrylic (plexiglass): weight, scratch resistance, clarity and price — the real criteria for choosing your tank's material.

• Where should you place your aquarium in the house? The criteria that actually matter

  Direct sunlight, floor strength, power outlets and foot traffic: the practical criteria for picking the right aquarium spot before you fill the tank.

• Do fish feel stress? Setting up the aquarium to reduce it

  Do fish feel stress? What scientific research shows, the signs to watch for, and how to set up the aquarium to keep fish calmer.

• Budget for a first nano marine aquarium (30-40 litres): the real cost, item by item

  How much does a first 30-40 litre nano marine aquarium cost? Tank, lighting, filtration, saltwater and every item, budgeted.

• Aquarium in a dorm room: which tank to choose in a small space?

  Which aquarium suits a dorm room or small space? The right volume, noise constraints and budget for a first tank.

• What Size Aquarium Should You Start With? The Real Number (and the Fishbowl Myth)

  60, 100 or 120 litres? Find out what aquarium size to choose for a stress-free start, why the fishbowl should be banned from your plans, and what budget to expect.

• Aquarium Substrate: Sand, Gravel or Aqua Soil — What Should Go on the Bottom?

  Sand, quartz gravel, nutrient-rich or active soil: which substrate to choose for your plants and fish, how deep to lay it and at what price. Complete guide.

Bedding & habitat breed by breed: every fish profile covers this product family with that species’ own figures.