WHAT TO BUY BEFORE YOUR FISH ARRIVE
Guppy tank equipment list, by budget.
Live guppies arrive after a long trip. A heated, cycled tank waiting for them is the biggest thing you can do for survival. Pick the list that matches the fish you are buying.
Every guppy tank needs five things: at least 10 gallons of water, a heater set to 24–26°C, a gentle sponge or kit filter, water conditioner with a test kit, and small food. Set it up two to four weeks before the fish ship.
WHY SET UP FIRST
Most first-week losses come from the tank, not the trip.
Guppies spend one to three days in a sealed bag. They arrive tired, a little cold and sensitive to any change in water.
Cold water
An unheated tank can sit several degrees below what tropical fish need, especially at night.
An uncycled filter
A brand new filter has no bacteria yet, so fish waste turns into ammonia within days.
Untreated tap water
Chlorine and chloramine burn gills. Conditioner removes them in seconds.
Overfeeding
Leftover food rots and spikes ammonia. A pinch they finish in a minute is enough.
THE ESSENTIALS
Five things every guppy tank needs.
- 01
A tank of 10 gallons or more
More water changes temperature and chemistry more slowly, which forgives mistakes.
- 02
A heater
Keep guppies at 24–26°C and avoid swings of more than a degree or two in a day.
- 03
A gentle filter
A sponge filter cleans the water, grows good bacteria and won’t pull in fry or tear long tails.
- 04
Conditioner and a test kit
Conditioner makes tap water safe. The test kit tells you when the tank is cycled.
- 05
Small, quality food
Guppies have tiny mouths. Feed once or twice a day.
STARTER SETUP · ABOUT $50–70
One pair or trio, first tank
A 10 gallon kit is the easiest way to start: everything matches and goes in on day one.
- See on Amazon
Aqueon 10 gallon LED aquarium kit
Tank, hood light, filter and heater in one box.
- See on Amazon
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Cycle before fish arrive.
- See on Amazon
Seachem Prime water conditioner
Removes chlorine and chloramine at every water change.
- See on Amazon
Hikari Fancy Guppy food
Small floating pellet sized for guppy mouths.
SHOW SETUP · ABOUT $100–140
A trio you want to grow out well
More length and gentler flow keep big tails in shape and colours strong.
- See on Amazon
20 gallon long glass aquarium
More swimming length keeps big tails in shape.
- See on Amazon
Fluval M 100W submersible heater
Holds 24–26°C steady through cool nights.
- See on Amazon
Double sponge filter with air pump
Gentle flow that won't shred long fins or pull in fry.
- See on Amazon
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Check weekly until the tank is stable.
- See on Amazon
Seachem Prime water conditioner
Use at every water change.
- See on Amazon
Fluval Bug Bites guppy formula
Insect-based protein for colour and growth.
BREEDER SETUP · ABOUT $200+
Keeping a strain line and raising fry
Room for adults, a safe place for fry and live food for the first weeks.
- See on Amazon
29 gallon aquarium
Room for adults plus a grow-out section.
- See on Amazon
Hang-on breeding box
Separates pregnant females and newborn fry.
- See on Amazon
Brine shrimp hatchery kit
Live baby brine shrimp speeds fry growth in the first weeks.
- See on Amazon
Two sponge filters with air pump
One for the main tank, one seeded spare for a fry tank.
- See on Amazon
Java moss and hornwort
Live cover where fry hide from adults.
- See on Amazon
Seachem Stability
Bacteria starter when you set up a new fry tank.
WATER TARGETS
What the test kit should read before fish go in.
22–28°C
Temperature, with 24–26°C ideal for most fancy guppies.
pH 6.8–7.8
Stable matters more than hitting an exact number.
0 / 0 / under 20
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in ppm.
2–4 weeks
Typical time to cycle a new tank before fish arrive.
WHEN YOUR GUPPIES ARRIVE
Float, mix slowly, and skip food on day one.
Dim the lights and float the closed bag for 15–20 minutes so temperatures match. Add a little tank water to the bag every 5 minutes for about half an hour, then net the fish in and leave the bag water out. Start with a tiny pinch of food the next morning.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Guppy equipment FAQ
Can guppies live without a heater?
Only in a room that stays above 22°C day and night. Most homes drop lower at night, so a heater is the safer choice.
Is a 5 gallon tank enough for guppies?
It can hold a male trio, but water quality swings fast. Ten gallons or more is far easier for beginners and needed if you plan to breed.
Sponge filter or hang-on filter?
Both work. Sponge filters are gentler on long fins and safe for fry; hang-on filters come with most kits and are fine with a pre-filter sponge on the intake.
Do I need a test kit if I change water often?
Yes, at least while the tank is new. It is the only way to know the tank has finished cycling before fish arrive.
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