What Is a Community Fish Tank? How to Set Up Your New Fish Tank For Success
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The popularity of fish tanks is continuing to grow amongst pet parents. With so many options, almost anyone can find a tank suitable for their lifestyle.
One of the most popular types is community fish tanks. Below you’ll learn what you need to know about what a community fish tank includes and how to set up a successful one at home.
Key Takeaways
- Community fish tanks feature multiple types of fish in one tank.
- It's best to have a balance of fish that prefer living at different levels of the aquarium to avoid overcrowding.
- Test community fish tank water on a regular basis.
What Is a Community Fish Tank?
Community fish tanks house multiple species of fish rather than just one type. Community tanks can range from beginner to advanced, depending on the type of fish kept.
Setting up a community tank is similar to setting up a single-species tank, but the needs of multiple species need to be kept in mind. It’s important to note that when keeping different types of species together you’ll need to pay attention to compatibility among your fish.
Gather Your Supplies
In order to set up a community fish tank, you need:
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Substrate (gravel, sand, etc., depending on type of fish being kept)
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Air pump, tubing, and stone
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Tank cleaning supplies
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Fish
Clean Your Tank Items and Add Substrate
Before setting up your fish tank, it is important to make sure everything is clean. Rinse out the aquarium, substrate and any decor you will be using, Substrate such as gravel may need to be rinsed more than once.
After ensuring your supplies are clean, you can start by adding your substrate to the bottom of the tank.
Add Water to the Aquarium
Next, it is time to start adding water to the aquarium. It is vital to treat your water with a conditioner anytime you are adding water to the aquarium. Follow the directions on your conditioner for the best results. Once the water has been treated, you can add it to the aquarium.
Add Decor and Install Equipment
Once the water is added, you can start putting décor in the tank. Make sure to include fake aquatic plants and hideaways to enrich life for your fish.
Now is the time to start installing your equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the air pump and stone to add aeration to the water. You will also want to install your aquarium's heater and filter.
Any lighting will also be installed if it is not built into your aquarium lid. Once everything is set up, it is important to plug everything in to ensure it all works!
Cycle the Water
Before placing any fish in your tank, it will need to cycle with the filter on for one to two weeks. During this time, it is important to test the water daily. Once the water parameters have stabilized you can start adding fish. Without establishing proper biological filtration, your tank is at risk of developing new tank syndrome.
Add Your New Fish Friends
When adding fish, only add a few at a time. It is best to start with non-territorial fish. It is also recommended to start with the most “hardy” of the species you are keeping.
After a few weeks, you can begin to add a few more fish, working your way up to the most territorial of your species. Adding too many fish at once can cause stress amongst your fish, and even cause dangerous changes in your water parameters. It is best to test the tank water after each new fish species is added.
Choosing the Best Beginner Community Fish
The best fish for a beginner community tank are non-aggressive fish. Schooling fish tend to be a good option for community tanks as well.
Remember, all the fish must have similar husbandry needs so they can all thrive in the tank. It is best to avoid semi-aggressive and aggressive fish in a beginner tank; more advanced keepers may opt for these types of fish.
Consider Fish Swimming Levels
Different fish prefer living in different levels of the tank. To avoid overcrowding, it is important to have a balance of fish that prefer living at the top, middle, and bottom levels of the aquarium.
As a general rule, you should only have 1 inch of adult fish per gallon of water. For example, you might keep the following amount of fish based on tank size:
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10 gallons: Two schools of five fish measuring under an inch long
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20 gallons: 10 2-inch fish, 20 1-inch fish, or up to 30 fish under 1 inch
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50 gallons: 20 2-inch fish, 50 1-inch fish, or up to 80 fish under 1 inch
Community Fish Tank Species Mix Suggestions
| Fish Species | Best Companion Species |
| Tetras (Mid-Bottom Dwellers) | Platys, Swordtails, Guppies, Cory Catfish, Silver Hatchetfish, Rasboras |
| Rasboras (Top-Mid Dwellers) | Tetras, Clown Barbs, Mollies, Cory Catfish |
| Guppies (Top-Mid Dwellers) | Tetras, Clown Barbs, Mollies, Cory Catfish |
| Danios (Top-Mid Dwellers) | Tetras, Clown Barbs, Mollies, Cory Catfish |
| Barbs (Mid-Lower Dwellers) | Tetras, Guppies, Danios, Silver Hatchetfish, Mollies, Swordtails, Cory Catfish |
| Cory Catfish (Bottom Dwellers) | Platys, Swordtails, Guppies, Tetras, Barbs, Mollies, Danios, Silver Hatchetfish |
| Silver Hatchetfish (Top Dwellers) | Tetras, Barbs, Cory Catfish |
| Mollies (Mid-Dwellers) | Guppies, Tetras, Silver Hatchetfish, Danios, Barbs, Cory Catfish |
| Swordtails (Top-Mid Dwellers) | Tetras, Clown Barbs, Mollies, Cory Catfish |
| Platys (Top-Mid Dwellers) | Tetras, Clown Barbs, Mollies, Cory Catfish |
Community Fish Tank Maintenance Tips
Maintaining your community fish tank is not much different than maintaining a single-species tank. Tank maintenance tips include:
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Make sure that your equipment such as filters and heaters are working appropriately every day.
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Ensure the water in your tank is tested at least once a month. However, if the tank is newly established or fish were recently added, you may want to test the water more often. Beginner fish enthusiasts should also test their tank's water more often.
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Test the water to help determine what the levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are in the water. This will determine how often to do 25% water changes in your tank.
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In addition to changing water, you will also need to clean algae off the walls and decor of your aquarium. Keeping fish that eat algae in your tank can help lower the algae buildup within your tank.
Community Fish Tank FAQs
What order do you add fish to a community tank?
It is important not to add too many fish at once. Start with smaller, peaceful, and hardy fish followed by larger, more territorial fish.
How do you feed fish in a community tank?
Since a community tank will include different species dwelling at different levels, you may need to feed a variety of foods. Bottom dwellers won't be able to eat floating pellets and vice versa.
Do fish breed in community tanks?
Depending on the species kept in your tank, they can breed and will breed often! It is important to keep this in mind when choosing your tank size.
Can aggressive fish species ever be included in community tanks?
More advanced tanks may include semi-aggressive fish such as cichlids.
How do I know if my community tank is overcrowded?
Overcrowded fish tanks will typically have a lot of waste and poor water quality. You may also see fish that are not typically aggressive attack each other.
Can saltwater and freshwater fish live together in a community tank?
No. Since these fish have different needs for a healthy life, they are not compatible.
What should I do if one fish is bullying others in my community tank?
Double-check to make sure that the fish are compatible. It is also important to ensure the fish have enough food, space, and spots to hide. If the fish continues to bully, they may need to be removed and kept on their own.
