The following is a short list of things to look at before buying tropical fish tanks. Going through this list can save you a lot of money or effort (or both).

So, lets dive straight in:

1. What fish do you want to keep? The absolute most important decision BEFORE you consider anything else. This affects everything from the size and shape of the tank to the type of equipment you need.
2. Compatibility and care of these fish It is very important to research the fish you want to keep properly. The best way to do this would be to buy a good book on tropical fish. The adult size of the fish would determine the size of the tank and the habits and care would tell you what equipment you need and how to set up the fish tank. This will also give you the opportunity to see if the fish would be compatible. If their care or requirements are too different, or their temperament is wrong, you shouldn’t keep them together.
3. Determine space How much space do you have in your home? What’s the biggest size tank you can fit? Determine where you want the fish tank, and see how much space there is. Include some space between the wall and the tank for cord, tubing, etc…
4. Determine your budget How much money can you spend? Remember that this money has to buy the tropical fish tank as well as all the necessary equipment, fish, plants, decorations, etc. If this is your first fish tank, keep in mind that this is a hobby you might decide not to pursue.
5. Select equipment Go to a local supplier, and discuss what would be needed for the setup you require (This is partly based on the fish you want to keep). Get prices for everything you’ll need (including the fish tank) – preferably from more than one supplier, so that you can get some comparisons.
6. Evaluate your budget against space constraints How does your budget compare to the costs you got in the previous step? Can you get a tank large enough for the fish you want to keep that will still fit in the space available? If the setup is too expensive, or the space to small, look at your fish selection again. Is there any specific fish that is causing a problem? If you can remove a single type of fish to fit the rest in the space you have available, how badly do you have your heart set on that fish? Make sure that all the fish you chose are available in your area. See if there is maybe a different place you can fit the tank, or whether you can increase the budget.
7. Buy the equipment Once you’ve sorted out your budget, space and fish selection, you can go ahead and buy the equipment. Do NOT buy any fish yet!
8. Set up your tank Once you have all the equipment, you can start setting it up. If this is the first time you’re doing this, expect to spend a few hours on this. Once everything is set up, fill the fish tank with water and let it settle for a couple of days to make sure that the equipment is working properly and that nothing is leaking. This also dechlorinates the water.
9. Select starter fish Select a few fish from your original list that is hardy, small and inexpensive. You only want to select 1″ of fish for each gallon of water, but you can determine this based on their current size – This is the ONLY time that you will base space required on the current size of the fish. The reason for this is the fact that the fish won’t grow significantly in the 4-8 weeks that the tank is cycling.
10. Cycle the tank Over the course of this 4-8 weeks you have to be particularly diligent and patient. Make sure you’re not overfeeding and that you are doing regular water changes. For this period, DON’T ADD ANY MORE FISH!
11. Maintain the tank Feed and observe the fish every day, Check the filter regularly, change 10-15% of your water weekly (and scrub for algae at the same time). Check all your other equipment, hoses, fittings, lights, etc at least once a month. And most importantly, Enjoy your tropical fish tank!

Now that you have a good idea of what to look for before getting started, I hope that you will get a tank that you can live with and enjoy for a long time.