Needed before filling
Use the equipment planner to keep measurements and unresolved jobs together. A checked box means you have made that decision; it does not certify an installation.
Conditional on your setup
- Heater and separate thermometer
- For a heated setup, compare the intended water temperature with the coolest room conditions and use the exact maker chart. A gallon label alone is not enough.
- Air pump, airline and backflow arrangement
- An air-driven sponge needs a complete air path. Follow the chosen pump instructions; a canister or HOB does not automatically need the same accessories.
- Light, mounting and timer or app
- Check the lid, brace and mounting span. For a planted tank, resolve the intended plants’ needs and the maker’s output conditions before buying by wattage.
- Lid and openings
- Match the actual rim and brace, with room for hoses and cables. A nominal gallon label does not establish lid fit.
The planted equipment list adds the decisions specific to that setup.
Can wait until there is a reason
App controls, decorative backgrounds and duplicate accessories can wait if the basic plan works without them. Optional is not the same as useless: name the job an extra item will do before adding it. A backup air arrangement deserves its own outage readiness check, including power and the connected outlet.
Check the box contents before ordering
Write down what each chosen model includes and what must be purchased separately. A filter listing and a complete filtration system are different shopping lists. Open the exact equipment profile for media, mounting and upkeep, then put your amounts into the setup cost calculator. Leave an unknown price blank.
With the equipment decisions made, follow the setup sequence. Water moving through a new filter does not establish cycling readiness.