You can find good tanks and equipment at garage sales and thrift stores (although you should always give them a thorough check).

When you buy your tank, fill it with water in a protected, outdoor area (a garage or porch) and let it sit for at least 24 hours to check for leaks.

2torial #0705: Learn2 Set up a Freshwater Aquarium Choose your aquarium Most fish or pet stores sell an "all-in-one" aquarium package, but don't be so quickly swayed by the convenience. You should know what you'll need first. What size tank is best for your fish? What type of filtration system? You may want to mix and match. Start with the basics: the tank and the stand. A tank. Find one that's at least 10 gallons (38 liters), which is about one by two feet. With anything smaller, it'll be difficult to keep the water chemistry stable, and your fish will be too crowded. Avoid vertical-shaped tanks, particularly if you want live plants (light has trouble reaching the bottom). Horizontal tanks are easier to clean and provide more living room for your fish, since fish generally move side to side, not up and down. You also have a choice between glass or acrylic, and both have pros and cons. Glass is usually cheaper, sturdier and harder to scratch, but it can crack and it's very heavy. Acrylic is lighter and has less light distortion, but it scratches easy and needs special supports at the tank's base. An aquarium hood. This serves two functions: it covers the tank, preventing water evaporation and frisky fish from trying to make a break for it, and it holds the aquarium's fluorescent lights. The strength of the lights will depend on whether or not you want to grow plants (which usually need strong light). Some fish don't like it too bright, so again, choose carefully. An aquarium stand. A stand can be a table, a bookcase, an entertainment center or the like. Just remember it will have to support a fair amount of weight (a 10-gallon tank filled with water and gravel is about 100 pounds) and must be level. Step 3