ABSOLUTE Necessities?

[Dudun]

Bought a 20gal bow front. The tank itself is actually acrylic.

I'm on a real low budget, and may take a few weeks for me to get this tank up and running. Defe. plan on live plants.

Now, what would you guys/gals suggest I buy first?

-Heater
-Filter
-Substrate

For substrate, I defe. am going with Eco-Complete, or pool filter sand. Not quite sure as of right now.

[newportjon]

I would buy the filter first.

[mroth_3]

Really it doesn't matter the order in which they are bought in my opinion, as it is likely you wont be adding any fish until you have all of them and have it cycled. I suppose filter if you had to choose one.

[AquaGem]

def. filter and heater, in that order. Does the tank include lighting? If not get a light before you get plants.

[Dudun]

No, no lighting what so ever.

I need to make a canopy for it as well. I got it for $15 bucks, so I'm not complaining.

[AquaGem]

Alright so your lighting depends on what plants you want. That is a good deal :)

[bluekrissyspike]

i'd say for sure filter first so you can start cycling the tank, since it takes a few weeks.

[tuchon35]

I would spend it on lighting.

[AshK]

comprehensive liquid test kit. you can print out a page to one for cheap online and try to get a store to price match.

[tuchon35]

You can pick up a new 24" 250 DE HQI metal halide setup for 100 bucks on ebay. I just nabbed one for my planted tanks. It is still than one Geissmann MH HQI DE light bulb. However that would mean you need to buy Co2 system.

If I were you, I would pick up at least a dual strip T-5 fixture for 50$ or a dual Compact flourscent fixture for $75. Just got the prices of ebay. You really don't need CO2 with either T5 or CF's. You will still get good growth, and healthy plants.

Substrate? I would get a bottle of Sea Chem Flourish, and Sea chem root tabs.
Filter? Depending on the bioload, you could get away with a $10 powerhead,
Heater? no side stepping those

For 65-100 bucks you could have a nice tank. The main thing is lighting, proper ferts, and maintence.

[krytan]

Do you have a test kit?
If not i would buy that first then the substrate then the filter and start cycling.

[tuchon35]

If you don't have a test kit. Go to any local fish store, and you can get it tested. If they use a dipstick test kit, they probably have no idea. If not, get a quality NO2 test kit, and a cheaper PH kit. After the cycle, NH3 can be detected by visible signs of poop, and dead things. Your GH/KH can be tested once, and it will stay the same unless you move, or you inject CO2, add CACO2 substrates or eco complete like substrates.

If your nitrates are good, everything will ususually be good

[Temeraire]

Of course actually measuring ammonia is better. If you go through a mini cycle for some reason your nitrates will be fine while ammonia and/or nitrites are spiking. :)

[Lupin]

Filter
Heater
Substrate

[Canuck]

I believe test kits are also an essential tool for fish keeping. Ammonia can be present without noticeable poop or detritus, (fish excrete it through their gills). Water parameters may fluctuate on a seasonal basis so gH and especially kH are important kits. CO2 injection will not have any meaningful affect on kH but the nitrate cycle can.

As far as what I would purchase first (though I think this is more a matter of opinion):
Filter and test kits (in order of importance) ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, kH then pH. Base line kH and pH can be provided by lfs.
heater
substrate

ps the substrate you can get anytime. Pool filter sand, pea gravel, traction sand, or play sand make fine substrates and are incredibly cheap.