Questions about starting a nano tank (complete beginner)

[fishnoobie123]

Hi everyone, i'm new to aquariums but i would like to start. I don't know if this section is only for salt water tanks or also for fresh water, since i don't know which one i'll need so i'll simply post it here.
I have a few questions that i would really appreciate if someone could guide me in the right direction.

My plan is to get a 5 gallon nano tank. (20 gallon would be better but i'm on a budget and don't have much space. I plan to set the aquarium on top of my dresser so it would be too heavy for that.
What i would like is to put a lot of grassy plants on the bottom, a few rocks, some small shrimp and a few very tiny fishes.
Will this tank be big enough for that?

Budget is a big issue for me. So i hope to not spend more than $200 on this.
Can anyone tell me how much this set up would cost on average?

For this set up, do i need fresh water or salt water?

I saw some nano tanks come with a light. Does anyone know how much the electricity bill will go up from running this light?
Or is it very cheap like any other light/laptop that's plugged in all day?

Do i need a filter / pump / heater and other equipment? Will these equipment be loud? Because i will set it up in my bedroom so i do have to sleep in the same area.

Is it possible to put this nano tank on my dresser or do i need a special aquarium stand for it?

How much maintenance will a small nano tank like this require? I was hoping to change the water every 3-4 weeks.

i hope someone can answer some of these questions. Thank you!

PS: i attached a picture of a tank i saw on youtube, which is similar to how i want it. Lots of grass and a few tiny fish/shrimp with some rocks.

 

[andrewey]

Hey there! Welcome to Reef2Reef!

What you are looking to set up is a freshwater aquarium. There are some great videos with step by step instructions on setting them up, the equipment, and conditioning the water. For starters though, yes, you can do this for $200, yes you need some filtration (the videos will discuss the different options), yes you need a heater, you can calculate the cost of your particular setup by multiplying the total watts*hours/1000*local price per kilowatt hour, you will need to change the water much more frequently on that size of a tank- usually about once a week, dresser should be fine, some of the pumps are loud, some are not- you'll have to read reviews and pick ones that are quieter than others. Anyway, I would absolutely check the step by step videos on setting up a "planted aquarium".

 

[fishnoobie123]

Thank you! i will take your advice. I might be able to get a 20 gallon if it's not too expensive.
I'll have to find a way to put it somewhere though since an ordinary dresser can not handle all that weight.
Aquariums require a lot of knowledge! i'll go educate myself with videos. Thank you!

 

[andrewey]

No worries! If you can wait a couple months, petco will be hosting a dollar per gallon sale on aqueon tanks, so you could pick up your 20 for $20 + tax. I would also look at craigslist and buying used setups. As long as you know what you need/don't need, you can save some money on your filters, heaters, any substrate, water conditioner, cleaning tools, thermometers, etc.- as those tend to slowly add up.