Complete Shopping List 4ft Community SGD 1500 Guide: Family Tank
A 4ft (120cm) community tank at SGD 1500 is the most popular family-friendly build in Singapore — the size lets you stock proper schools without overcrowding, the budget supports reliable equipment without overspending, and a low-tech low-CO2 approach keeps maintenance to a Sunday morning. The complete shopping list 4ft community below covers tank to livestock with real Singapore retail prices. This cart from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park is the exact build we set up for families wanting a peaceful living-room centerpiece that survives weekly travel and irregular feeding.
Tank and Stand: SGD 480
A 120x45x45cm (240 litres) standard glass tank at SGD 280-340 from the aquarium tank range matches the 4ft footprint. For the stand: a sturdy 4ft wooden cabinet from local makers at SGD 180-250, or a metal stand at SGD 140-180. Floor load matters at this scale — 240 litres of water + tank + decor weighs around 320kg. Confirm your HDB floor rating supports it. Total SGD 480.
Filtration: SGD 320
The Fluval 407 at SGD 320-380 from the canister filter range rates for tanks up to 380 litres and handles a 4ft community easily. Alternative: an Eheim Classic 2217 at SGD 280-320 if the budget tightens. Stack the media: bottom bio-rings, middle ceramic noodles, top fine wool. Total SGD 320.
Lighting: SGD 200
A 120cm Chihiros WRGB II at SGD 480 is overkill for a community tank — go budget-mid with an ANS Hyper LED or Twinstar B-Line 90cm-extended-coverage at SGD 180-220. Adequate PAR for low-tech plants (Anubias, Java fern, Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria) without the algae headaches of high-power fixtures. Browse the aquarium light range. Allocate SGD 200.
Substrate: SGD 80
Inert black gravel or sand at SGD 2.50-3/kg, 15-18kg covers a 4ft tank to 4-5cm depth — total SGD 50-55. Or go semi-active with a single 9L bag of Tropica Aquasoil under sand cap for low-tech root-feeding plants — SGD 65-80. Skip full-tank active substrate at this scale; it is over-budget and unnecessary for community fish. Total SGD 80.
Hardscape: SGD 80
4-5kg of mopani driftwood at SGD 12-18/kg gives natural Amazon-biotope feel — SGD 60-90. Add 2-3 small dragon stones at SGD 8-12 each for visual anchors. Skip aquasoil-required iwagumi rock layouts — 4ft tanks suit jungle or biotope styles. Total SGD 80.
Plants: SGD 100
Low-tech community plants: 5-6 Anubias nana on driftwood (SGD 8/each = SGD 40), 3-4 Cryptocoryne wendtii (SGD 6/each), 2 Vallisneria spiralis bunches (SGD 5/each), Java fern on wood (SGD 12), and a few floating plants like Salvinia or Frogbit (SGD 5). All hardy, all low-light tolerant, no CO2 needed. Total SGD 100.
Heater and Test Kit: SGD 60
A 200W heater (Eheim Jager preferred at SGD 50-65, or budget at SGD 25-35). Singapore community tanks often run heater-free, but a 200W backup keeps temperature stable during AC-cooled rooms. API freshwater liquid test kit SGD 50. Total SGD 60.
Water Conditioner and Food: SGD 50
500ml Seachem Prime at SGD 25-35 from the water conditioner range handles 25,000+ litres of treated water. Food: Hikari Tropical Micro Pellets at SGD 12-18 plus a frozen tray for variety. Add small flake food and sinking pellets for bottom-dwellers — SGD 8-12 each. Total SGD 50.
Initial Livestock: SGD 200
A peaceful community at this scale: 12-15 Cardinal Tetras (SGD 4-5 each), 8-10 Corydoras Sterbai or Panda Cory (SGD 6-8 each), 6-8 Otocinclus (SGD 4-5), 1-2 centerpiece (Pearl Gourami pair or German Blue Ram pair at SGD 25-40 each), and 10-15 Amano shrimp (SGD 4-6 each). Stock gradually over 4-6 weeks after cycling completes. Total SGD 200.
Maintenance Tools: SGD 30
Algae scraper SGD 8-12. Python or budget siphon SGD 20-30. A net at SGD 5-8. Total SGD 30.
Budget Summary: Where the SGD 1500 Goes
Tally: tank/stand SGD 480, filter SGD 320, light SGD 200, substrate SGD 80, hardscape SGD 80, plants SGD 100, heater/test SGD 60, conditioner/food SGD 50, livestock SGD 200, tools SGD 30 — total SGD 1600. Trim to SGD 1500 by going Eheim 2217 instead of Fluval 407 (saves SGD 50) and stocking livestock gradually over 3 months instead of upfront. Where to splurge: filter and stand (load-bearing). Where to save: substrate (inert is fine), light (low-tech does not need premium PAR). Pair with a regular weekly 25 per cent water-change routine for stable parameters.
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Still Have Questions About Your Tank?
Drop by Gensou Aquascaping — most walk-in questions get answered in under 10 minutes by someone who has set up hundreds of tanks.
5 Everton Park #01-34B, Singapore 080005 · Open daily 11am – 8pm
