We are discussing about the general setup for the Tropical and Coldwater aquarium. The differences between Tropical and Coldwater aquarium are assumed to be understood by everyone and hence will not be discussed in great details. Below is a break down of the comparison of the 2 type of aquarium.
Cold Water -Low Variety of Species, High Availability, Low Fish-stocking density, Low cost of set-up
Tropical - High Variety of species, High Availability, High Fish-stocking density, Low cost of set-up
Start-up equipment needed for both type of aquariums: 
- Aquarium Tank
- Hood
- Filter
- Substrate
- Water conditioners
- Test kit
- Thermometer
- Heater ( Tropical)
- Decoration
- Stand
Aquarium Tank
When you are choosing your first tank, take time before purchasing to make sure that you are 
buying the right tank for you and for you fish. Thereis a wide range of tank designs available but the one preferred generally is the standard rectangular shaped tank. This is because retangular tanks, being 2 or 3 times as long as they are wide, have a large surface area for the exchange of gases and the uptake of oxygen by the water. Also, better for them in terms of the swimming space it provides. Bigger is better for any aquarium, as even a large aquarium is very small compared to the natural range that any fish has been used to in the wild. The larger the tank, the most water it will hold and the more fish it will be able to sustain and support. It will also provide more stable water conditions than a small tank.
Below is a guide to stocking level:
ColdWater -- 2.5cm (1 in) of fish per 60 sq cm (9.3 sq in) of tank water surface area
Tropical -- 2.5cm (1 in) of fish per 30 sq cm (4.65 sq in) of tank water surface area
Note: Surface area of the aquarium if calculated by multiplying the length by the width.
Hood
Serve as a place for your lightings .Unless you are having a open concept set-up, it is generally an important part of the tank. Lower evaportation rate of the water, preventing dust from getting into the tank and avoid fish from jumping out of the aquarium are some important aspect of having a hood.
Filter
Filtration is the life-support system for any aquarium and is vitally important for the well-bring of the fish that live within it. Without exception, all aquarium fish need filtered water that is free from pollutants, which is left to build up can be hazardous to their health. Unfiltered aquariums are not safe for living fish since, unless the water is changed several times a day, fish become poisoned by their own waste products and may die as a result.
Type of Filtration( Specific info about filtration coming soon ):
Mechanical Filtration - This is carried out by passing water through media that are designed to trap particles and remove them from the water column. Mechanical filter media can be in the form of a sponge or fine wool, and are cheap and readily available. Most filters work mechanically, and the effectiveness of the process is indicated by the way the tank water clears.
Biological Filtration - This method harnesses the power of nature by providing areas within the filter where microscopic bacteria can live and multiply. The media should have a high surface area in relation to their volume, so that more bacteria can live within the space. All tanks will have some sort of natural biological filter either from the bacteria that live on the surface of the substrate or the surface of the plants.
Chemical Filtration - This process is where chemical pollutants and metals are removed from the water by special absorbant resins and granules. Once saturated, the media are normally spent so are then discarded and replaced. The most common form of chemical medium available is aquarium-grade carbon, which can remove dyes, odours and medications from tank water, as well as chlorine from tapwater.
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