There is more to an aquarium than a tank, some water and some fish. There is essential equipment, needed to create an
environment safe for plants,fish and other aquatic animals to live. And then there are things that are a bit of an indulgence, like a sunken
treasure chest or colored gravel. Here is a guide and inventory of the essential equipment you need to keep your fish healthy and happy.
On the whole, fish tanks supplies are reasonably priced and you can experiment with the types of equipment that do the best
job in keeping the environment healthy and of course suit the look of the tank.
Common indispensable fish tank supplies include various types of filters, air pumps (internal or external), gravel, a fresh water testing kit and
a heater. These pieces of equipment are essential to maintaining your fish tanks.
Filters are used to control the water composition. This includes removing any chemicals that are commonly produced by fish waste, decayed food or
dead and rotting plant matter. Thechemicals would prove harmful to the fish and plant life if left unchecked in the tank. It is common for
filters to also cause the water to bubble through the mechanical pushing of the water. This has the effect of oxygenating the water which is
essential for fish to breath.
Air pumps are used to oxygenate the water for the same reasons as just described above. In the case where the filter serves this purpose an air
pump will not be needed. It is best to check with the manufacturer or seller of the filter system as you may not need to buy a pump.
It is always a good idea to know the size of your tank when dealing with equipment that is used to regulate the condition of the water inside the
tank. A filter might only have the capacity to serve a 10 gallon tank but your tank might be a 20 gallon tank. If it was fitted to your tank this
could cause problems for your fish at a later stage.
Gravel is an important part of the tanks natural cleaning system. Dirt, food and waste will drop to the floor and be hidden by the gravel or
allow bacteria to absorb and transform the waste material into less harmful substances.
Water testing kits are your way of checking that all the other components are doing their jobs correctly. It is important to test the water to
spot any problems that might be occuring with the filtration system for example.
The fish tank heater conditions the temperature of the water to maintain the health and survival of your animals. Many fish will require warm
water to survive and this this the job of the heater. In contrast some might require colder water than room temperature and the heater is
responsible for monitoring this and keeping the ater cool.
Most of these supplies are pretty cheap and will last for a number of years before being replaced so it is not a big sacrifice to kit out
your aquarium with this gear. As you become more involved with the tank and the life inside it you will no doubt want the best for it.
