Essential Supplies for your Fish Tank

Excited about setting up a new fish tank? There are endless possibilities for creating a beautiful aquatic ecosystem in your home or office and choosing the right aquarium supplies is one of the most interesting aspects of this hobby. However, it can be quite overwhelming for anyone to choose from the myriad options and products.

It is good to research which aquarium supplies are best suited for your aquarium as navigating the prospects can be highly confusing. But the whole process becomes much simpler once you understand the basics. And for all the choices available for a fish tank online, there is enormous information available online.

Here’s a small checklist to help you make sure that aquarium is in working order.

1. Water filter for Fish – A high-quality water filter and pump ensures the effective and efficient disposal of waste, water circulation and, recycling of the nutrients. There is a wide range of brands, types and styles to choose from. But irrespective of the choices available, the most important point to consider is how the filter performs in the areas of Mechanical, Chemical and Biological filtration.
2. Water Conditioner – It is important to have the right bacteria in the aquarium water. Bacteria is required to breakdown and digest the ammonia excreted as waste by the fish in your tank. Water conditioner is needed to inoculate your tank with the exact kinds of bacteria that initiate your system’s bacterial colonization and prevent the toxic build-up of Ammonia.
3. Aquarium Heater – you cannot neglect a good-quality aquarium heater if you’re setting up a tropical tank. An aquarium heater is essential as it keeps water temperate stable and within a safe range. Your fish will survive even without the heater, but an optimum temperature keeps them comfortable which means your fish will be healthier and less stressed. You can choose from a large variety of aquarium heaters according to watts based on your tank size.

4. Air Pump – An air pump is essential to maintain water flow as it promotes gas exchange between the air and water. Using an air pump keeps the water oxygenated, which makes it ideal for your fish to breathe. It also helps in uniform heating of water and prevents the formation of pockets of stagnant warm water around the heating element. You will find many good air pumps online on websites that sell discounted products.

5. Gravel or Substrate – Not only does the fish tank substrate assists with aesthetics, but it also serves functional roles. The gravel on the bottom of your fish tank filters offers an excellent surface for good bacteria to grow. The gravel comes in wide variety of sizes, colors and shapes and you must select the best size gravel depending on the type of species being kept in your aquarium. A bioactive substrate is also a great way to kick start plant growth if you want to keep live plants in your tank.

Keeping an Aquarium is a lot of fun and if you are prepared, you’ll surely find it to be a great hobby.