Contents
How to Choose a Tank
Required Accessories
How to Decorate Your Aquarium
How to Set Up Your Aquarium
Live Plants
How to Add Fish to the Aquarium
How to Keep Fish Healthy
Aquarium Maintenance
The Most Popular Freshwater Fish
Tropical Fish
Cold-Water Fish
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Required Accessories
The following supplies are necessary in order to keep your aquarium water clean, warm, and oxygenated. Shop for them in pet and fish stores and online.
The Filter
Over time, the waste (nitrites) that fish produce will turn into ammonia, which is toxic. A filter can eliminate waste and prevent the buildup of ammonia in the water. There are three methods of filtration. Depending on the model you choose, a filter can provide anywhere from one to all three methods.
- Mechanical filtration: The filter physically removes dirt and debris from the water.
- Biological filtration: Bacteria that live inside the filter break down fish waste.
- Chemical filtration: Chemical cartridges, such as carbon packets, absorb harmful compounds.
Three of the most popular types of aquarium filters are undergravel filters, internal power filters, and external power filters.
Undergravel Filters
Undergravel filters consist of special grates that cover the floor of the tank and are topped with a layer of gravel. These grates come in many standard sizes and can also be custom-sized to fit your tank. One or two tubes connect the grate to an air pump or powerhead mounted on the tank. The pump creates suction beneath the gravel substrate that pulls the water down through the gravel. The gravel provides mechanical filtration, while bacteria that live in the substrate supply biological filtration.
- Pros: Inexpensive ($10–40) and require little maintenance, though you should clean the gravel substrate on a regular basis.
- Cons: Provides no chemical filtration. If water flow fails because of a dead powerhead or clogged gravel, water quality may drop quickly.
Internal Power Filters
Internal power filters work well in small aquariums. These compact, motorized filters fit inside the tank just below the water’s surface. The device supplies mechanical filtration, while bacteria inside it provide biological filtration. Some filters also have carbon cartridges for chemical filtration.
- Pros: Inexpensive ($15–35) and easy to use.
- Cons: Can be difficult to clean and maintain because it’s immersed in water. It also takes up tank space and can detract from the aquarium’s beauty.
External Power Filters
External power filters suit any size aquarium. Hang-on-back filters, which hang on the outside of the tank, work best in tanks smaller than 50 gallons (189 L). Tanks larger than 50 gallons (189 L) may need more powerful canister-type filters, which sit on a shelf underneath the tank.
- Pros: Easy to maintain because they are outside the fish tank. Provide both mechanical and chemical filtration.
- Cons: Prepackaged filter inserts don’t use beneficial bacteria, so biological filtration is compromised. Usually pricier ($20–100+) than other types of filters.
The Heater
Most fish intended for freshwater aquariums are tropical and require a water temperature in the range of 75–85°F (24–29°C), depending on the species. To ensure that the water in your aquarium stays within this range, you’ll need a heater, an electrical device that sits inside the tank to heat the water. Use a heater with a built-in thermostat so that you can control the water temperature precisely. Aquariums larger than 50 gallons (189 L) should have one heater at each end of the tank in order to heat the water evenly.
Thermometers
Water temperature can change quickly, and if the changes go undetected, they can be deadly to your fish. Even if your heater has a thermostat, it’s important to keep a separate thermometer in the tank, just in case the heater or thermostat malfunctions. You can use a traditional thermometer and attach it with a suction cup to a wall inside the tank, or you can buy a more precise (and expensive) digital model that stays outside the tank but is attached to a sensor that’s submerged in the water.
Air Pump and Airstone, or Powerhead
An air pump circulates the water in the aquarium, improving gas exchange at the surface and helping to maintain an even water temperature. An air pump is housed in a small plastic box placed outside the aquarium and is connected by a hose to an airstone inside the tank. The airstone is a porous object that emits a stream of air bubbles that helps circulate the water.
A powerhead can be used as an alternative to an air pump used with an undergravel filter. While an air pump pushes out air, a powerhead pulls in water.
The Hood
The hood is a cover for your aquarium. Most fish tanks are sold with hoods, though you can also buy them separately. The hood should be the same dimensions as the aquarium so that it covers the top of the aquarium completely and stops:
- Debris from entering the aquarium
- Water from evaporating at the surface
- Fish from jumping out of the tank
Lighting
Aquarium hoods usually include one or more built-in lights. When turned on, the light beautifies the aquarium and
helps plants perform photosynthesis. Most lights can be attached to a timer, letting you provide your fish with illumination on a consistent schedule.
Types of Aquarium Lighting
Standard incandescent bulbs give off too much heat. Use only fluorescent bulbs to light your aquarium.
- White fluorescent bulbs: A great source of light for both plants and fish.
- Colored fluorescent bulbs: Bring out the colors in tropical fish. It’s best to use them in conjunction with white lights to give plants a broad light spectrum.
Aquarium Maintenance Supplies
Once the aquarium is up and running, you’ll need a number of supplies for routine maintenance.
- Water test kits: Separate tests for measuring the pH, ammonia levels, nitrite levels, and hardness of the water in the tank. (For more on how to use and respond to these tests, see Aquarium Maintenance.)
- Bucket: A large, sturdy plastic bucket for changing the water in the aquarium.
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Siphon (with strainer):
A hose with a wide mouth covered by a screen on one end. It attaches to a pump and vacuums mulm (uneaten food and fish waste) from the substrate.
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Small net: To catch and remove fish from the tank.
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Algae cleaner: A wand with a scrubber at the end for removing the algae that grows on the walls of the tank.
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