| To ensure that your fish tank is running well and your | | | | of heaters: fully submersible and those that are |
| fish are in good health, you need to have all of the | | | | inserted in canister filter or pump. Your choice of |
| following aquarium equipment: | | | | heater will generally depend on your budget and your |
| Filters | | | | aesthetic preference. |
| The main job of aquarium filters is to keep the water | | | | Thermometer |
| clean by correcting unwanted changes to the tank's | | | | An aquarium thermometer is one of the cheapest |
| water conditions such as physical debris (dirt, fish | | | | but indispensable aquarium equipment. They are your |
| waste, uneaten food), toxins from decomposition of | | | | gauge if your heater is working properly. As the |
| organic matter like dead fish and plants, and | | | | temperature fluctuates depending on the time of the |
| undesired chemicals from additives and medicines. | | | | day and the season of the year, your thermometer |
| The type of filter you will need will greatly depend on | | | | will help constantly check the temperature so it can |
| the size of your aquarium, the type of fish you have, | | | | be adjusted to an optimum level according to the fish |
| and how large their population is. A complete filtration | | | | tank's requirements. |
| system needs to have all stages of filtration - | | | | Air pump |
| mechanical, chemical, and biological. | | | | An air pump basically provides aeration inside your |
| Lights | | | | tank. This piece of aquarium equipment is needed |
| Another aquarium equipment you need to install are | | | | since it increases water circulation to promote proper |
| aquarium lights. These will replicate the lighting | | | | gas exchange. An air pump is also used to power |
| conditions in the natural habitat of the fish. Since the | | | | aquarium equipment such as some types of filters |
| aquarium is often placed indoors, aquarium lights are | | | | and protein skimmers. |
| the only means to simulate the 12 hours of daylight | | | | Decorations |
| the fish need daily. This is so their behavioral cycles, | | | | Decorations are essential too. They have practical |
| like feeding and spawning, will remain normal. Note | | | | functions aside from their initial aesthetic uses. They |
| that insufficient lighting will cause poor growth, poor | | | | are useful in hiding aquarium equipment like filters and |
| health, lessened coloration, and fish stress. | | | | pumps, making your underwater scene look as |
| Heaters | | | | natural as possible. More importantly, decorations give |
| Since most aquarium fish are from the tropics and, | | | | the fish a place to rest and hide, thus preventing |
| generally, fish cannot produce their own body heat, | | | | undue stress. |
| you need a heater to make sure that the water | | | | You can put in plants, driftwood, rocks, corals, |
| temperature is as close as possible to their natural | | | | treasure ornaments, ruins, wrecks, and even |
| habitat's. More than that, the water temperature | | | | decorations that light up. Just make sure that these |
| should be kept stable as the fish will be stressed with | | | | are non-toxic. |
| fluctuating temperatures. There are two basic styles | | | | |