5 Must-Have Fish & Aquarium Supplies

How many people keep pet fish? More than you think. In fact, they’re one of the most popular pets in the United States!

That’s not too surprising, though. After all, they don’t require as much attention as other pets. Having said that, there are things that you have to do.

For starters, you have to clean the tank on a regular basis. Neglect it and the water will get dirty, which can harm your fish.

Are you thinking of getting a tank? Not sure what fish & aquarium supplies you need? If so, you’re in the right place. We’ll be going over all the essentials below. Keep reading to learn more!

5 Fish & Aquarium Supplies That You Need to Get 

There are certain things that you need if you’re starting a freshwater aquarium. Here are some of them.

1. Filter 

Filters help clean the water of debris. Not only do they eliminate toxins, but they also remove organic decaying matter from the water. 

Not only that, but they allow for beneficial bacteria to grow. Put it simply, they’re the ones who break down fish waste and other organic debris. For tips on how to reduce aquarium food waste, visit Algae Barn.

2. Water Conditioner 

You never want to pour tap water directly into your aquarium. Why? It contains chemicals such as chlorine, which can be harmful to your fish.

What you want do to instead, is to treat it with a water conditioner. It’ll neutralize the compounds so that it won’t hurt the inhabitants of your tank.

3. Heater 

Chances are, you’ll need an aquarium heater. Basically, it’s a device that’ll help keep the tank water at a certain temperature.

Generally speaking, you want it to be between 75 to 85F. With that said, it does depend on the species of fish. For example, some may be able to tolerate colder temperatures.

4. Substrate

Substrate is the “soil” at the bottom of your tank. For example, you can get gravel or sand, the latter of which is preferred by bottom-dwellers.

Not only will it make your tank look nicer, but it’ll also benefit your fish as well. How? By providing healthy bacteria with a surface to grow on. 

5. Siphon 

A siphon is a tool that you can use to perform water changes. In addition to removing water, it’ll also get rid of any debris that’s in the gravel.

Generally speaking, it consists of two parts—a plastic tube that goes into the tank and a long hose that goes into a bucket.

Setting Up a Fish Tank 

And there you have it—five must-have fish & aquarium supplies. As you can see, there are a few things that you need when you’re setting up a fish tank.

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