Basic Aquarium Equipment

It could be said that an aquarist is only as good as his or her equipment. Even though the equipment needed for freshwater aquariums is not as specialized as for saltwater aquariums, quality remains important. The following are just a few of the items that require particular attention when buying equipment for freshwater aquariums.

Tanks
It doesn't get much more obvious than this one. Acrylic tanks are probably a better choice for novice aquarists than glass tanks. The primary consideration with freshwater tanks should be size, and the bigger the better. Don't buy a tank that will overwhelm your available space, but the larger a tank is, the easier it will be to maintain.

Filters
An excellent filtration system is fundamental for an aspiring aquarist. Power filters that combine biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration and hang on the side of the tank are more forgiving than canister filters. As for size, if your freshwater tank is small (50 gallons or less), your filter's flow rate should be about five times the tank volume per hour. For larger freshwater tanks, the flow can be about double the tank volume per hour.

Aquarium Lighting
Freshwater aquarium lighting is there for both you and your fish. Your aquarium lights source will keep your fish alive and allow you to enjoy watching them swim about. A small freshwater tank requires only a single-strip, full-spectrum fluorescent tube, while larger tanks and heavily planted tanks should have twin tube strip fluorescents.

Air Stones
Air stones are useful little things that shoot air bubbles through your freshwater tank, increasing oxygen levels and helping filters work more efficiently. They're also inexpensive and add a cool visual texture to aquariums. Air stones tend to get clogged after a few months and need to be replaced at that time. They are available in different materials including ceramic and wood, but we like compressed glass bead air stones.

Aquarium Heaters
Fish are cold-blooded and need stable water temperatures to remain healthy. A reliable heater and thermostat are essential to avoid temperature fluctuations that can weaken a fish's immune system. Submersible heaters are better at distributing heat throughout the water. Large freshwater tanks should have two small heaters for better thermal consistency. To determine the appropriate heater wattage for your freshwater aquarium, multiply total gallons by four.