| If you're determined and ready to begin setting | | | | tanks you will want to go with a "canister filter". |
| up your own aquarium, There are six important | | | | 4. Water testing kit and Thermometer are |
| fish tank supplies you will need for your aquarium | | | | another important factor for your fish tank |
| before you begin. Never be tempted to buy fish | | | | supplies. These measure the balance of |
| at the same time that you acquire your aquarium. | | | | temperature, Ph, Hardness, Alkalinity, Ammonia |
| There are many steps to complete prior to | | | | and Nitrite levels in your freshwater or saltwater |
| bringing fish to their new home. | | | | aquarium setup. Keeping both chemical and water |
| 1. The Tank, There are many fish tanks to | | | | temperature balance is the key for keeping the |
| choose from so choose whatever you feel | | | | fish healthy. There are many different kits |
| comfortable with and make sure you have | | | | available, So be careful what you choose |
| chosen a sturdy stand and designated area that | | | | depending on if you are going to use saltwater or |
| gets a lot of traffic for your tank. while any tank | | | | freshwater. |
| is acceptable, what some people don't know is | | | | 5.Air Pump/Air stone, Deciding if you need these |
| that the larger tank you have, the less chemical | | | | or not depends on what type of fish your getting, |
| and biological maintenance you will need to give it. | | | | what the shape/size of your tank is, and what |
| 2. hood/lid and lighting, you will need one that fits | | | | type of filter you get. Usually your filter will |
| your chosen fish tank. Most come with the | | | | provide enough oxygen for your fish, but it just |
| aquarium itself but depending on the size of your | | | | so happens live plants actually provide more |
| fish tank may have to look for one that fits your | | | | oxygen to your tank than an air pump. The |
| chosen size. what the hood does is it prevents | | | | choice is yours. |
| evaporation of water and protects fish from | | | | 6. Food, The type of food you buy relies directly |
| jumping out of the aquarium, it also keeps | | | | on the type of fish you purchase and I would |
| anything else from entering the aquarium such as | | | | suggest only feeding them once or twice a day. |
| dust and cats!. Lighting is not absolutely necessary | | | | Most of the time fishes look hungry, but You |
| but having one is natural for the fish as it | | | | should be careful not to overfeed your fish as |
| stimulates daytime and nighttime, It also looks | | | | fish can't self-regulate how much they eat and |
| much better with the proper lighting. | | | | could literately eat themselves to death! If you |
| 3. Filter,The Filtration systems are usually the | | | | plan to go out of town for more than one week |
| most complex component of the aquarium and | | | | you can get something called an automatic feeder. |
| also the most essential in order to create and | | | | They can be set on a timer to release a chosen |
| maintain a clean, healthy aquarium environment | | | | amount of food for your fish each day. |
| for your fish. There are three stages to filtration. | | | | I myself am a novice, not an expert fish keeper. |
| They are mechanical filtration, chemical filtration, | | | | While this article should be a good starting point |
| and biological filtration. Thanks to technology most | | | | for choosing your fish tank supplies, it should |
| filters take care of all of this for you with the | | | | certainly not be your only stop or source of |
| simple push of a button For smaller fish tanks you | | | | information. With that said, good luck with keeping |
| will want to go with "power filters" for larger | | | | fish, and I hope you enjoy your new hobby! |