Fish Tank Supplies

FILTER:Bigger is beter when it comes to filters. Your going to need a filter that can process the water in your tank every hour (gallons per hour rating). This is a list of the top 3 filters for your convience in order starting from apperent “best”. Refugium or wet/dry trickle filter. Canister (Fluval, Ehiem), Biowheel (Marineland) and (Aquaclear) standard hang-on-tank.

POWERHEAD: Circulate dissoved oxeygen though-out your tank. Providing more oxeygen in hard to get to places. Recommendation- Hagen Aquaclear.

HEATERS: I would recommend something that is completely submersible, and has a temperature that you can set. For a saltwater tank 30 gallons or larger, 2 heaters are recommended placing one on each end. This provides heating more evenenly, also your tank will have a back-up making it so the failure of 1 heater doesn’t have a impact on your fish. As a rule of thumb you want at least 5 watts per gallon and half that if using 2 heaters. When heating the water 10 degrees or more above the room temperature, double the watts per gallon. Recommendation- THEO UL Heater 300W.

LIGHTING: If you want corals of plants you want to upgrade your lamps to a 10,000K tube or a 50/50 actinic. Use a compact fluorescent or metal halide. These will provide more intense light for photosynthesis. Recommendation- Metal Halide and T5 Combination Light for Reef Tank

SUBSTRATE : Something made of aragonite will minimize the changes in pH and keep it from falling below 7.8. Most commenly used is crushed coral. Oolitic aragonite and aragonite sand is a very fine grained material. Prefrence depends on the size of the grain of the material.

SALT MIX: Synthetic sea salt is recommended for keeping only fish, Instant Ocean is available almost everywhere. Shrimp and yes snails, crabs, corals all require a higher quality mix.

HYDROMETER: This measures the salt that’s dissolved in water. There are two available hydrometers, one made of glass that floats on the surface more accurate and a plastic container that has a needle that rises and falls as the amount of salt changes. In a fish only fish tank 1.020 - 1.026 would be the ideal gravity reading. When inverts are concerned the reading would ideal at 1.024 - 1.026.

WATER TESTING KIT: minimum of pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. The API saltwater master kit, which has all these tests.

CLEANING SUPPLIES: elbow length gloves, gravel vacuum, 5 gallon bucket, large plastic container and powerhead for mixing the salt (to be done well ahead of water changes), algae scraper, razor blades for coraline algae and diatoms that like to attach to the glass.

WATER CONDITIONER: for removing chlorine or chloramine from your tap water.

PROTEIN SKIMMER: This removes dissolved and small organic materials that would normally contribute to the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in your tank.

GLASS COVER: Reduces evaporation and closes in the top of your tank that protects your fish for a number of reasons.

LIVE ROCK: This not only makes for a more natural appearance, it also provides hiding places for you fish and increases the biological filtration. The chances are pretty good that the live rock will bring some company with it that will benefit your tank as well.

CHILLER: Your only really going to consider a chiller if the following is affecting your tank. Metal halide lighting is increasing the temperature of your tank, or the water temperature regularly gets above 85. The water temperature should run 76-80.

Fish Tanks and Supplies as a focal point, are empowering as emphasis. Decorative colors and add-ons will definitely make an elegant design treatment in any room.

To some people, having a fish tank in the home may just be having a fixture to make the surroundings more attractive. Some people see fish tanks as just a part of interior decoration but fish tanks offer more. They offer another set of benefits apart from making a home look unique. Watching the fish in a well maintained and well designed fish tank is therapeutic. For one, fish tanks usually have a calm and serene effect that makes them irresistible to look at. Just by looking at the seemingly peaceful nature of an underwater environment, it tends to have a calming effect. You feel relaxed with a fish tank to set your eyes on. The wonderful miniature world can be hypnotizing to gaze at. You become less agitated and anxious having something beautiful to focus on.

Some cultures see fish as an expression of wealth, profit or fortune, even that the fish will bring good fortune to its master. Some simply captivated watching there underwater world teeming with life. Fish tank supplies, whether it is, decorations, lights, or the fish tank itself: add both to your enjoyment and the longevity of your fish.

The result: a true sunken treasure.