Freshwater Aquarium - Essentials & Accessories

All freshwater aquariums require similar basics – a good tank, a solid stand, quality accessories
and maintenance tools. But to determine which kind of what items you need, first consider the
aquatic life you want to keep. Freshwater fish come in all shapes and sizes with wide ranging
requirements for their living conditions. Betta fish prefer smaller tanks with almost no current
while Oscar cichlids need lots of room to grow and can swim in water with low currents.
Understanding the needs of the fish you want will make choosing your tank essentials and
accessories that much easier.

Aquarium Furniture – tanks & stands

The size of your tank depends on a lot of different factors: how much space do you have, how
much weight can you manage (a gallon of water weighs nearly 9 lbs.), and most importantly
what kind of aquatic life you want to keep. If your only limiting factor is fish type, remember
that most freshwater fish require at least one gallon for every adult inch they are long; some
species like goldfish require more. Talk to an aquatic specialist to make sure your tank is large
enough to accommodate your fish.

Furniture Type Description

 Compact design and footprint
 Ideal for a limited number of small fish
Desktop tanks
 May include built-in filter and/or light

 Small, medium and large tanks available

 Larger tanks requires strong stands for support
Standard aquariums
 Glass or acrylic

 Includes tank and at least one of the following: filter, hood, lamp,
start-up conditioner, food
Kits  Filtration and lighting may be built into the system
 Great for first-time aquarists

 Made with wood, metal or both

 Reinforced designs to hold up heavy tanks
Stands
 May include supply shelves

 Stands designed with closed cabinet and shelves for storage

 Discreetly hides food and maintenance equipment
Cabinets
 Available in a variety of sizes to suit different aquariums
Furniture Type Description
 Two-piece set for large aquariums
Canopy/Cabinet  Cabinet holds supplies or equipment
Combo  Canopies frame tank and allow access to waterline

Hoods & Lighting

Lights brighten your tank so you can enjoy your fish throughout the day. If you want a planted
tank, you may prefer certain types of lights over others. Some kits include hoods and lamps, but
you can always customize your own setup with different light fixtures and bulbs.

Furniture Type Description

 Covers tank to prevent fish escapes and evaporation
 Often designed to house lights or bulbs
Hood
 Adjustable designs available

 Most popular aquarium lighting choice

 Great for most freshwater aquariums
Fluorescent bulb  Come in a wide variety of spectrums
 Some versions ideal for planted aquariums

 Ideal for planted aquariums

 May produce excess heat
Halide bulb
 Requires special fixtures for proper use

 Made with wood, metal or both

 Reinforced designs to hold up heavy tanks
Stands
 May include supply shelves

 Typically longest lifespan of aquarium lighting systems

 More energy efficient
LED lamp
 May allow for light color customization

 Inexpensive lighting option

 Easily found and replaceable
Incandescent
 Uses more electricity and produces more heat compared to other bulb
bulb
types
Filters & Media

Filters are key to keeping your tank clean and healthy. Determining the size of your tank and the
needs of your fish will help you decide what filter system to get. More powerful filters are great
for larger tanks, while smaller tanks or more delicate fish may require a less powerful filter.

Furniture
Description
Type
 External filter system with a variety of mounting and installation options
 Powerful pump for large aquariums
Canister filter
 Three-stage filtration media can be replaced separately

 Standard over-the-edge tank filters

 Available in a variety of sizes
Power Filters
 Replace filter media as needed

 Mechanical filters strain debris, waste, uneaten food, etc.

 Biological filters foster healthy bacteria that break down ammonia and
Filter Media nitrites
 Chemical filters remove toxins that cause odor and water discoloration

Climate Control

Freshwater fish have all different tolerances for water temperature. Some like it tropically warm,
and some like it cool. And it's not just a matter of preference – their environment impacts their
health and behavior. Learn about the type of fish you want to keep and what their ideal water
temperature is. A thermometer and the right equipment can help you keep your fish happy and
healthy.

Equipment Description
 Helps you monitor water temperature
 In-tank or external options available
Thermometer
 Digital options available

 Helps regulate tank temperature

 External and submersible heating options available
Heater  Ideal for tropical tanks or cool climates
 Adjustable thermostats offer precise temperature control

 Ideal for coldwater tanks or warm climates

 Typically used for larger tanks
Chiller
 Expensive piece of equipment
Maintenance & Accessories

Keep your aquarium in ship shape with these tank essentials.

Equipment Description
 Oxygenates and circulates water
 Create a stream or curtain of bubbles
Air pump
 Connect powered pumps to air stone with airline tubing and check
systems
valve to prevent backflow

 Cleans waste and detritus from substrate

 Change water while you clean
Gravel vacuum
 Variety of sizes available to suit your tank

 Cleans algae and other deposits on tank walls

 Specially made to not damage tanks
Algae pads
 Pads available for both glass and acrylic tanks

 Makes moving aquatic life easy

 Designed to safely catch aquatic life
Net
 Various sizes available to suit your aquatic life and tank

 Measures pH, ammonia, nitrate and more

 Provides a snapshot of the health of your aquarium
Test kits
 Scientifically accurate and easy to use

Water Additives

Water right out of the tap isn't ready to go into your tank. Conditioners, de-chlorinators,
beneficial bacteria and more help to transform your water into a fish-safe environment.

Additive Description
 Helps to control algae blooms
Algae removers  Keeps water clean and clear

 Provides tanks with healthy live bacteria

 Supports natural processes like waste breakdown and
Beneficial bacteria
tank cycling

 Neutralizes harmful chlorine from tap water

Chlorine & heavy metal
 Use when starting tank or preparing for water changes
removers
Ammonia & chloramine  Neutralizes harmful ammonia and chloramine from tank
Additive Description
removers water
 Condition water for new tanks or water changes

 Promotes growth in planted aquariums

Live plant additives  May include fertilizers and nutrients

 Increases or decreases tank water pH

pH conditioners  Ideal for fish that prefer slightly acidic or alkaline water

 Eliminates causes of cloudy water

Clarifiers  Conditions tank water

Décor

When all the essentials are in place, it's time to add the bells and whistles. Decorate your tank
with ornaments, silk plants, backgrounds and substrate of all colors to create a completely unique
look for your aquarium inhabitants.

Décor Type Description

 Wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and designs
Resin, rock & driftwood  Can provide hideaways or cover for fish
ornaments  Provides interest and enrichment for fish

 Plastic and silk fish-safe plants

 Creates a more natural look without the maintenance
Artificial Plants requirements of live plants
 Wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors

 Adheres to the back wall of tank

 Choose from natural or fun scenes
Backgrounds
 Gives the impression of depth and texture

 Variety of textures, shapes and colors

 Provides a surface for beneficial bacteria to colonize
Gravel & Substrate
 Sand, gravel and artificial substrates available

 An aquarium, to put it simply, is a container that can sustain fish and other aquatic
life for a longer period of time.
 Acquiring a good aquarium for your fish is not a very difficult job as long as you
give it some thought before you actually get it. There are some obvious
considerations to be taken into account.
  Setting up and fully stocking a good aquarium will take anywhere between a
couple of weeks and a month.
 The time that you spend with these basic steps will save you a lot of time and
trouble at a later stage.

There are several things to consider before you purchase an aquarium. How much time you
are willing to spend on the aquarium? What kind of aquarium do you want to buy? What is
the ideal spot for your aquarium? What kind of fish should you put in your aquarium? How
do you keep your fish and their environment healthy in the easiest and quickest way? How
much time would it all take to maintain? What should you feed your fish and how much?
What should you do when diseases strike? These are just some of the many questions that
you need to think about.
A good and well stocked aquarium needs quite a bit of equipment. Here is a simple list of the
items that you will need for a basic freshwater aquarium:

1. An aquarium tank
2. An aquarium stand
3. A hood
4. Lighting equipment
5. Air pump
6. Heater
7. Thermometer
8. Filters (internal or external)
9. Gravel
10. Decorations (optional, but interesting if you have these)
Maintenance items like scrubber, siphon tube etc.