As you have found this page to read about aquarium essentials, which means you have already decided to set up an aquarium at your home. This article will surely help you to know about the essential kits/materials need to establish a fish tank. Since you are new in this hobby, first of all you should have basic idea on which are the things you should accumulate to start your hobby. Let’s get introduced on the basic essentials of aquarium set up.

Tank:

The first thing you should arrange is aquarium tank. Your tank size will depend on which fish you are going to keep. Larger tank is better for fish health, since they can have more places to roam around. Always select a tank which will give more swimming space for the fish. There are two types of tank. One is acrylic and other is glass tank. However, I prefer glass tank over acrylic one.

Aquarium Stand:

Manage an aquarium stand so that you can keep your tank wherever you want to place. Using stand is safe for your aquarium. While selecting stand, keep in mind about weight of your tank. Make sure you are keeping fish tank on such a stand which will be able to tolerate the weight. Again, I prefer wooden stand for my aquarium.

LED Light:

Your fish as well as plants inside the aquarium need proper light for their healthy growing. Which light you will be using depends on which fish and aquatic plants you are going to keep. I prefer LED light because it is available everywhere.

Filter:

Filter is one of the vital essentials for the aquarium. Every aquarium must have a filter for the proper filtration of water. Filter is used to keep water quality at desired level. If your filtration system doesn’t work properly, fish will suffer from various diseases. Filter capacity depends on the size of tank. For example 25 gallon water tank need 100 gallon per hour filtration capacity filter. There are different types of filter like, hang on back filter, submersed filter. I prefer, hang on back filter for the tank.

Water Heater:

You should use water heater to keep your water temperature at desired level. Depending on the fish you are keeping, you should set temperature at different level. Most of the aquatic fish need temperature between 65-85º F.

Siphon:

Siphon is used to bring out water from the tank. Each week you need to perform water change. Siphon is very much essential kit to change your water. It can be used for cleaning the surface of substrate. Uneaten food and other debris are accumulated on substrate. Siphon will clean these and make your substrate healthy for fish.

 Substrate:

Every tank requires a substrate at bottom. Substrate can be various types like soil, stone, sand etc. Get your substrate inside after proper purification. Otherwise your fish may become ill if substrate is not healthy.

Bogwood and Plants:

Many aquarists like to do aquascpaing inside fish tank. Bogwood is one of the elements used in aquascpaing. Before you use bogwood, ensure that it is properly processed and will not harm the water of your tank. Many of us also like to have natural views inside our tank. Plants are the finest essentials to bring the nature alive for your fish tank.

Fishnet:

Sometimes you will perform routine maintenance work inside your tank. It is ideal to remove fish from the tank during maintenance work. Fishnet is handy in that case. In some case, you may need to remove breeder or sick fish from the tank. In that case, fishnet is very much handy to perform that job.

Water Testing Kit:

At regular interval you need to perform water pH level, ammonia and nitrate’s presence test.  In that case, you must have those kits available at your store. These kits are must to keep in maintaining a healthy tank.

There are few more things like knife, forceps, scissors, bucket etc which will be used in various maintenance works. If you have all of these close to your hand, you will be able to maintain a healthy aquarium for your fish.