Why Is It Important to Get High-Quality Supplies for an Aquarium?

Deciding to get an aquarium requires some thought first. You should think about the types of fish you’d like to have and the size of the tank beforehand. While high-quality supplies and accessories tend to cost more money, cheaper supplies may need to be replaced more often. It’s best to purchase higher-quality supplies from a trusted aquarium supplier such as Aquatic Warehouse and stay away from aquarium starter kits.

The size of the aquarium you need depends on the type and amount of fish. The common rule is one inch per gallon, which means a two-inch fish would require two gallons. If you have rounder fish, they will require more room. It’s easier to keep the water chemistry stable in a larger tank, and it’s best to start with a 10 gallon tank for freshwater and nothing smaller than 30 gallons for saltwater. Regardless of what some stores might say, a 3-4 gallon tank is too small to keep most fish healthy. Even if you’re getting a goldfish, don’t get a 1 gallon goldfish bowl. That’s too small for even a single goldfish.

Water-testing kits are necessary. These kits check the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels. A pH test kit will be helpful as well. Fish flakes are the most common food for some fish, but you don’t want to only feed them flakes, and some fish require other types of food. Freeze-dried foods and fresh frozen foods are often a good option. Depending on the fish, live prey could be an option as well, but 95 percent of predatory fish can learn to accept processed foods so their aggression can be kept down and a copacetic tank environment can be maintained. If you go away for a few days, try not to use a vacation feeder if possible, as these can dissolve over time and change the water chemistry. You’re better off using an electronic feeder instead.

Heaters are important to have so the tank doesn’t get too cold, and this is especially true with most fish, as they are mostly tropical fish. These fish require the water to be around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The traditional aquarium heater is a partially submerged tube with heating coils, which needs to be unplugged during water changes, or it could get overheated and crack when new water is added. Submersible heaters stay below the water, and they tend to be higher quality and can stick to back wall, close to the bottom of the tank. These heaters keep better temperature because they aren’t exposed during a partial water change.

There are three types of filtration for aquariums. Every aquarium needs a biological filter, which decomposes the ammonia in fish waste. A mechanical filtration trap catches debris such as old food or plant detritus before they can turn into more ammonia. The last filter is chemical and is only used for short-term issues such as purifying tap water or removing unused medications. Larger tanks have powerheads, but smaller ones have air pumps to work with the filters. The air pump pushes bubbles into the water column, which keeps the “aerobic bacteria” healthy.

Whether you need an aquarium dosing pump, a heater, LED lighting, or another type of high-quality supply for your aquarium, you can rely on Aquatic Warehouse to provide only the very best options. Take a look at what we have to offer on our website, stop by our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call today at 858-467-9297.