Fish are often considered as being low-maintenance pets. While it’s true that fish don’t always need a lot of attention, setting up an aquarium may be a much bigger job than most people realize. A poorly maintained aquarium may be fatal to fish.
The options for establishing a stunning aquatic environment are almost limitless. So, please don’t be intimidated or discouraged by the many choices and goods available. Navigating the possibilities may be difficult, but the procedure becomes much easier if you understand the fundamentals. You can buy these basic aquarium supplies online. Well, if you are thinking of setting up an aquarium, then you may need the seven basic aquarium fish supplies as mentioned below,
1. Aquarium chemical:
An aquarium is a carefully regulated ecosystem that depends on “good” bacteria to consume and convert the harmful compounds generated by aquatic animals into safer chemicals that can be eliminated via regular aquarium maintenance. You’ll need to promote the development of these beneficial bacteria when you initially set up your aquarium. These aquarium chemicals are very important for your freshwater fish tank.
Some of the basic aquarium chemicals include,
Chlorine and chloramine: To make incoming tap water safe to drink, chlorine or chloramine is added. They poison fish. A water conditioner must be used whenever tap water is introduced to the aquarium to eliminate any chlorine/chloramine that may be present.
Ammonia: Fish are poisoned by ammonia. It is secreted by fish and introduces Nitrogen into the aquarium via their gill membranes. The “good” bacteria will convert ammonia to nitrite.
Nitrite: Fish are also poisoned by nitrite. It is caused by the breakdown of non-fish waste (such as uneaten fish food) and natural ammonia oxidation by “good” bacteria.
Nitrate: Nitrate is less harmful in the normal range, but high amounts over long periods may damage fish. It’s caused by “good” bacteria oxidizing nitrite in the environment.
General Hardness (GH): Soft water has a low GH, whereas hard water has a high GH. Although most fish can survive in a broad range of GH, certain species may be more susceptible to GH fluctuations.
2. Water conditioner:
It’s crucial to have the appropriate bacteria in your aquarium’s water. The bacteria required to break down and digest the ammonia produced as waste by your aquarium residents are inoculated with a water conditioner for fish.
Ammonia is a poisonous gas that may kill your freshwater fish if it builds up in the tank water. Using a water conditioner allows you to restart your system’s bacterial colonization and avoid harmful accumulation altogether.
So, we recommend you choose a water conditioner that removes chlorine, ammonia, and heavy metals from the water. When filling the tank with tap water and doing your monthly water changes, it should be utilized.
3. Plant fertilizer:
Plant fertilizers explicitly designed for aquarium usage are safe for your fish if you don’t overdose on them. Macronutrients like Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and micronutrients like Boron, Magnesium, Iron, and Copper are included in liquid fertilizers. These nutrients are necessary for plant development.
However, some of these nutrients, such as Nitrogen and copper, may be detrimental to your fish or invertebrates in your tank, such as shrimps, if they are present in high quantities. As a result, you should avoid overfeeding your aquarium plants with liquid fertilizers; adding liquid fertilizers once a week is adequate for a small, moderately planted tank of fewer than 55 gallons.
4. Live nitrifying bacteria:
Live nitrifying bacteria break down organic waste in the fish tank and offer natural biological aquarium filtration. They are added to the tanks to keep fish healthy.
Ammonia is converted to nitrite, and nitrite is converted to nitrates. Nitrifying bacteria colonize rocks, gravel, filter media, sand, and bio-wheels, among other surfaces.
Nitrifying bacteria (nitrifiers) are made up of two types of bacteria. Both are distinct, yet they are interdependent. The first strain settles when ammonia is present, whereas the second strain settles when nitrites are present. Because an aquarium is high in oxygen, germs need ammonia to survive.
Ammonia is produced in adequate quantities by fish respiration and decomposing food to maintain optimal operation. So, in principle, without ammonia, bacteria will enter a resting phase while conserving energy, ready to resume their activity whenever ammonia is available.
5. Parasite control:
If your fish seem to be sick or dying or have water quality issues, we recommend testing the water in your aquarium. This may be a sign that parasites are developing in the water and causing damage to your fish. So, what should you do if there are harmful parasites?
To help their immune system, use Anti-parasite chemicals/products or parasite controls. You may also check for water quality issues and remedy them as needed.
Infected fish gills make breathing harder, and most treatments deplete the oxygen level in the tank, so keep an eye out for fish gasping and consider adding more aeration.
6. Water testing:
You should test the water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate as you wait for your aquarium to cycle before introducing your freshwater fish using the water testing strips. Test strips may also be used to determine the pH, hardness, and alkalinity of water. Test strips will give you a decent overall view of what’s going on in your freshwater fish tank.
The essential readings to paying attention to on these test strips, particularly with a fresh tank, are nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Nitrite levels should be undetectable, nitrate levels should be as low as feasible, and a neutral pH is usually considered safe. On the other hand, freshwater fish may survive in a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5, depending on the species.
Researching the kinds of fish you want to keep is one of the essential things to do. Learn about their native habitat, the water parameters they need, what they eat, how much room they require, and how well they get along with other fish. This knowledge makes it much simpler to build the ideal environment.
If you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep them correctly, multi-test strips will be essential. In-tank testing monitors have recently gained popularity. The essential aspect of keeping aquarium fish healthy is maintaining appropriate water quality.
7. Freshwater fish food:
What you feed your fish and how much you give them is an essential component of ensuring that they live in a healthy environment. It takes a lot more than sprinkling a few flakes on top of the water a couple of times a day to provide a healthy diet for a fish.
Because various fish have different biology, they need different foods. If you have a variety of fish in your aquarium, feed them a range of meals, including floating fish foods, slow-sinking foods, and quickly sinking foods, to ensure they receive the nutrients they need.
