| How to set up your home aquarium is a question | | | | tank is a hang over the back trickle filter. These |
| that occupies enough books to fill a library and is a | | | | are cheap and easy to setup. A more |
| vast almost limitless topic that is very specific to | | | | sophisticated option is a canister filter it basically |
| the species you would like to keep as well as the | | | | pumps water through an intake to a canister |
| desired overall size of the desired tank. Ultimately | | | | where there are several stages of mechanical |
| however there is a small list of things needed to | | | | filters and chemical compounds that the water |
| maintain a very vast number of species. | | | | circulates through as well as an area of material |
| An obvious need is the tank itself and a stand to | | | | primed to house the proper bacteria for natural |
| put it on. Tanks come in every shape and size | | | | filtration. There are several more complicated |
| conceivable, from small 1 gallon fish bowls to 8 | | | | forms of filtration but these are easiest for |
| foot long 400 gallon acrylic tanks. If your a | | | | beginners. |
| beginner and you probably are if your reading this, | | | | Depending on the desired livestock some type of |
| I recommend a common sized aquarium, | | | | lighting could be necessary. If all you intend to |
| something between 30 and 55 gallons is a good | | | | keep are fish than very inexpensive forms of |
| size. Very large tanks can be overly complex and | | | | lighting are sufficient. However if you intend to |
| expensive. Whereas very small tanks can be | | | | grow live plants, or saltwater species such as |
| difficult to keep stable. Whether the tank is glass | | | | coral or anemones very high powered intensive |
| or acrylic and what stand is chosen is mostly just | | | | and expensive lighting will be needed for |
| personal preference, but be careful about using | | | | photosynthesis. |
| unapproved pieces of furniture for stands, full | | | | Some other things you might need are water |
| aquariums are very heavy. | | | | movement and temperature control. Water needs |
| Likely the most important of the necessary | | | | motion to generate oxygen. There are many air |
| equipment is filtration. In its basic sense filtration is | | | | pumps and water pumps that range in power and |
| broken down into three types. Mechanical, | | | | price that will serve this function, the most |
| chemical, and biological, filtration devices use a | | | | modest setup usually uses a common air pump |
| subset of all three. Biological filtration is naturally | | | | and air stone that spits very small bubbles into |
| occurring, it refers to the bacteria that convert | | | | the water column. Temperature control depends |
| very poisonous compounds in the tank into much | | | | largely on the species but most species are |
| less poisonous compounds. This bacteria naturally | | | | happiest at temperatures between 74 and 82 |
| forms in all areas of the tank but filtration media | | | | degrees. If high intense lighting is used then it is |
| often facilitates it on purpose. Mechanical filtration | | | | likely that the tank will either naturally be in range |
| is the act of forcing the small particles of | | | | or need fans or water chillers (chillers are very |
| unwanted matter through an actual filter to | | | | expensive). But if your tank has non intense |
| physically remove them. And chemical filtration is | | | | lighting it's likely you will need a heater, aquarium |
| using a compound or chemical such as activated | | | | heaters are not particularly expensive and can be |
| carbon or ferric oxide to neutralized certain | | | | purchased at any fish store. Many more advanced |
| materials in the water. | | | | species require other things such as chemical |
| The most common type of filter for a fish only | | | | supplementation. |