Before a beginner aquarist, there are always a lot of questions, ranging from such global ones as, for example, choosing an aquarium or which breeds of fish are compatible in one "pond" and ending with the use of various feeds. At the initial stage, when you have limited your choice to a certain aquarium, and may already have purchased it, you should be concerned about the purchase of additional aquarium equipment, which will ensure a trouble-free life for its future inhabitants.
An aquarium heater is simply necessary for any aquarium, especially when the air temperature in the room changes over a large range. Imperceptible for a person diurnal temperature fluctuations within a few degrees, can significantly affect the health and development of the inhabitants of the aquarium. It should be borne in mind that most aquarium fish come from tropical countries, so the optimum temperature for them can lie within 23 ° C - 28 ° C. To maintain the temperature at a given level around the clock, you can use a special heater that works in automatic mode, for this you only need to set the regulator to the desired values. The heater is selected taking into account the volume of the aquarium.
The compressor is no less important attribute of any aquarium. Aeration with a compressor sates the water in the aquarium with oxygen. Air bubbles create a movement of water in the aquarium, which distributes the temperature and oxygen-enriched water throughout the aquarium, compacts the soil, which contributes to the normal development of the root system of plants and bacteria that live in the soil. Through the system of tubes, the air from the compressor is fed into the aquarium and with the help of a sprayer at the ends enriches the water with oxygen. The compressor is selected in terms of capacity, taking into account the volume of the aquarium.
Filters are designed for continuous water treatment from uneaten food residues, aquatic life products, suspended particles (mechanical filter); inhibits the molecules of harmful substances (a chemical filter), and the microorganisms contained in the bacteriological filter convert toxic ammonia and methane into non-toxic compounds. Filters can be located both inside the aquarium and outside it and selected depending on the volume of the aquarium, the main feature of the filter - it must be continuously switched on.
The highlight of the aquarium is not so much for the opportunity to enjoy the views of the underwater world located in your apartment, how many to ensure normal biological processes in the inhabitants of the aquarium, especially in plants for which light is the basis of life. As a backlight, you can use both incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, and it must be taken into account that the main energy of the incandescent lamp goes to heat, so they must be located at a remote distance in order not to disturb the temperature balance. As a rule, incandescent lamps are used for lateral illumination, and more economical luminescent, for the top. The use of aquariums with a lid simplifies the organization of lighting, intensive use of which is sufficient for 8-10 hours a day. Selecting a backlight at the rate of 1 W of electricity per 2-4 liters of water.
Additional accessories, which are now quite a lot in any pet store, are no less important than the above main ones, designed to provide a healthy aquarium climate, so necessary for the comfortable and long life of its inhabitants.
First of all, the aquarium must be equipped with a thermometer to control the temperature. The choice of thermometers is great enough: starting from simple alcohol and ending with more accurate - electronic ones. Do not interfere with the installation of various feeders, both for dry and for live food, which allow you to localize food, reduce its consumption and contamination of the aquarium. Various cleaning devices, sponges, nets, water hoses, pregnant fish entrapies - all this and much more you can purchase in modern pet stores if necessary.
The choice of aquarium accessories is great, but at first the beginning aquarist has enough accessories listed above.