This section of the site is devoted to information about various
pieces of equiptment used in fishkeeping. I will be covering both
saltwater as well as freshwater hardware. If you have any suggestions or
tips, etc which I haven't covered that you would like to share then feel
free to e-mail me or post a
message on the messageboard.
Full credit will be given.
Many pieces of equiptment used in fishkeeping are compatible with
saltwater as well as freshwater. Obvious things that fall into this
category include the tank itself, stands, heaters, thermometers and
powerheads. These things are made standard for either hobby.
Heaters are an essential piece of equiptment in most setups. The
exception to this is some coldwater tanks where the temperature remains
at a constantly suitable level without the aid of heating devices. Tank
heaters come in several different forms although the most reliable
and steady temperature keepers seem to be submersible glass heaters in
most people's opinion. Whichever way you go though, you will want to
ensure that the heater is adequate at keeping the temperature correct in
the tank as well as stable. Some people also opt to place two smaller
heaters in their tanks rather than a single large one in case one breaks
down.
Every tank should have a reliable thermometer. These can range from
cheap alcohol based thermometers to expensive digital ones. I personally
just use the cheaper alcohol thermometers which stick to the inside of
the tank and must be submersed in the water. I doubt they are as
accurate as some of the more expensive digital thermometers which have
sensors that are placed in the water, but they do the job and I doubt a
degree out either way is going to be as harmful to my fish as
forking out for a digital thermometer will be to my wallet.
Depending on your type of filter a powerhead or two may be
neccessary. Powerheads are used to ensure waterflow in the tank as well
as good gas exchange at the surface of the water. Both of these are
essential to a healthy tank and should be a concern for any
fishkeeper.
Good waterflow enables heat and oxygen to be distributed to all areas
of the tank and prevents dead spots. Surface agitation is also important
as it allows for gasses to be exchanged at the surface. This helps
oxygenate the tank as well as let less desirable gasses to escape.
Filters are essential for any tank unless large water changes are
maintained. Filters are another piece of equiptment that comes in many
different shapes and forms. They can range from simple sponge
filters and hang on filters to large canister filters. Regardless
of the filter you choose the most important thing to ensure is that the
filter chosen can handle the wasteload of the fish you want to
keep.
