AQUARIUM ACCESSORIES

Aquarium filters are critical components of both freshwater and marine aquaria.[1][2][3] Aquarium filters remove physical and soluble chemical waste products from aquaria, simplifying maintenance. Furthermore, aquarium filters are necessary to support life as aquaria are relatively small, closed volumes of water compared to the natural environment of most fish. Animals, typically fish, kept in fish tanks produce waste from excrement and respiration. Another source of waste is uneaten food or plants and fish which have died. These waste products collect in the tanks and contaminate the water. As the degree of contamination rises, the risk to the health of the aquaria increases and removal of the contamination becomes critical. Filtration is a common method used for maintenance of healthy aquaria.

Aquarium Water Pumps

Aquarium water pumps provide circulation without currents. Water pumps have higher flow rates (GPH = gallons moved/hour) than powerheads, making them ideal for large tanks - for currents, add 1 or more powerheads (for more on water movement see our full-length article).

We carry submersible and external aquarium water pumps for circulation or high pressure setups. Clean filters regularly - if they clog, your flow rate slows dramatically.
Selecting the right pump for an aquarium application can be confusing. Too small and it might not do the job. Too big and it might be overwhelming for the fish and produce too much heat. There are a few factors to consider when selecting an aquarium water pump:

Choosing a Substrate For Your Aquarium- Sand or Gravel?
Aquarium fish tanks are beautiful mini-ecosystems that depend on their substrate to thrive. This holds bacteria that keeps ammonia levels down and anchors aquatic plants. When choosing a substrate for your aquarium, there are several questions you need to ask yourself:

How much am I willing to spend?
What substrates are best for my species of fishes?
Is it difficult to clean?
Does it look good?

The two most common substrates are gravel and sand. These are economical and easy substrates to use. There are positives and negatives for having both, and it can be difficult to choose which one to buy. However, learning more about them will help you decide if you want sand or gravel.
Gravel

Gravel is probably the most common substrate used in fish tanks today. Here are the pros and cons of using gravel:

Pros:

Doesn't take long to prepare for placing in the tank- only a few minutes of washing and rinsing
Won't affect the water chemistry
Many different colors and sizes
Debris from fish and plants isn't as noticeable as it falls between the rocks.

Cons:

Harder to clean
Doesn't look as natural as sand
Can scratch delicate bottom dwellers, such as corydoras
Doesn't hold up plants as well

Sand

Sand isn't used in aquariums as much as gravel, but many aquarists prefer it. Gases can build up below the sand, so you will need to stir it up every once in a while so it doesn't become toxic. Here are the risks and benefits to having sand in your fish tank:

Pros:

Holds plants up easily as it is more compact than gravel
Easier to clean (just scoop up the debris on the top and change part of the water)
Looks more natural
Can be a better choice for some fish, like bottom dwellers and those that enjoy digging

Cons:

Can take a while to prepare for the aquarium as it will have a lot of dust mixed with the sand that needs to be rinsed out thoroughly
Debris from the water will land and rest on the surface of the sand, so you will need to clean it up often or it will look unclean
Some types of sand affect water quality.

In most pet shops it's easy to find a starter aquarium kit. It is a complete set containing aquarium, light, heater and filter. Most beginners would like a thriving aquarium with bold colours and a large number of fish. However, experience shows that a starter kit often provides low lighting levels so there are only few plants suitable to this type of aquarium. We have for this set-up chosen standard plants only!

Microsorum and Cryptocoryne are both slow growing and Echinodorus and Vallisneria to create volume in the aquarium. Limnophila is centrally planted, right under the light and is an example of a plant that grows fast and which helps creating a good balance in the aquarium.

TIP! By using AquaDecor products with plants like Microsorum and Anubias for the set-up, the aquarium will look more adapted from the start. These products require less light and they are already well established on root or lavastone.

AQUARIUM MEDICATIONS

Unfortunately, aquarium fish and organisms can get sick or injured too. Aquarium medications help you nurse your them back to health. We carry the most reliable aquarium medicines for bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections, as well as topical treatments for wounds. Aquarium stress (from overcrowding or improper water conditions) weakens fish immunity, slows healing, and is a main cause of illness, so make sure you are also managing stress in your aquarium.

We strongly recommend medicating sick fish in a quarantine tank, while performing water changes and thorough cleaning of your main tank. If you have to treat your main tank, stop carbon filtration first, then resume afterwards to remove the medicines from your water.