What supplies do I need to start a tropical freshwater aquarium?

What supplies do I need to start a tropical freshwater aquarium?

Marc Grover (Professional Aquarist) gives expert video advice on: Where should I put the aquarium?; What type of light does my aquarium need?; Should I use gravel or sand in my aquarium? and more...

The basic stuff that you're going to need to start a tropical fresh water aquarium are the tank itself, either a stand to put it on - which is the best way to do it - or a sturdy, level countertop if the tank is small enough. You're going to need a heater because these are tropical fish. They need to be kept at between 76 and 82 degrees and that temperature needs to be consistent. You're going to need mechanical filtration, but more importantly biological filtration. The main biological filter for a fresh water tank is an undergravel filter, and you can drive that with an air pump or a power head which makes the biological undergravel work. If you're only going to get one filter, you have to get biological because that's what keeps the fish waste not toxic. A mechanical filter is nice, too. That keeps the water a little clearer for the viewer and has some chemical filtration properties. You're going to need gravel. You can do anything you want with that, from natural to crazy, loud colors and any kind of decorations that you want. That can be ceramic castles to real pieces of driftwood and everything in between.