Freshwater

Depending on the supplies you have on hand, you may need to purchase
more than one box. Most retail chain and sporting goods stores have a good
selection in stock.
Extra Tubing for Emergencies
Chapter 24: Ten Cool Aquarium Gadgets
As standard air-line tubing ages, it may become brittle and split or leak. You
should periodically replace the tubing that is attached to your equipment
(unless you want a free water fountain to suddenly spring up in your living
room).
Tubing is inexpensive and can be purchased in short rolls or by the foot.
Whenever we find ourselves purchasing supplies, we always pick up a little
extra air-line tubing because it never hurts to have it lying around. Tubing
can also double as a mini siphon in case of emergencies. Stick one end in
the tank, suck the air out of the other end until the water starts to rise, and
quickly transfer the tube from your mouth to a bucket below tank level.
You can buy soft tubing that is light blue in color, which blends in well with
your aquarium decorations. Soft tubing is easier to attach and bend than
stiffer tubing.
Aquarium Sealer (Flood Insurance)
If you wake up one morning and find that your living room floor resembles a
kiddy pool, then chances are one of your aquariums may be leaking. No hobbyist
should be without a tube of aquarium-safe silicone sealer in case this catastrophe
strikes. Besides, aquarium sealer is cool and squishy and fun to apply.
Unfortunately, in order to repair a leak, you must first drain and dry the tank
to allow the sealer to set properly. But in the long run, it is also better to
spend a couple of dollars on a tube of sealer instead of several hundred dollars
on a new tank. Once in a while, factory sealer will fail due to age, weather
conditions, and high or uneven water pressure. So make sure that you are
always prepared. (Or buy extra flood insurance.)
Gang Valves to Hook Up Neat Junk
Despite the fact that as caring hobbyists we always strive to create a “natural
environment” for our aquatic pets, we all fall prey at one time or another to
the uncontrollable urge to buy those cool-looking plastic aquarium toys that
do all sorts of wild and wonderful things.
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