Freshwater

In This Chapter
Understanding filtration systems
Chapter 6
Equipment and Other
Technical Stuff
Looking at heaters and thermometers
Bubbling over with air pumps
Sorting through all those neat gadgets
Lighting up your tank
In the wild, a fish’s environment functions without equipment for one basic
reason: Mother Nature takes care of everything. You know the old saying:
Don’t upset Mother Nature. Well, unfortunately we have done just that by
placing our wet pets in a small, enclosed aquarium environment. That’s why
at home we need to replace the natural systems that we have taken away by
placing fish in captivity. Now that you have your aquarium tank and stand,
you need some equipment to keep it running smoothly. An aquarium’s equipment
is the lifeblood of the whole system.
In nature, ocean, river, and pond waters are heated and regulated by the sun
and seasons. In your home aquarium, you duplicate these effects by using a
heater, thermometer, and artificial lighting.
In the wild, currents remove fish waste and rain replenishes the water.
Natural bacteria help eliminate waste, plant debris, and other undesirable
materials. At home, you accomplish these necessary tasks with filters, water
changes, and other specialty equipment.
As you will see, aquarium equipment is vital to the health of your fish. It also
helps keep your water crystal clear so that you can enjoy the view.