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What is every type of equipment/chemicals I need to run a healthy clean tank

ie.
graval vac
water tester
blah blah

I'd say the following at a minimum:

The obvious - filter(s), heater(s), tank!
Gravel vacuum
Test kits for ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate
Water ager
Nets - one for each tank
Buckets that are used only for fish
Some extra air pumps/air stones in case of emergencies where you need to increase the oxygen in the tank

It's sometimes good to keep a bit of a 'medicine cabinet' in case of sudden illnesses that need to be treated quickly. Personally I always keep a bottle of Melafix on hand, but I also have medications for ich and antibiotics for bacterial problems, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic like triple sulpha. I mostly have these as leftovers from past illnesses, and never use any of them except for Melafix, when a fish has a torn fin or something. If you have a good LFS fairly close by, you might just want to buy medications when or if they are needed rather than keep a supply of them. It's sometimes a bad thing to have them on hand because when you have a sick fish, the temptation is to medicate quickly with everything you have, and this can be very bad for the tank!

There are plenty of other things that you may need depending on what you do with the tank. For example, if you have a planted tank, you will need good lighting, fertilisers, and possibly C02, and other test kits.



The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

Freshwater or saltwalter, different equipment for both.

Fresh Water for a 55gal more comments will be appreciated. (Chemicals)

[span class="edited"][Edited by Graphite 2004-07-21 20:44][/span]