Equipment thatkeeps thetank thriving.
Buying guides for aquarium filters, heaters, lighting, skimmers, test kits and aquascaping gear, sized to your tank's gallons and matched to the fish, plants and corals you keep.
Equip by system
Tank, filtration, heat and flow, light and water testing. Size each to the tank first.
Set it up right
- 01
Aquarium Filter Media: Mechanical, Biological and Chemical
Mechanical media traps debris, biological media provides surfaces for nitrifying bacteria, and chemical media targets particular dissolved substances.
- 02
Aquarium Filter Types and Sizing: Canister, HOB, Sponge and Sump
Hang-on-back filters are simple and good for small to mid tanks; canister filters hold more media and stay quiet under the stand for larger tanks; sponge filters are gentle and cheap for fry, shrimp and quarantine; sumps give the most capacity for big and reef systems.
- 03
Aquarium Heater Controller vs Built-In Thermostat
A built-in thermostat cycles one heater around its set temperature.
- 04
Aquarium Heater Size Guide: Watts per Gallon and Controllers
A common starting point is about 3 to 5 watts per gallon, but the right heater depends on tank size, minimum room temperature and the temperature increase needed.
- 05
The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle: How to Cycle a New Tank
Before adding fish, a new aquarium needs a colony of beneficial bacteria that turns ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate.
- 06
Aquascaping Basics: Substrate, Hardscape and CO2
Aquascapes start with substrate and hardscape.
- 07
Freshwater vs Saltwater Aquarium: Startup and Running Costs
Freshwater tanks cost less to set up and run, need simpler equipment and are more forgiving for beginners.
- 08
Liquid vs Strip vs Digital Aquarium Test Kits
Test strips are quick to read by color chart, liquid kits use measured reagents, and digital checkers display a reading for selected parameters.
Aquarium Equipment questions, answered
What are the three types of filter media?
Mechanical media traps particles, biological media supports beneficial bacteria, and chemical media is used for specific dissolved substances.
Read: Aquarium Filter Media →What size filter do I need for my aquarium?
Many keepers aim for 4 to 6 tank volumes per hour of rated flow for freshwater, more for heavily stocked tanks.
Read: Aquarium Filter Types and Sizing →Do I need an external aquarium heater controller?
A built-in thermostat may suit a simple setup. An external controller adds a separate probe and control interface; choose for your equipment and monitoring needs.
Read: Aquarium Heater Controller vs Built-In Thermostat →What size heater do I need for a 20 gallon tank?
Aqueon's chart recommends 50 W for a 20-gallon tank when the target is 5°F above room temperature, and 100 W for a 10°F or 15°F increase. Check the maker's chart against your room's minimum temperature.
Read: Aquarium Heater Size Guide →How long does it take to cycle an aquarium?
Often several weeks; temperature, water conditions and system load affect timing. Established filter media may shorten startup, but verify progress with water tests.
Read: The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle →What substrate is best for planted tanks?
Compare the exact product ingredients and instructions. Root tabs can feed rooted plants, while liquid fertilizer adds nutrients through the water column.
Read: Aquascaping Basics →Animal welfare comes first
Every recommendation is sized to tank volume and the needs of the livestock.
Each guide says who the equipment suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The aquarium equipment index
- 01Tanks & filtrationNano to large tanks, stands, canister, hang-on-back, sponge and sump filtration.4 pages
- 02Heat, light & flowHeaters and controllers, chillers, planted and reef LED lighting, pumps and wavemakers.4 pages
- 03Water & testingFreshwater and reef test kits, conditioners, RO water, salt mixes and refractometers.2 pages
- 04Reef systemsProtein skimmers, dosing pumps, reactors, auto top-off and controllers.2 pages
- 05Aquascaping & careSubstrates, hardscape, CO2 systems, tools, automatic feeders and maintenance gear.2 pages
- 06Breeding & quarantineQuarantine and hospital tanks, breeding setups, livestock transport and battery backups for outages.0 pages