We are in the market for an aquarium for our home. Aside from buying the tank itself, what other amenities should I expect will come with the purchase of the aquarium?

Although silk plants look more natural than plastic varieties, there are some types that can appear quite natural inside a tank. Take for instance an artificial Ludwigia plant, or a hygrophila/cabomba plant. These are all great examples of artificial plants that look great in home aquariums.

I will attach some links so that you can easily find more about these plants below.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18480

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=7623

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19771

You need to take a few criteria into consideration before buying a filter for your aquarium. Afterwards, it will be easy to decide on a type of filtration system. Begin by considering your tank size and the type of fish you plan on inhabiting the tank. Some fish are dirtier than others and may need a stronger filter. Next you should consider maintenance (some require more than others). With these tips you should be able to narrow down your search field and find the right filtration for your tank.

Yes. There are both internal and external filters. External filters are normally hung outside the aquarium or placed under it inside the aquarium stand. Some of these filtration systems include power filters and canister filters.

This type of filtration system often includes components of all three types of aquarium filtration (biological, chemical and mechanical). They have a long life expectancy and are generally quiet. However, they are less ideal for lager tanks.

Although many aquarists choosing to use tap source to make up saltwater solutions and to top off a tank, tap water can lead to many water quality issues in aquariums. Using a water purification filter, buying clean natural sea water is an investment that will pay for itself in the long run.

Aquariums demand a moderate amount of maintenance. The filters need to be checked at least twice a week, you should change 20-25% of the water every week and remove algae from the tank. Essentially, if you want to ensure a long life to both the living creatures inside the tank and the aquarium itself, you should spend a few minutes every day checking the equipment and ensuring that everything is in good working condition and is clean.

A standard 55 gallontank needs at least 550gph of water circulation. The minimum acceptable water flow for afreshwater aquarium is 10x the tank volume per hour. For saltwater aquariums without corals, thereshould also be a 10-15x tank volume for circulation. As long as the pump you get follows theseguidelines, the itself won't matter.

There are a few guidelines to follow when buying an aquariumstand:

1. 1. Buy an actual aquarium stand, not a piece offurniture that you think you would look nice supporting the aquarium. Each gallon of water in your tank weighs 8 to10 pounds. The last thing you want is toput your aquarium on a piece of furniture that cannot withstand the immenseweight.
2. 2. Long tanks and stands are betterfor viewing while sitting down. Talltanks and stands are better for standing. Take this into consideration when thinking about the aesthetics of yourtank.
3. 3. Water can damage anymaterial you put it on. If you arebuying a metal stand, make sure it doesn't rust. If you are buying a wood stand, make surewater doesn't soften it.
4. 4. Make sure you leave roomoutside for skimmers and sumps.