Supplies for a 55 Gallon Fish Tank

Filter

• Filters are important components to fish tanks, as they not only keep the water clean and clear but filter out dangerous chemicals and allow for the growth of beneficial bacteria. There are a vast array of filters to choose from, with the most popular being the hanging filter. A hanging filter is external, and hangs on the back of your tank, sucking up water with a suction tube, filtering it through a filter medium (usually a bag of activated carbon), and then releasing it back into the tank via a ramp or spillway. Another type of filter is the undergravel filter, which is a tray with slits that is buried below your gravel and uses high-powered water pumps to suck dirt and debris down into the gravel. Tanks using under gravelfilters must have their gravel cleaned with a gravel vac much more often than tanks with other filters. The final popular filter is the canister filter, which rests outside your tank. It works by sucking in water through one tube, filtering it within the main body, and then dispensing clean water back into the tank via another tube. When selecting a filter, always make sure that it is large enough to handle a 55 gallon tank, as will be indicated on the filter's packaging.

Dechlorinator

• Dechlorinator is an essential chemical if you're using water from your tap. It is a liquid that, when applied to tap water (or any other type of water with chemicals in it), removes chlorine and other harmful chemicals. There are different types of dechlorinators, like Stress Coat, Genesis and Prime. It doesn't matter which one you use, just make sure that you add the appropriate amount (as will be indicated on the chemical's packaging) every time you add or change water in your 55 gallon tank.

Gravel, Sand or Crushed Coral

• Gravel, sand or crushed coral will act as a substrate for your tank, laying on the bottom. Gravel is the most popular type of substrate, but remember to rinse it under a faucet to remove any excess dust, dirt or other debris that could cloud up your tank's water. Sand is a good option for fish that enjoy burrowing or spend a lot of time on the bottom, like sting rays, which enjoy burying themselves. Before adding sand to your tank, mix it with water in a large mixing bowl. Crushed coral is the last option, and it is popular with saltwater tanks or in freshwater tanks that demand a slightly higher pH level (around 7.5 or so, depending on the fish). For example, African Cichlids prefer a slightly higher pH than most other fish, so using crushed coral as their substrate would be advisable.

pH Test Kit and Buffers

• The pH is very important in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. There are several varieties of pH test kits, but the most common uses a liquid that, when added to a test tube of your tank water, will change color according to the pH level. Always try to keep the pH in freshwater aquariums around 7.0, while saltwater fish prefer a pH around 8.3. If you need to raise or lower your pH, you can always use a pH buffer, which is a chemical that, when added, adjusts the pH for you.

Hood and Light

• A hood covering the top of your tank is necessary to keep fish from jumping out. In 55 gallon setups, you typically have two options. You can either use two small hoods, which when put together are long enough to cover the top of your tank, or use two glass panels and a long single light strip. It's really your choice and makes virtually no difference to your tank's lighting.

Other Supplies

• Additional supplies you will need for your fish include food, a net, decor, aqua wipes that allow you to clean your tank's glass without any dangerous chemicals, and an aquarium heater if you're raising tropical fish (goldfish and small koi do not require a heater).