Christmas Gifts for Aquarium Enthusiasts

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Christmas Gifts for Aquarium Enthusiasts
Gravel Cleaner, Heater, Battery Pump, Marine Salt, Compact Aquariums

Dec 8, 2007 Douglas DuHamel

Aquarium equipment and accessories make great Christmas presents. These items are inexpensive yet valuable to people who own fish tanks or want to start an aquarium.

Aquarium Equipment for Less Than $25

Simple gravel cleaners are non-mechanical and work by human siphoning power. They are perfect for small aquariums. For a healthy tank, it is important to remove the debris and droppings from the gravel. With this cleaner, scooping the gravel out of the tank is not required. Once suction is established, the gravel cleaner vacuums the dirt along with waste water which all go into a pail.

Aquarium heaters will lose their heating ability or will eventually burn out as they get older. Having a spare heater on hand is a good idea especially for saltwater tanks where any temperature fluctuation can bring disastrous results. Submersible aquarium heaters are very good because they don’t clamp on to the side of the tank which can interfere with aquarium lids. Heaters come in different wattage and most packages have a graph on the back to indicate which heater to buy according to the size of tank.

A battery operated external air pump for the aquarium is essential for maintaining aeration during a power failure. Water circulation ensures the fish are getting sufficient oxygen. If tank is already using an electrical air pump, it’s a matter of swapping them out. If the tank is equipped with an electrical power filter, aquarium tubing and an air stone or air bar has to be placed in the tank. It’s a good idea to buy tubing and the air stones at the same time as purchasing the battery pump. Don’t forget to buy extra batteries.

Aquarium Equipment for Less Than $75

For people with multiple tanks or a large one, there is a fantastic accessory that works as an aquarium gravel cleaner and water changer. They are sold with different lengths of hose (from 25 feet to 100 feet) which hook up to a faucet. When in draining mode, the tube is placed in the gravel in order to clean it and to drain the waste water into sink. When in filling mode, the water comes directly from the faucet that is set to the desirable temperature. This eliminates the need to haul water in pails.

For people with saltwater tanks, there is always the need to add marine salt on a regular basis. Buying a bag of salt is not a waste of money because it will get used up and would be truly appreciated by the owner.

To set up a beginner or for someone who is cramped for space, there are several all-in-one compact aquariums available. These acrylic tanks are not large and there is no guessing as to equipment to buy. These tanks are a great addition for desks, dressers or end tables. Some compact aquariums have been created for miniature reefs and many of them are sold in stores already equipped with reef, fish and water.


Buying Fish as Gifts

Unless you are an expert on aquarium fish, don’t buy livestock as gifts. Most fish in pet stores are babies and buyers tend to forget that many of these fish will get big and aggressive. Certain fish require specific tank conditions and many are incompatible. In addition, fish can’t be stored for long periods of time in the plastic take home bag from the store The best thing to do is buy gift certificates for a pet store. That way, sufficient research can be done and expert advice can be obtained by store personnel.
Gift Certificates at Pet Stores

A gift certificate can be used to purchase equipment, food or livestock in order to allow the hobbyist to select what he/she needs. Every fish needs food so a gift certificate will never go to waste!

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