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Equipment Info and Charts

Articles and charts about aquarium equipment, from aquarium weights and sizes, to heater wattages, to bulb lettters.
How Much do I Need?
Everyone has basic questions about how much and what size is needed when setting up an aquarium. Here is a quick overview about the size of tanks, heaters, filters, volume of substrate, complete with links to conversion charts.
Aquarium Sizes and Weights
This chart provides the physical dimensions of standard aquarium tanks, as well as their filled weight.
How to Select a Heater
Not sure what size of heater to purchase? These simple steps make will help you find the heater that matches your aquarium, location, and type of fish.
Aquarium Heater Guide
This guide provides instructions for calculating the proper size heater for your aquarium, using the size of your tank and the air temperature in your home.
Heater Types
Fish must rely on the temperature of the water to maintain their body temperature. That means that many aquariums require a heater, especially in northern climates. Here are the pros and cons of the different heater types.
Where to Place a Heater
Proper placement of the aquarium heater will assure that the tank is heated evenly. Here are simple tips for heater placement.
What do bulb letters mean?
Aquarium light fixtures come in a variety of sizes and shapes. If you had to replace your light bulb would you know what kind you have? There is some basic information printed on most bulbs, if you know what it means.
Aquarium Light Fixture Guide
Choosing the proper size fixture and replacement tubes/bulbs can also be a challenge, especially months later when you may have to replace a bulb and have forgotten what size you originally purchased. This light fixture guide will help sort out the proper size fixture and bulbs for your tank.
Equipment Failure in Winter
If the power goes out, or a heater fails in winter, the resulting drop in water temperature can be harmful to the fish. This article includes tips for maintaining heat in a cold climate when the heater isn't functioning.
Conversion Tables
A single printable page that contains conversion tables for temperature, volume and length. This is a great page to print and keep for quick reference.

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