Aquarium Gifts Under Five Dollars

Everyone gets algae someday, and the only way to get it off is by hand. Algae pads are inexpensive and always welcomed by any aquarium owner. If you have the funds, buy a couple of different types, or opt for a little fancier algae pad. A pad on a wand is nice, but a magnetic algae scraper is even better.

Unexpected ammonia spikes always seem to happen late at night, on the weekend, or on a holiday. Nothing is worse than seeing fish dying and not being able to do anything about it. Even though you hope that never happens, it's wise for fish owners to keep some Ammo Lock on hand for emergencies. Get your loved one a small bottle of it as an insurance policy. Your gift of just four ounces of Ammo Lock may save their fish someday.

It's a fact that many aquarium owners don't test their water as often as they should. An unexpected ammonia spike could kill off the fish before they even realized something was wrong. Having an ammonia alert can let the owner know as soon as something is amiss in the tank, so they can take corrective steps. For five dollars, or less, it's cheap insurance.

Aquarium owners don't always have a background for their tank, or if they do, they might like to change it to something different. If their tank is small to medium sized, you can purchase a background for five dollars or less. Not sure what to get? This background size chart will help you figure out what to get. One tip, most backgrounds are double sided, with a picture on one side and plain color on the other. Check out your friends color schedule in the room with the aquarium, and get a background that compliments it.

Every aquarium needs a thermometer, no matter the size. Large aquariums could use one on each end, to help the owner know if they are heating it sufficiently throughout the entire tank. The peel and stick variety are my favorite, but for accuracy you can't beat the old fashioned glass thermometers. Both are inexpensive enough for any budget.

Nobody thinks they will lose power, but it does happen. Filtration is a big issue when power is off for in an aquarium. One way to ensure the water circulates is to have a small battery powered air pump on hand. Shop around and you should be able to find one for about five bucks.

All aquariums have a light that must be turned on and off each day. Save your loved one the trouble of doing that by giving them an inexpensive timer. Any appliance or lamp timer will do - no need to by fancy features. All they have to do is plug the light into it, set it, and forget it. Check your local department or hardware store for sales on the basic model. Possibly the best five dollar gift you can buy for an aquarium owner. Check your local department or hardware store for sales.

If your friend has live plants, they can always use some plant anchors. Plant anchors wrap around the stem and keep the plants from being uprooted by active fish. At only two dollars, they are very affordable, and will be welcomed, as they are not always easy to find.

Aquarium owners have to add water to keep the tank full, as well as perform mention regular water changes. Every time water is added to the tank, it has to be conditioned to remove harmful elements. Needless to say, any aquarium owner can use a bottle of water conditioner. If you shop around, you can easily get a bottle for just a few dollars.