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Accessories for your fish: useful, not gimmicky

Bowls, outdoor gear, everyday extras: the catch-all category hiding both the best value for money and the most useless gadgets. Our guides put fish accessories through the filter of real-world use.

The key point : A net, a gravel siphon and a backup air pump: three accessories under €15 each that save the day.

Our dedicated guides

• CO2 for planted tanks: pressurised diffuser or liquid carbon?

  Pressurised CO2 diffuser or liquid carbon for a planted aquarium: how each works, cost, precautions and which to choose based on planting density.

• Weekly aquarium maintenance checklist: the gear that changes everything

  The 20-minute weekly aquarium maintenance checklist: gravel vacuum, algae scraper, dedicated bucket… the smart gear and the essential steps.

• Filter media: sponge, ceramic, carbon… which ones actually matter?

  Sponge, ceramic rings, activated carbon, filter floss: what each filter media does, the right order to stack them and when to replace without killing the filter.

• Aquarium lid: stop evaporation (and flying fish)

  An aquarium lid limits evaporation, jumping fish and heat loss. Glass, hood or net: the options, prices and how to top up the water correctly.

• Aquarium lighting duration: the one setting that stops algae

  How many hours of light for an algae-free aquarium? 6 to 8 continuous hours, a timer, the siesta method: the precise settings that make the difference.

• Gourami: why it needs free access to the water surface

  The gourami also breathes atmospheric air thanks to a unique organ, the labyrinth. That changes how you set up its tank: surface space, gentle filtration and a well-thought-out lid.

• Should you turn off the aquarium filter at night? The clear answer

  Switching the filter off at night to save money or noise is a false good idea. Why the filter must run 24/7 and what really happens when you stop it.

• Diatoms: why a new aquarium turns brown

  A brownish, powdery film covering glass and decor in the first weeks of a new aquarium is almost always a diatom bloom, tied to available silicate. Understanding and managing this normal phase.

• Redox (ORP) Probes in a Marine Aquarium: Gadget or Genuinely Useful Tool?

  A redox probe measures the oxidising power of water, a metric tracked in reef tanks running ozone. Which setups actually benefit from this accessory, and can you safely skip it?

• Magnetic Aquarium Glass Cleaners: Glass or Acrylic, Which Should You Choose?

  A magnetic cleaner avoids putting your hands in the water, but not every pad suits every tank material. The wrong model can leave lasting scratches on an acrylic tank.

• All-in-one aquarium kit or separate components: which to choose as a beginner?

  All-in-one aquarium kit or buying components separately? The kit costs 20 to 30 % less, separate components last longer. Detailed comparison with prices.

• How much does an aquarium cost per month? Electricity, food and consumables

  How much does an aquarium cost per month? Allow 10 to 25 € for a 100-litre tank, electricity included. Item-by-item breakdown: heating, lighting, food, water.

• Second-hand aquarium equipment: what to accept, what to refuse?

  Second-hand aquarium equipment: tank, cabinet and decor are good deals, old heaters and ageing seals are to be refused. The complete checklist before buying.

• Programmable Timer for Aquarium Lighting: Why and How to Set It

  Switching the tank light on and off by hand eventually means a missed day and an algae spike. A programmable timer stabilises the photoperiod for a few dollars. Settings and mistakes to avoid.

• Sponge Filters for Shrimp and Fry Tanks: Why They're the Safer Choice

  Gentle flow, no intake risk, easy upkeep... sponge filters remain the go-to choice for shrimp and fry tanks. How to pick a good one.

• Best aquarium thermometer: suction, digital or wireless — which should you choose?

  Aquarium thermometer: suction-cup (3 €), digital probe (10-15 €) or wireless (20-30 €)? Accuracy, readability and budget for tracking temperature properly.

• Automatic Calcium and Alkalinity Doser for Reef Tanks: What It's For

  Hard corals consume calcium and alkalinity continuously: an automatic doser avoids the swings that irregular manual dosing causes.

• Water Clarifiers (Flocculants): How They Clear Up a Cloudy Aquarium

  A water clarifier clumps together microscopic suspended particles so the filter can finally catch them: the principle explained simply.

• Molly or Platy: Which Livebearer Fish for a Beginner Community Tank?

  These two hardy livebearers look similar on paper, but their adult size and water needs mean they aren't always interchangeable.

• ATO (auto top-off) in a marine aquarium: worth it or a gadget?

  An automatic top-off unit replaces evaporated water without shifting salinity. How it works, who really needs one, and what it costs.

• Buying a fish from a pet store or a specialist breeder: the real differences

  Price, health status, advice and traceability of fish: what genuinely sets a large pet store apart from a specialist breeder, and when to favour one over the other.

• Veiltails and long fins: what filter flow really asks of these fish

  Shortening a zebrafish's tail fin raises its critical swimming speed by about 16%. A measurement that reframes filter choice for long-finned varieties, bettas and guppies included.

• The ozone generator in a marine tank: what the research actually measures

  A study on a closed system quantifies ozone's effect on organic matter and water clarity — a clearer picture of what this equipment really delivers, and where its limits are.

• Reef tank wavemakers: does flow really change coral health?

  A field experiment on two coral species found that stronger flow raised photosynthetic efficiency in one but changed nothing in the other. Flow does not affect every coral the same way.

• UV sterilizers and white spot (Ich): what a recirculating-system study actually found

  A closed-system study measured 82.81% mortality in unprotected fish versus 1.33% with a UV sterilizer. A striking result, but not the whole story on how effective this accessory really is.

• How much does an aquarium fish cost to buy? Prices by species

  Fish prices at purchase: from 2 to over 50 € depending on species, rarity and where you buy. The guide to avoid unpleasant surprises.

• Bare tank, plastic plants or substrate: what a study actually found about the water

  Bare tank, plastic plants, gravel or sand: a study compared all four over two seven-week periods. Only one choice measurably raised pH, ammonia and nitrate.

• Strips or lab-grade kits: what a study actually found about their reliability

  Tetra and API strips, Salifert, Seachem and Hach kits: a study checked these brands against laboratory methods. Only one parameter turned out to be a real problem.

• Air pump bubbles: does their size actually change oxygenation?

  An aquaculture engineering study measured, bubble by bubble, what makes one diffuser more efficient than another at transferring oxygen — and what turns out not to matter much.

• Ceramic, foam or beads: does a filter media’s surface area actually decide its efficiency?

  A study compared three filter media with very different specific surface areas to measure their real ability to remove ammonia. The result is not simply a question of price.

• Cycling a new aquarium: what a week-by-week study measured

  A study tracked three home aquariums for twelve weeks to see how long a new biofilter actually takes to bring ammonia and nitrite under control.

• Disinfecting your fish net between tanks: what a study measured

  A study at a research fish facility compared several methods for disinfecting fish nets. Plain tap-water rinsing was not enough.

• Guppies or neon tetras: which freshwater fish should beginners choose?

  Guppies or neon tetras for a first aquarium? A comparison of temperament, water requirements, price and compatibility to help you choose.

• Protein skimmer for a marine aquarium: essential or not for beginners?

  Do you need a protein skimmer to start out in marine fishkeeping? How it works, cost and alternatives explained simply.

• Internal or External Filter: How to Choose the Right Aquarium Filtration

  Internal filter, external canister, flow rate, filter media: our complete guide to choosing the right filtration for your aquarium's volume, with real-world prices.

• Aquarium Heaters: What Wattage and Which Thermostat Should You Choose?

  How many watts to heat your aquarium? Our heater and thermostat guide: wattage, placement, safety and prices for a stable water temperature.

• LED Aquarium Lighting: Grow Healthy Plants Without Feeding the Algae

  Lumens, spectrum, photoperiod: how to choose an LED aquarium light that makes your plants thrive without triggering an algae outbreak. Guide and prices.

• Aquarium Air Pumps: Essential or Gimmick? The Truth About Oxygenation

  Does your aquarium really need an air pump? The bubbler's true role, when it genuinely helps, how to choose a model and prices: our oxygenation guide.

Accessories breed by breed: every fish profile covers this product family with that species’ own figures.