🧰Accessories for a Molly: tests, upkeep and budget
Molly : A 100 to 150 W heater, generous filtration, GH/KH tests and possibly mineral salts to reharden the water. Budget around 120 to 200 euros for a 100 to 150 L tank.
In short: 6 to 10 cm as an adult, 100 L minimum for a group, hard water between 24 and 28 °C. Active, sociable and a keen grazer, it enlivens the surface and decor all day in a female-dominant group. It needs warm, hard, alkaline water: in soft acidic water it quickly develops the shimmying disease.
Water tests: your dashboard
A drop-test kit (€15-30) is THE first accessory for a Molly tank: NO2 and NO3 weekly, GH-KH-pH at any doubt. Add a net sized to a 10 cm fish, a gravel siphon for water changes and a bucket reserved for the aquarium — detergent traces in a household bucket can poison a tank outright.
The Molly specifics
a battery backup air pump: at full stocking, a filtration failure is measured in hours.
The full budget, no surprises
An equipped 100 L setup (tank, filter, heater, lighting, substrate, decor, tests): expect €200 to 450 upfront, then €10 to 25 a month (food, electricity, conditioner). Second-hand often halves the tank price — only the filter and heater deserve to be new. Details on the full Molly profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which accessories are essential for a Molly tank?
Drop tests, siphon, net, dedicated bucket, an independent thermometer: the whole kit stays under €60.
What budget for keeping a Molly?
€200 to 450 to set up an equipped 100 L tank, then €10 to 25 a month in routine costs.
The guides that apply to you
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.