Keeping aquarium fish is the art of creating an aesthetically pleasing aquatic landscape that is home to living beings – plants and animals. It’s a leisure activity shared by many people in this country, who often start with just one little goldfish. The desire to know more about these little freshwater or saltwater creatures can come on quite quickly, and a passion is born... A passion that can get expensive! The necessary materials to create and maintain your aquarium soon add up. At pricehunter.co.uk, thousands of listings offered by our partners are available to you: heating, maintenance, lighting, decoration, food, filters and of course the aquariums themselves. Everything you need to create a magical and fascinating aquatic world is there. Compare the offers and find the best prices for what you are looking for.

The aquarium: how to choose it? 

The range of aquariums of all shapes and sizes provided by our partners is extensive: classic, nano, ball-shaped or wall-mounted. To choose your basin, you first need to have a clear idea of the space you have available, the environment you want to create, and the number, type and specific needs of the species that will occupy it. All of this will define the size of your aquarium. The rule states one litre per centimetre of fish. There are numerous types of aquarium. Let’s take a little tour of the different options available to you: 

Community aquariums are probably the most popular option. They bring together several species of fish which can cohabit and which have the same needs (lighting, temperature, food). Most aquarium advisors recommend these to beginners, with an aquarium of 100 to 120 litres to start with. 

The biotope aquarium recreates a natural environment with fish adapted to this type of habitat. It requires an excellent knowledge of the biotope in question. 

You will then also be able to focus on one particular species or on a specific geographical zone. 

A nano aquarium is small: 30 cm maximum on the largest side. It is generally pre-equipped and is perfect for a child who wishes to take their first steps into looking after aquarium fish. 

The essential technical materials 

The filtering system 

This is an essential element in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem that you have created, guaranteeing that the water remains clean, healthy and transparent, to let you watch your scaly little friends grow peacefully. In choosing your filter, you need to consider the volume of your aquarium. A filtration system which is too weak will mean murky water. If the system is too powerful, it will create a current which could disturb your tenants. At pricehunter.co.uk, you can sort the offers to find the external or internal filter that you need for your aquarium in a flash. 

The pump system 

A pump is also an element which is vital for the survival of animal and plant species in your aquarium. You need to choose it carefully. As it purifies the water, it optimises the oxygenation and ensures that the nutrients are well dispersed. It is recommended that you choose it based on its power and speed: account for a speed of three times the volume of the basin. For example: for a 100-litre model, opt for a pump with a speed of 300 litres per hour. There are hundreds which are designed to be installed inside and others to be installed outside. Each pump emits a different noise level. Depending on the room where you will be keeping your aquarium, this is an important criteria which needs to be considered before you choose. 

Lighting

LED lamps, halogen or fluorescent tubes: find all the different types of lighting on our website at the best prices. Here, too, you will need to choose based on the animal and plant species living in your aquarium. As a rule of thumb, it is advisable to opt for 1 watt per two litres. This rule may vary based on the aquarium plants and algae species that you have chosen. 

Heating 

Heating is fundamentally used to maintain a constant temperature in your aquarium, which is defined by the species. If you have tropical species, the temperatures must be around 25° C, or even a little more. There are three types of heating: internal (immersion heater or heating cord), external or integrated in the filter. If you use a heating system, you need to check that all your equipment is working properly. The main tool for this is a thermometer – an absolutely essential piece of equipment for looking after fish! 

Decoration

Unleash your creativity and use the multiple aquarium decoration items sold by our different specialist partners. The background of the aquarium forms the backdrop for the environment you will be putting together. This is a simple picture or poster to be placed on the outside of the back wall. The next thing on the list is the aquarium gravel. This comes in various colour schemes to fit in with the rest of the decoration, but also in different granule sizes depending on each species. Complete your decoration by adding plants, shipwrecks, treasure chests and other amphoras if you so desire. To create an attractive effect, you can also find coral reef decorations and rocks which will also double as hiding places for your little tenants. 

Food and other accessories 

Once your decor is in place and everyone is settled in, the next step is to maintain your aquarium on a regular basis. The website offers you a wide range of equipment and maintenance products: nets, scrapers, automatic food dispensers, gravel cleaners and other aquarium accessories that will make maintaining the aquarium much easier. Pricehunter.co.uk will also compare the different fish food brands for you to ensure that the little world you have created stays in good health for the long term!