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" Fish can be perfect pets for families with small children. Like all pets, caring for fish can teach kids about responsibility, care and love of animals. But pet fish also contribute to a child&amp;#039;s understanding of nature and science. To keep the fish tank safe for its inhabitants, certain pet supplies are required. Below are 10 pet supplies that will go a long way toward making your aquatic friends healthy and happy.   1. Filtration system This is possibly the most important of pet supplies. All aquariums and fish tanks need a filtration system to maintain a healthy environment for the fish.   2. Air pump Aeration through air pumps is essential to the proper functioning of a fish tank. Without proper aeration, your fish will eventually die. Air pumps come in various sizes, depending on the size of your tank.   3. Test kit Because of the fragile chemical balance that must be maintained in a fish tank, the occasional use of test kits is important. These test the levels of many chemicals and minerals in the water including iron, copper and ammonia.   4. Automatic fish food feeder While feeding fish can be fun, the novelty does wear off after several weeks. An automatic fish food feeder can dispense the same amount of fish food at the same time every day, which is perfect for busy or vacationing families.   5. Salt water mix  If you choose to have a salt water tank with salt water fish (versus the more common fresh water tank), you will need to purchase a salt water mix.   6. Water heater The water temperature in your tank generally must be kept between 72 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish will become stressed and unhealthy if the temperature oscillates too much, or goes far beyond the recommended temperature. Water heaters are used to regulate the temperature of your tank, keeping the fish happy and healthy.   7. Live rock Live rock is comprised of bits broken from coral reefs and contains living organisms that perform biological filtration of the tank. It is also very beautiful, coming in various colors.   8. Lighting Depending on the type of plants you want, you will need a different type of lighting, from metal halide to LED lighting. Without proper lighting, viewing your beautiful fish is difficult.   9. Plants These are both beautiful and functional. They create a happy environment for your fish, and their colors and shapes beautify the fish tank nicely.   10. Gravel and sand  Depending on the plants you incorporate into your tank and the fish that you choose, you will want gravel or sand. Gravel comes in all different types and eye-catching colors. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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