Clearly the main difference between aquarium supplies & pond supplies is their intended use. Pond supplies are for keeping the inhabitants of a pond healthy; while aquarium supplies are for keeping the inhabitants of a fish tank alive.
A pond is a more natural environment than a fish tank � in that it’s outside and pretty much subject to the vicissitudes of the British climate. It can and will be colonised by native species, including frogs, newts and toads. It promotes verdant plant growth and requires quite serious maintenance if you wish to keep it remaining decorative.
An aquarium, on the other hand, is an actively unnatural environment � often climate and nutrient controlled, and specifically designed to keep aquatic species that you would never see in the seas or rivers of the United Kingdom. As such, out of aquarium supplies & pond supplies it is likely you will buy more stuff to keep an aquarium going than you will a pond.
There are some elements common to both ranges. Pumps are used in ponds as well as aquaria, for example � and for the same reason. A pond is a small, self-contained body of water, which needs help filtering itself properly. It has neither current nor tide and as such must rely on human agency to keep it clean.
Both a pond and an aquarium rely on the quality of their water to keep their inhabitants healthy and well. As a result, aquarium supplies & pond supplies will always include items such as water testing kits. A water testing kit is used to make sure the water in your pond or aquarium is neither too acidic nor too alkaline, and that it has the required minerals and nutrients present in it for the animals which live in it.
Predation is a much higher risk for the inhabitants of a pond than for the inhabitants of an aquarium. A pond is a much less controlled environment. As well as colonisation by local species, it can expect predatory visits from cats and birds � particularly herons, which are adept at getting into back gardens to fish from ponds.
Aquarium supplies & pond supplies diverge somewhat here: the aquarium’s only requirement for protection is a lid, which is used to stop fish exiting and other things (normally the paw of a cat) from getting in. Ponds, on the other hand, enjoy a variety of supplies to help prevent predation, including nets and bird scarers.
The design of a pond or an aquarium is partly aesthetic � so it is important to remember that your aquarium supplies & pond supplies must not hamper your visual enjoyment of the installation. It is, however, also vital that you understand the frailty of the ecosystem you are fostering. You need to pick the right supplies for the job if you want your fish to live and thrive.
Number one on the list is the filtration system. Of all aquarium supplies & pond supplies, it is the filtration system that is most responsible for keeping the fish you keep in good fettle.
