Purigen has been one of my favorite products for years and I am always singing it praise to fellow aquarium hobbyists. The is a manmade resin compound that will remove organic wastes from the aquarium water. It will not remove trace elements or some discolorations, but it does remove protein. What sets it apart from many other protein removing products is the way it binds the proteins to the resin.
Many years ago, success in the aquarium hobby was far from guaranteed. There were so few aquarium supplies that options were limited, and the ones you had were far from easy to use. (The term "user-friendly" would not be used for at least another 50 years!) Once a hobbyist grew beyond the glass bowl stage, the next step was a fish aquarium, usually 20 to 60 gallons in volume.
New aquarium hobbyists are sometimes overwhelmed by the choices of aquarium supplies and concentrate on the minimum to set up their new aquarium. Most retail outlets will offer kits that include the basics; tank, top, light, filter, heater, thermometer, water conditioner and maybe a choice of substrate.
Setting up an aquarium filled with interesting fish at home is not a difficult task as long as you do a little planning ahead, and get at least some basic instruction from someone you trust. A couple of months ago our photographer and I put together a simple instructional video on how to set up a basic freshwater aquarium which is very well suited for the beginning fish keeper.
There is no simple “basic” set-up, as today’s aquariums offer a variety myriad types, sizes, and equipment. To keep your fish happy in an aquarium, however, there are a few basic rules.
Don Roberts