Gasleak;4250664; said:
Okay, so it makes it crystal clear water? If so then great.
A filter is not so much about making the water look crystal clear, it is for holding the good bacteria that turns fish poo and uneaten food (ammonia which poisons fish) into a less harmful substance(nitrite/nitrate). At high concentrates nitrate is bad for fish, therefore you must do a water change. A water change pretty much the only way to lower nitrates. I suggest a 20% water change once a week.
Since you said you have no experience with fish before I suggest you read about cycling a tank, as well as how the nitrogen cycle works. You should also get a water test kit that has tests for Ammonia, Nitrate and nitrite.
Keeping fish alive and happy is fairly easy.
As for items needed
Water straight from your tap has choromide or chlorine in it. Your state/city adds it to the water to kill bacteria and make it safer to drink. But remember you NEED the good bacteria in your filter to break down that ammonia.
So you need to add some chemicals that neutralize the chlorine so it doesn't kill all the good stuff in your filter.
The product I use and likely most people on the site use is called Prime, and it is made by Seachem.
It also helps protect the fishes slime coat.
You will also need a water change hose/siphon for cleaning your sand or gravel.
As for heat most tropical fish are happy at around 75-80F, but it does depend on the fish.
I would start off with gravel in your tank because sand can require more maintenance, gas pockets can develop under the sand so you must stir it up every so often.
With gravel you just need to use your siphon when you do a water change.
