What was the best purchase for your first tanks..?

[Death Pony]

This wasn't a purchase, but my live plants. One of college buddies gave them to me and the help keep the water clean like no product can! I'm also about to get 16 baby java ferns off of the mother plant.

Best purchase would have to be an API water test kit.

 

[JakeH]

The meters take a while to adjust from dry, but once they are active the change is pretty quick. Again, these will NOT replace a test kit, but are good piece of mind every time you walk past the tank.

 

[AMG]

Larger and extra filters. You can never have too much filtration.

 

[tdkee1]

my 40 gallon sump with a external pump.
I keep everything in there. heaters, sponges, scrubbies, bio balls and air stones. out of view and it leaves more room in the display tank. adds more water volume. it's also a wet/dry filter.