Choosing a Tropical Fish Tank

Which Type of Tropical Fish Tank do you Need?

There are many different choices available when it comes to choosing a tropical fish tank for your home, you should take into account the size, shape and design of tank that you require before you make your purchase.

Depending on how many fish you intend to keep, you will need to decide on the size of your tank, if you choose a very small tank you will not be able to keep many fish, however if you only want a few small fish then a large tank will be a waste of money, most people at some stage will wish to increase their collection of fish and you should keep this in mind also.

What Size Fish Tank Should I Get?

This really depends on the space you have available and the type of fish you want to keep. Tropical fish tanks that hold less than 10 gallons of water are actually harder to maintain than larger tanks, they require more cleaning more often and can be harder to manage. A mistake that many beginner aquarium owners make is to buy a tank that is too small and purchase too many fish leading to overcrowing and disease in the tank.

A fish tank that holds over 15 gallons of water will weight quite a lot and you should take into account the amount of space you have available and the stand that you will place the tank on, weighing about 200 lbs it must be sturdy enough to hold it.

How Many Fish Can I Keep in my Fish Tank?

The general rule is that you can keep one inch of fish per gallon, so if you are buying young fish that are not yet fully grown you will need to allow for this in your calculations.  Fish such as pleckos can be bought when they are quite small but can actually grow up to 12 inches!

Beginner Fish Tank Sizes

Many people assume that small fish tanks, under 10 gallons are for beginners, this is incorrect, in fact small tanks are not recommended for beginners, they are ideally used for breeders and as isolation tanks.

Mid sized aquariums are the most suitable for any hobby aquarium keeper, these can range from  10 gallons to 30 gallons. A 15 gallon fish tank can hold about 14 small fish or 5 to 6 medium sized (2 inch adult)  fish. Simply calculate the adult size of the fish you require by inch to the gallon.  However you should remember that any ornaments, plants and gravel ect in your tank will also take up space and there will be less water in your tank. 10% to 15% of the space in your tank will be taken up with these and should be included in your calculations.

Types of Tropical Fish Tanks

There are many different type of tanks from small wall mounted tanks to coffee table tanks and free standing tanks that include the base.  The type you choose will depend on the location you have planned for your tank, remember that you will need power sockets located near the tank for supplying power to the filter and heater. 

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