How to Build the Perfect Aquarium

Choosing a New Home for Your Tropical Fish, Saltwater Fish,
Coral and Invertebrate

All it takes is one glance and the carefree motion of flapping
fins entrances us. Fish silently add beauty to every environment
and ask for a lot less in comparison to other pets. Of course,
choosing the right aquarium in a market flooded with products is
enough to make you dizzy. Factoring in location, available
space, and base support will make introducing aquatic life into
your home a breeze.

Choosing a location before you buy an aquarium increases the
likelihood of purchasing one that’s the right fit. Aquariums are
heavy and fragile. It’s a good idea not to lug them around while
you decide where the aquarium will look its best. When selecting
the tank’s location, consider the aesthetics of your
environment. Will your aquarium easily be seen? Would it compete
for attention with other décor, or be complemented by it?

Selecting a location is not all aesthetics. Avoid direct
sunlight and airy drafts that can affect your tank’s
temperature. Save some extra “breathing room” around the
aquarium for maintenance and cleaning. For safety’s sake, you
should also keep the aquarium clear of high traffic areas. After
deciding on a location, carefully measure the space to determine
how much aquarium can fit into it. Great Danes are wonderful
dogs, but they are not so great in studio apartments. This same
theory applies to aquariums. With your location in mind and
measurements in hand, you are ready to purchase an aquarium. You
are certain to find several that will fit comfortably into your
space.

Water chemistry and temperature are best stabilized in larger
volumes of water, so it’s best to get the largest tank that your
space and budget will allow. However, do not select an aquarium
by water volume alone. Surface area is also a critical factor to
consider. A tall twenty-gallon tank is very different from a
short one that is twenty gallons. Taller tanks may take up less
space, but they do not have the surface area relative to the
water volume. This results in a low rate of gas exchange that is
unhealthy for fish. Twenty to thirty-gallon tanks are ideal for
those new to keeping fish and they allow for a nice selection of
fish.

Aquariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are
constructed of either glass or acrylic. Glass tanks are less
expensive and are easier to clean. By nature, they are also more
apt to crack and break. Glass aquariums were once only available
in rectangular shapes that are still popular today. They also
now come in octagon and hexagon models. Acrylic aquariums, on
the other hand, offer more shapes and sizes than their glass
counterparts. The strength of the acrylic also allows the
material to flex upon impact rather than break. Acrylic aquarium
owners can boast of a clearer tank and one that is easier to
lift, which may offset their aggravation from the tank’s
tendency to scratch. (These scratches can be buffed out with
scratch-remover kits.) Many acrylic tanks come equipped with
covers and fluorescent fixtures, something that you would
normally purchase with your aquarium. Glass tanks, while less
expensive, typically are not packaged with cover. Consider this
when doing price comparisons.

You’ve got the perfect aquarium in sight and accessories in your
shopping cart, but your purchase is still incomplete. On what
will your tank sit? Too many new aquarium owners (and some naïve
experienced ones) mistake household furniture for tank stands. A
modest twenty-gallon tank weighs over two hundred pounds once it
is filled with water. If your table or bookstand is not sturdy
enough for a football player to sit on, then it is certainly not
enough support for an aquarium? Support for your aquarium also
differs according to its construction. For glass aquariums,
choose a stand that supports the outside of the aquarium.
Acrylic tanks require full support along the bottom, so choose
accordingly. With support in place for your new aquarium, you
have everything you need to start making a home for your new
aquatic friends.

Copyright 2006

Reef Saltwateraquarium

http://www.reefsaltwateraquarium.com