How to Best Select a Fish Tank |
Owning a lively fish tank can add quality to your home or office, at a relatively low cost and a require a small amount of effort, compared to owning other pets. For most of the time, your fish tank will be self sustaining and will look wonderful, as long as you purchase the optimal tank for your location.
Fish tanks are being sold in numerous sizes, ranging from bowls to baby whale-sized 500 gallon aquariums. Selecting the right tank will make the maintenance job easy while keeping the fish healthy and vibrant. The following are the essentials for selecting the right fish tank you desire:
Fish Tank Location
The first requirement is location, since this determines the subsequent factors of tank size and shape. The typical fish tank is rectangular and would fit nicely against most walls, whereas, if you are trying to fill a corner, a pentagon, or similar shaped aquarium would look very attractive. For very small niches, such as a shelf, an ornamental tank is often ideal. It is also very important to factor in the tank's weight, plus the weight of the water, since a full tank would normally measure 12 pounds per gallon, therefore, a filled 20 gallon tank can exceed over 200 pounds. It could get messy if this aspect isn’t factored in.
Fish Tank Size
You may be surprised to know that the bigger the tank, the less work it requires, although it contains more fish in it. A large tank will have a diluting effect on contaminants and a greater surface area for the air and water to come in contact with. A small fish tank, containing a couple of fish and no filtration, will not survive very long unless you the water is being constantly changed. Clearly, an unrealistic chore.
Any fish tank cannot house more than a specific number of fish, otherwise the water quality will suffer. The accepted measure for fresh water fish is: 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water. This means that a 5 gallon tank should hold 2 to 3 fish and a 30 gallon tank up to 20 fish. Notably, saltwater fish are more sensitive to water quality and, therefore, it is necessary for the salt water tank to be at least 20 gallons in size. A Salt water fish tank should only contain about a quarter as many fish as a fresh water tank, therefore, a 60 gallon salt water fish tank will have the equivalent of 15 inches of fish (about 7 or 8 fish).
Fish Tank Shape
Fish tanks have quite a few shapes to them, ranging from the typical rectangular or round, but can also contain additional angles. The common rectangular aquariums are ideal for maintaining high water quality since the elongated shape creates a larger surface area, as explained above. Any other shaped tank will have a smaller surface, area, relative to its overall size, which would necessitate a solid filtration system and more vigilant monitoring.
Acrylic or Glass Fish Tank?
Keep in mind that the material used to construct an aquarium is an important factor as well. Glass does weigh more than acrylic, however, it is less pricey. Glass tanks are assembled using glass sealer, which can dissolve and end up as a leaky tank. However, additional sealer can normally be added to remedy such a problem, if it arises. Acrylic, on the other hand, can scratch more easily but, if maintained well, would appear even more beautiful than glass due to its seamless build. The acrylic material is 17 times stronger than glass, thus resistant to shattering, and is likely to outlast the glass version . Acrylic tank scratches can be polished off or brightened. Also, most acrylic aquariums are sold with a hood and lighting in place, which explains their higher cost.
It is essential to remember, when it comes to acrylic fish tanks, that cleaning it with ammonia is to be avoided since it will cause crystallization of the acrylic tank walls. In fact, cleaning any aquarium should be done with gentler compounds due to the delicate environment that your fish enjoy to flourish in.
Freshwater or Saltwater?
Choosing saltwater over freshwater tanks normally indicates that you can select from an array of fish that are more colorful, therefore costlier, as well as requiring more expensive equipment. Supplies, such as a good filtration, water test kits, and a protein skimmer, also means that a salt water tank is more expensive than a fresh water tank. Any added accessories and decorations, such as substrate and live rock, can additionally add to the total cost. After the initial setup process of a saltwater fish tank, the maintenance phase begins and should require no more time and effort than a fresh water tank. This would include a partial water change every month, and scraping of algae accumulations once a week.
Fish Tank Decision Time
When it comes to selecting a fish tank, you have to make a combined decision of: what fits, looks good, the type of required equipment and the price. Once you have considered all these aspects of setting up a fish tank as well as the rewards you expect to gain from it, you are ready to make an informed decision. Overall, it is recommended to get the biggest tank possible, based on your space and financial abilities. This would ensure that your fish are healthy and create a remarkable impression with anyone who sees your fish tank.
Fish tanks are being sold in numerous sizes, ranging from bowls to baby whale-sized 500 gallon aquariums. Selecting the right tank will make the maintenance job easy while keeping the fish healthy and vibrant. The following are the essentials for selecting the right fish tank you desire:
Fish Tank Location
The first requirement is location, since this determines the subsequent factors of tank size and shape. The typical fish tank is rectangular and would fit nicely against most walls, whereas, if you are trying to fill a corner, a pentagon, or similar shaped aquarium would look very attractive. For very small niches, such as a shelf, an ornamental tank is often ideal. It is also very important to factor in the tank's weight, plus the weight of the water, since a full tank would normally measure 12 pounds per gallon, therefore, a filled 20 gallon tank can exceed over 200 pounds. It could get messy if this aspect isn’t factored in.
Fish Tank Size
You may be surprised to know that the bigger the tank, the less work it requires, although it contains more fish in it. A large tank will have a diluting effect on contaminants and a greater surface area for the air and water to come in contact with. A small fish tank, containing a couple of fish and no filtration, will not survive very long unless you the water is being constantly changed. Clearly, an unrealistic chore.
Any fish tank cannot house more than a specific number of fish, otherwise the water quality will suffer. The accepted measure for fresh water fish is: 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water. This means that a 5 gallon tank should hold 2 to 3 fish and a 30 gallon tank up to 20 fish. Notably, saltwater fish are more sensitive to water quality and, therefore, it is necessary for the salt water tank to be at least 20 gallons in size. A Salt water fish tank should only contain about a quarter as many fish as a fresh water tank, therefore, a 60 gallon salt water fish tank will have the equivalent of 15 inches of fish (about 7 or 8 fish).
Fish Tank Shape
Fish tanks have quite a few shapes to them, ranging from the typical rectangular or round, but can also contain additional angles. The common rectangular aquariums are ideal for maintaining high water quality since the elongated shape creates a larger surface area, as explained above. Any other shaped tank will have a smaller surface, area, relative to its overall size, which would necessitate a solid filtration system and more vigilant monitoring.
Acrylic or Glass Fish Tank?
Keep in mind that the material used to construct an aquarium is an important factor as well. Glass does weigh more than acrylic, however, it is less pricey. Glass tanks are assembled using glass sealer, which can dissolve and end up as a leaky tank. However, additional sealer can normally be added to remedy such a problem, if it arises. Acrylic, on the other hand, can scratch more easily but, if maintained well, would appear even more beautiful than glass due to its seamless build. The acrylic material is 17 times stronger than glass, thus resistant to shattering, and is likely to outlast the glass version . Acrylic tank scratches can be polished off or brightened. Also, most acrylic aquariums are sold with a hood and lighting in place, which explains their higher cost.
It is essential to remember, when it comes to acrylic fish tanks, that cleaning it with ammonia is to be avoided since it will cause crystallization of the acrylic tank walls. In fact, cleaning any aquarium should be done with gentler compounds due to the delicate environment that your fish enjoy to flourish in.
Freshwater or Saltwater?
Choosing saltwater over freshwater tanks normally indicates that you can select from an array of fish that are more colorful, therefore costlier, as well as requiring more expensive equipment. Supplies, such as a good filtration, water test kits, and a protein skimmer, also means that a salt water tank is more expensive than a fresh water tank. Any added accessories and decorations, such as substrate and live rock, can additionally add to the total cost. After the initial setup process of a saltwater fish tank, the maintenance phase begins and should require no more time and effort than a fresh water tank. This would include a partial water change every month, and scraping of algae accumulations once a week.
Fish Tank Decision Time
When it comes to selecting a fish tank, you have to make a combined decision of: what fits, looks good, the type of required equipment and the price. Once you have considered all these aspects of setting up a fish tank as well as the rewards you expect to gain from it, you are ready to make an informed decision. Overall, it is recommended to get the biggest tank possible, based on your space and financial abilities. This would ensure that your fish are healthy and create a remarkable impression with anyone who sees your fish tank.
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