Having aquarium is a blissful experience but having the right one is more paying. Thus, when you go out to buy an aquarium choose the one that not just fits your aesthetic requirements but also your budget, space available, type of fish you want and more.
There are different types of aquarium available in the market depending upon the kind of fish you keep, water conditions, shape, size, material and various other factors. Initial cost and the long-term maintenance costs also govern the type of aquarium people choose for them selves. Starting from a single fish plain glass container to an intricate ecosystem of reef tank, aquariums are available in whole lot variety. The most popular type of aquarium is a fresh-water aquarium. This chapter discusses various options in fresh water aquarium and argues on why one is better than other.
Location
You must setup your aquarium where you spend most of your time but unfortunately such places have less available space so first consider how much space you can spare for your aquarium. You must choose a room where you will not only be able to view and enjoy the aquarium but also maintain it properly. There is a space bubble around an aquarium in a fashion similar to that in human beings. It should have enough "space bubble" around it. The location chosen for the aquarium should be such that it is close to electric and water supply. If it is not the case then while buying an aquarium you should consider getting some plumbing and electrical work done in your home.
Aquarium should be placed at a place where it does not receive direct sunlight. Also they should be kept away from heating and air conditioning vents and room entrances because they have the ability to adversely affect the thermo stability of the aquarium, which is a vital factor to have healthy aquarium ecology.
You should choose a location for your aquarium in such a way that where the aquarium stands that place is able bear the its weight. Remember, water weighs 8lbs per gallon so a tank carrying 20 gallons of water can weigh 160lbs without adding the weight of gravel, inhabitants and other aquarium accessories.
Size
Once you have decided on the location of your aquarium you'll know what are the space constraints. Many people suggest you should get the largest tank that is viable for you keeping in mind the space and cost you can afford. However, if you are a novice then you must start with a smaller tank. Say a 10 or a 20-gallon fresh water aquarium. It gives you a fair idea of how you should maintain your aquarium and make things work without a huge cash outflow. A usual 10-gallon tank cost about $10 and a 20-gallon tank costs about $ 35. The usual tank sizes are 10, 20, 25, 29, 55, 75 and 90 gallons. Once you have understood the water chemistry and fish care, you can get a larger tank.
Also, while selecting the size of the aquarium you must consider the minimum space required by the inhabitants to thrive in a healthy way. If you cannot provide that minimum space you must consider selecting another fish type. Remember, the larger aquarium you buy, better it would be for the health of the fish within it. This is so because larger water volume dilutes toxins better, making it more forgiving of mistakes. Also, larger aquariums cycle faster, making for a shorter stress period on fish.
The size of the aquarium also governs the maximum number of fish that can safely thrive in it. There is a thumb rule for deciding size of aquarium. It states that, thicker bodied fish require more space than a slim bodied fish. So you must select the largest possible tank as allowed by your space and budgetary constraints.
Against the popular belief, larger tanks are not that difficult to maintain when compared with the smaller tanks. First of all, it is easy to maintain water chemistry in a larger tank. This automatically reduces a lot of work. A regular partial water change requires just one more bucket of water than that required for a small tank. Since you already have the bucket and siphon ready and your hands are already wet, it means just a few extra minutes of time. Smaller tank need not necessarily mean easier maintenance. Larger tank would mean larger exposed surface area so more amount of dissolved oxygen in water. So in case of smaller tank you might have to invest higher on a stronger power head.
While buying Freshwater aquarium you not just need to consider the tank size but also the size of heater and filter as well and the amount of substrate. The heater size is generally calculated using a tool called heater size chart. It depends in variants like the size of the aquarium, average room temperature, average temperature of the aquarium and the average temperature required. In winters heaters can become quite treacherous so always keep an extra heater on hand. For tanks larger than 50 gallons, have two smaller heaters rather than one large heater. This way the heat gets more evenly distributed.
You can calculate the minimum required filter size using the thumb rule that all the water in your tank should pass through the filter at least four times each hour. Also if the size you insider buying is on the borderline g or a size higher than that. For example, a thirty-gallon tank requires a flow rate of at least 120 gph (gallons per hour). If the filter choices are either 100 or 150 gallons per hour, you should purchase the 150-gallon filter.
Ideally an aquarium should have 2 inches thick layer of substrate. The general mix of gravel and rock makes up for a pound of substrate per gallon of water. However, in case of an unusually shaped aquarium you may require less or more substrate.
Shape
Aquarium keeping is one of the most popular hobbies. As the therapeutic benefits of having an aquarium are being realized, more number of people like to incorporate an aquarium in their home and work place interiors. Thus, aquariums are increasingly being used for ornamental purpose. This has led number of creative innovation in shapes of aquarium that are far ahead from the conventional types. However, when you select an aquarium tank of a particular shape you must take into consideration certain factors attached with the tank shape and responsible for health of the aquarium inhabitants.
When you select a tank for your aquarium consider getting a tank that is wider and longer because such tanks are generally better than taller tanks of same volume. This is so because a wider and longer tank provides more air-exposed surface area that promotes oxygen exchange. Thus, ensuring better health for the aquarium inhabitants. For example it is better to go for a 75 gallons tank than a 90 gallons tank with same surface area even though it carries more water than the former.
For aesthetic purpose you can think about various aquarium with shapes like tall octagons, hexagons, cubes or cylinders. Though, the standard is a long rectangle, which looks larger than its actual size. It is very popular amongst the hobbyists.
The number of fish a tank can hold not only depends on the size of the tank but also it s shape. A rectangular tank is most popular because it allows enough surface area for oxygen exchange and enough long, open room for fish to swim. Thus, you should avoid tall thin tanks and prefer buying longer ones. The taller ones would require stronger aeration, meaning stronger power head elevating the initial investment and the long-term cost of maintenance. Moreover, taller tanks cannot bear as large fish load as shallower and longer tanks can do.
Material
Fresh water aquariums offer endless enjoyment for fish enthusiasts and serve as a wonderful centerpiece for a room. However, the market is laden with various choices of aquarium types. You can get one in glass or acrylic or some other not so conventional aquarium material but buying the one that suits your requirements the best requires a bit of market research. You can go for a plate glass or a Plexiglas aquarium. Each has its own pros and cons. Glass and acrylic were not used since the beginning of aquarium history. How they became popular, as aquarium material is an interesting story altogether.
Fish keeping, whether for gourmet or ornamental purposes has been documented since more than 4,000 years. Fish were reared in privately owned ponds and as these cute little pets moved indoors they found home in ceramic bowls. However, the modern aquarium, i.e. the glass aquariums did not come around earlier than the mid 1700s when Madame Dubarry, a mistress to King Louis XV in France, invented the fish bowl and the first sustainable glass aquarium came around in 1805 when Robert Warrington developed one.
Aquariums were a rage in Victorian times. At that time the aquariums were essentially glass construction enclosed within steel contraptions and bottomed with slate or steel heated from underneath with flames. They were caulked with putty to make them waterproof that they hardly were. The glass framework tanks were replaced by glass sealed tanks in the 1960s. Silicone adhesive replaced metal to hold together the glass frame. Then finally, in 1970s acrylic tanks came around.
You can choose a plate glass aquarium but its heavy, scratch resistant; have higher index of refraction, easier to break, cheaper per gallon. Yet acrylic tanks in spite of being expensive offer advantages of being light weight, unbreakable, having rounded corners that look very fluid and many more.
Pros of Acrylic Tanks
- Lightweight
- Crack resistant
- Easier to cut holes into to accommodate plumbing
- Can provide better views because of curved front corners
- Can come in many interesting molded shapes
- Provide better insulation
- Acrylic is clearer than glass.
Cons of Acrylic Tanks
- Higher cost
- Greater tendency to scratch
- Chance of changing appearance over time
- Need for increased support: Unlike the glass tank that requires support only along the edges, acrylic tank requires a special stand that provides support along the entire bottom of the tank.
Combinations
Buying a combination package that includes filters, lights, and heaters for aquarium along with the tank itself saves you a lot of time, money and effort. You can start off with your aquarium as soon as possible. However, you should be careful about the quality and price of each freshwater aquarium component in a combination pack.
Fish Needs
Before selecting a tank, the type and number of fish should be considered. Some fish require more space to thrive. For example an Arowana or Oscar cannot survive in a 10-gallon tank. However, you may buy the tank first and then decide on the type of fish you want to keep but you'll get the best aquarium keeping experience only if you decide beforehand.
Costs
A good freshwater aquarium has a setup cost between six and ten dollars per gallon of water in the tank. The beginners can do well with a 10 to 20 gallons aquarium so the initial setup cost is quite nominal.
Online Aquarium Resources
Here are a few websites where you can get the best online deals in freshwater aquariums.
- Doctors Foster and Smith: have a great web site with just about everything a generalist fish keeper could need.
- AquariumSource: stocks aquariums from 8 gallon BioOrbs to 870-gallon rectangular tanks.
- FishTankStore: sells Clear for Life tanks in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- MarineDepot: sells the VERY popular SeaClear Aquariums.
- Petco: also sells Marine land Eclipse tanks as well as SeaClear tanks.
- Tenecor: is also another popular manufacturer for acrylic tanks.
Besides these online resources you can get great aqurium deals in most pet stores. They sell full setups with everything you'll need to get started. Moreover, you can find great deals on used tanks and accessories at garage and yard sales.
For conclusion it is not wrong to say that no single aquarium is right for everyone. Thus, you must take care when you buy one for you home and office. How well you are able to keep you aquarium not just depends on the amount of investment you make on it but also on how much time you spend researching the correct set-up for the fish you choose to house. As you learn more about the kinds of fish species you can house together, you will need to consider certain aquariums decisions, such as:
- Location
- Size
- Construction
