Selecting an aquarium tank is important for a number of reasons. The size of the tank, the number of fish you plan to have, the stand it will sit on, the location in your home were you plan to place the tank, the surface area of the tank are all items that should be considered when making a decision regarding which aquarium tank you will purchase. It is difficult to know were to start with all of these variables, however many people will start with two basic elements. These are the location were you plan to place your tank and the other is the number of fish you plan to have in your tank.
Location is important for a number of reasons. First, obviously you must have the room for your aquarium tank in the location you plan to place it in, you should consider how much sunlight will be on the tank since this will impact algae growth and the overall temperature of the water. In addition as careful as you are, invariably some water will be spilled and you will want to ensure that the damage this water causes will be minimal. Location for your aquariums tank is important for another reason as well. Your tank will be on display and you will want to ensure that the stand, the aquarium, the lighting all come together to enhance the room that you place your tank in.
Once
you have decided on the location for your aquariums
tank, you will have some idea of the maximum size that
you will be considering when you make your aquarium
tank purchase. The number of fish that will be in your
tank and the quantity of aquatic plants and other decorations
for your aquarium must also be considered. A general
rule of thumb for an aquarium is that your aquarium
will support one inch of fish for each four gallons
of water that you have in your aquarium.
Surface area is another consideration since the surface area of your aquarium has an impact on the oxygen transfer between the water and the air above your aquariums tanks. The greater the surface area of your aquarium, the more fish your tank can support. Large rectangular tanks are better than tall tanks since rectangular tanks have more surface area. Generally, consumers will purchase the largest tank they can afford and accommodate in their home. Once it is installed, it is a huge job to move it and / or change it to a new larger tank. Lighting, water pump and air exchange requirements are very important so you also need to ensure that you have an adequate electrical source somewhere close to the aquariums tank.
Along with your aquarium tank, the stand you purchase is the next most important to consider. Water is very heavy, approximately 8.4 pounds per gallon, so you will want to have a stand that will be strong enough to support the weight of the tank that you purchase.
visit our article index
