Tips For Choosing An AquariumA wide range of sizes and shapes of aquariums are available to you, as well as a choice of glass or acrylic aquariums, so how do you choose the best aquarium for your home and for the fish you intend to keep? We have put together a guide to help you to choose the perfect aquarium. Where to Locate Your AquariumThe first thing to decide before you make a purchase is the location for your new aquarium. You must take account of the final weight of the aquarium when filled with water if you intend to place it on a shelf or table. A twenty gallon tank, once filled, will weigh about two hundred pounds! Do you need a stand or a specially designed cabinet? Aquarium SizeAquariums for the home come in a huge range of sizes from tiny glass bowls to huge five hundred gallon tanks. You will want an aquarium that is the right size for your home and for your fish. The first thing to consider is the location you intend for the aquarium. Measure the area to ensure the aquarium you choose will fit. Aquarium Shapes Do You Need a Glass or Acrylic Aquariums?Both materials for aquariums have their advantages and disadvantages. The traditional glass aquarium is heavy and can spring leaks at the seams. Leaks are easy to fix however and usually only occur in an older aquarium. They are usually cheaper than acrylic aquariums. They only come in rectangular or square shapes. Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Choosing Your StandA fish tank will require a stand to keep it off the floor and raise it to an appropriate height. As a full fish tank can be quite heavy (at least 10 pounds for every gallon), using a piece of household furniture (like a table or a bookshelf) as a stand is not recommended. To avoid potential disaster, a stand specifically designed to hold a fish tank and sized to your particular tank is the best option in almost all cases. Commercial aquarium stands are available in metal and wood. They come in a variety of styles and qualities, some very simple and some looking more like an expensive piece of furniture, even providing storage space underneath the tank. CoverA tank cover serves several purposes, but its most important duty is to keep the fish in the tank. Some fish are more inclined to jumping than others, but any fish has the ability to get out of an uncovered tank. The types of covers most commonly used are plastic hoods and glass tops. They both have access doors, and a plastic hood will also have a glass strip where the light fixture will be installed. Author: Janet Ashby Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tips For Choosing An Aquarium |