Where will you put it?
The size of your new freshwater aquarium tank will depend upon where it will go in your home so this should be your first decision. Avoid placing the tank where it will receive direct sunlight, this will almost certainly encourage excessive algae growth. In addition you should be careful to avoid places where it could be difficult keep the right constant temperature, e.g. near draughts from windows and doors or near radiators. Ideally the tank should be placed in a quiet part of your home where the fish will not be disturbed excessively by passers-by, opening doors, etc.
Buying your Freshwater Aquarium Tank and Equipment
Acrylic or Glass?
In general glass fish tanks are cheaper than an equivalent acrylic tank. Acrylic happens to be more expensive than glass but this does not mean that it is any better. Each material has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The worst thing about acrylic is that it is very easily scratched. Acrylic has the big advantage that tanks made from it can be manufactured in almost any shape. Alternatively glass has to be thicker than acrylic so it is much heavier and it can break and crack but it is much more difficult to scratch.
Here is a list of their pros and cons:
Acrylic
- Easily scratched
- Light
- Difficult to break or crack – children safe
- Can be moulded into almost any shape
- Needs a stand supporting the whole of its weight otherwise it can split with the weight of the water
- Thinner and easier to drill through for filters etc.
- Less distortion because it is thinner
- Can yellow with age
- More expensive
Glass
- Hard to scratch
- Heavy
- Can break or crack – may be a hazard when children are about
- Limited to certain shapes mostly rectangular although bowed fron glass tanks are now available
- More rigid so they can be placed on an open stand
- Thicker and difficult to drill through
- More distortion due to its thickness
- Does not yellow with age so they maintain clarity over a long time
- Less expensive
You have to use ‘acrylic safe’ tools when maintaining acylic tanks because they are so susceptible to scratching.
To sum up, If you just want a standard rectangular tank then it is probably best to go with glass. If you want an exotically shaped tank or a very large tank then you will usually have to go with acrylic.
Other Equipment
You must carefully choose the right equipment for your aquarium. A reputable dealer will help you with this and it is a good idea to build up a good relationship with your fish man.
It is helpful to have some advance knowledge of what is required, basically this means a filter, heater, a lid with lighting, substrate (gravel or sand), backing material and other décor such as rocks, wood and real or plastic plants. After you have setup the aquarium you will find that you need other accessories like water conditioner, net and test kits etc.
The Golden Rules
- Never buy the fish and tank on the sameday. It may be tempting to arrive home with everything you need including the fish but some patience and restraint is called for initially!
- Go for a larger tank if you have enough space and your budget allows it. Small tanks are often sold as “ideal for the beginner” but this is not really true. Bigger tanks are less unstable in terms of their water quality, pH, temperatuere etc. Conditions will change more gradually in a larger volume of water, so things are much less likely to go suddenly wrong. A three foot long (92 cm) aquarium holding approximately 100 litres (about 25 gallons) of water is a good size starter tank.
- Place the aquarium on a sturdy piece of furniture, preferably designed for an aquarium tank. Water is very dense, large quantities of it weigh a great deal. Water weighs 2.2 pounds (1kg) per litre. A tank measuring 36×12×18 and holding approx. 110 litres would therefore weigh 110kg (242lbs) plus the weight of the tank itself, lid and decor.
- Once you have set up your aquarium with heating, filtration and plants etc leave it for about a week. This gives the water a chance to settle down as far as its quality is concerned and allows the good bacteria a chance to multiply to a level where the tank is ‘cycling’.
- Apply the rule one inch of fish to each gallon of water and bear in mind that the new fish are probably babies which will grow rapidly. Some aquarists prefer to use two gallons of water per inch of fish to keep waste levels low.
- Add your aquarium freshwater fish carefully don’t just tip them in. Float the bag in the aquarium for about 20 minutes so that the temperatures equalise, open the bag and add some aquarium water to it for a further 20 minutes and then finally gently add them to the tank.
Conclusion
So that’s it. Decide first where you are going to put your tank and then decide on its size and what its to be made of. Your home freshwater aquarium will be a success frrom the start if you follow the six golden rules.