==== ==== Visit this site to learn more on how to set up and maintain your freshwater aquarium: http://www.freshwateraquariumcareguide.com/ ==== ====
If you are new to keeping fish you may be unsure which is the best aquarium to buy. What size is the best? What shape should you choose? Is is best to buy a traditional glass or an acrylic aquarium? We've put together this guide to give you the information you need so that you can choose the best aquarium for your room and the fish you will be keeping. Aquarium Size While many people believe that it is right to start off with a small aquarium, this is not actually the best choice since smaller tanks are much harder to look after and require much more effort to keep in a healthy condition. The reason for this is that smaller amounts of water are much more rapidly affected by any disturbances, hence if the outside temperature changes severely, for example, there will be a rapid change in the condition of the water inside your tank. A much larger fish tank will be a lot more stable. In addition, in a larger fish tank, the toxic waste from the fish, is dispersed over a larger area and will be less able to harm your fish. We recommend a 40 gallon tank at a minimum. Glass or Acrylic? Now you need to decide between a glass or an acrylic fish tank. You also need to have the shape of the tank you prefer in mind because some shapes, cylindrical for example, are only available in acrylic. Glass aquariums are in general less expensive than acrylic tanks but are a good deal heavier. They also tend to leak after a few years but this is easily fixed using silicon aquarium sealant. They are not offered in such a wide variety of shapes as acrylic tanks. If you are looking for an exotic shaped aquarium you will probably have to buy acrylic. Acrylic tanks are pricier than all-glass tanks but are lighter and, because they are designed in only one piece, don't have a tendency to leak. You need to take care not to scratch the exterior of the fish tank and not use any abrasive cleaning materials on the acrylic because this will scratch the outside causing it look cloudy. The Shape of the Aquarium The conventional rectangular fish tank is certainly the best shape for an aquarium because of it's high surface to water ratio which allows the best gas exchange. Nevertheless if you desire a more interesting shape then you will have to make certain aeration is good to allow the fish to receive adequate amounts of oxygen. Acrylic tanks are made in a wide variety of shapes which includes cylindrical, hexagon, octagon, round and also wall mounted or made into coffee tables. The Best Location for Your Fish Tank?
When thinking about the location for your fish tank ensure you have enough room and that the weight of the tank can be accommodated. A fifty gallon filled tank will weigh about 65 pounds so you must be careful that the floorboards and table are sturdy enough. Wall aquariums can be used on a dividing wall to allow viewing the aquarium from both adjoining rooms and can be a brilliant addition to a room.
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==== ==== Visit this site to learn more on how to set up and maintain your freshwater aquarium: http://www.freshwateraquariumcareguide.com/ ==== ====