Choosing an Aquarium

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Choosing an Aquarium

So often a customer walks into the store not having any idea what they want. They browse quickly around and insist on buying the first aquarium they see that appeals to them, maybe not realizing what kind of selection is out there now days. We are not confined to a small glass box in the year 2002. There are tanks of every shape, every size, and even every color. There is even the choice between acrylic and glass. Spend time looking at what's available to you, then go home and see where it will fit into your home. If the tank you want won't fit, go back and ask for help... taking measurements with you so you know what you have room for. Any knowledgeable salesperson will be able to help you.

Once you know what you have room for, decide what to put in it. If there is no limit on space, then decide what you want to keep before looking at a tank. Do your research and read books and articles on the kind of fish or creature you are interested in purchasing.

If you are one of those customers who wanders the store and doesn't know what you like, stop in front of a tank, any tank, and watch. Spend a few minutes watching whatever fish is in the tank, see what it does, how it reacts to others of it's kind, others of another kind. What do you like and dislike about that fish? Use this to start your search. If you like the color, search for another of that color, and do the same thing, stop and watch. This is the fun part of fishy shopping. Few people seem to realize how much we can learn from just standing in front of a tank for 5 minutes and watching what is happening inside of it. There is a world all it's own in there, and each person likes something a little different. Let's compare glass and acrylic for a moment, so you can get a feel for what suits you best. Then we can take a look at some of the most popular fish that are readily available in most fish stores.

GLASS

ACRYLIC

POSITIVE

Strong and sturdy
Doesn't scratch easily
Standard Sizes giving a wider range of choices when choosing a stand and/or canopy.
Less expensive than acrylic
easier to scrape, can use razor blade

Wide variety in shapes/sizes
Many acrylic aquariums are constructed of a solid piece without seams, making for better viewing and less worry of cracks/leaks
Lighter weight than glass
Won't break as easily as glass
Often available in various colors

NEGATIVE

Easier to break and leak
Limited number of shapes
Sharp corners
Heavier than acrylic

Scratches easily and requires special scratch remover to make repairs. These scratch removers are toxic to aquarium pets.
Odd shapes can be difficult to find stands for other than the one made for that particular aquarium.

More expensive due to material costs

Odd shapes can be difficult to fit hang on filtration units securely.
More difficult to scrape algae, limited materials to use safely
Extreme heat from heat lamps, most often involving salt water, can melt the acrylic at the top if not properly vented and spcaed.

Many times in a day I will have a customer come to me knowing exactly what kind of fish they want to keep. An aquarium was purchased elsewhere, and already full of water and cycling, ready to add the perfect fish. Many times in a day these same customers go home dissatisfied and frustrated because the tank they purchased was too small for the fish they wanted to keep, and they had not intended to buy a larger tank for upgrading in the future. It is so easy to find a fish that appeals to you and to pick up a book and read about it. Most important, when reading, will be adult size, water temperature, Ph levels/General Hardness, and aggression level/compatibility with other fish. Not all fish can be housed together!

The myth I come upon so regularly in my daily schedule is "a fish will only grow to the size of it's tank". The truth behind this myth is that when a fish outgrows it's environment, the ammonia levels begin to rise, thus do the nitrate levels. High nitrate levels can stunt the growth of your fish, but this is only temporary. Prolonged exposure to high nitrate levels will cause illness, burning of the gills, and eventually death to the fish when it is too weak to fight the toxifying effects of the nitrates.

EXAMPLE: I have been to the pet store and watched the piranah swimming gracefully in a large tank. I see about 20 fish the size of a quarter in one tank. (This is a holding tank only. These fish will be here a matter of days, usually a week at most.) I have no aquarium yet, and have decided that the red belly piranah is just the fish for me. Where do I begin? I reach for a book, searching for the adult size of a red belly piranah. It says 12 inches in diameter. In my head I am picturing 12 inches in diameter and seeing a dinner plate. What size aquarium will I need to keep my new piranah healthy and happy? The typical way to figure out this complex math problem is to allow for 1 inch of ADULT fish per gallon of the tank. This allows for plenty of growing room for baby fish who will quickly reach adult size if in a healthy environment. Now common sense tells me that 12 gallons of water will not be sufficient to hold a 12 inch in diameter fish. This usually works best when figuring the size of a tank for multiple fish. We won't rely on that formula for every case. (Just because someone suggests it, doesn't make it the best choice. Common sense and research are always your best resources) For 4-6 healthy baby piranah, I would want to put them into a 125 gallon aquarium or larger, keeping in mind that they will need area more than they will need depth. When I first take those baby fish home, the tank will seem bare and empty, but with patience and care, it will fill up quickly as my fish grow to their full size without the worry of needing a larger tank in 1 - 2 years.

Lifespan is another important factor to research when choosing your fish. Many of the larger species of fishes, both salt and fresh water, can live up to 25 - 35+ years with proper care.