Buying an Aquarium

So, it’s come time to buy yourself a new aquarium, and now you are wondering what size you should buy. There are a number of factors that must be considered before you shell out your hard earned cash for that new tank, but don’t lose heart now; this won’t be all that hard to figure out. The first thing that you should know is that bigger IS better. Not only will you have the most impressive looking tank possible, a larger tank is healthier for your fish, as well as easier to maintain in the long run.

But first, let’s take a look at what’s available. In theory, any size of tank is possible, and there are companies that can and will build a tank for you in any dimension that you would like, but since these tanks are quite expensive, we’ll limit our analysis to the most common sizes that you will find stocked in your local pet store.

Aquariums come in three basic dimensions: the regular or rectangular configuration, the “tall”, and the hexagon tank. Each tank has benefits to its design, as well as specific fish that do well in these types of tanks. The “tall” tank style is essentially the same as the standard. These tanks have the same “footprint” as the rectangular tanks, but their height is greater—allowing more gallons per floor area. Hexagon, or corner, tanks are similar to “tall” tanks, but tend to be even taller than the talls—beautiful to look at, but somewhat difficult to clean unless you have arms like a NBA center.

In addition to these basic configurations, aquariums also come in different lengths and widths, but in the long run, every fish enthusiast wants to discuss volume—how many gallons does it hold? The most typical volumes are 10, 20, 29, 55, 80, and 125, although finer pet stores will carry tanks that are even larger, or smaller than those listed here.

So which one do you want? This depends on three main factors: your budget, the amount of space that you have available in your home, and the needs of the particular fish that you will be putting into the tank. There is no one size fits all answer for you here, only you know much money and space that you have to put into this project.

If an inexpensive tank is a must, your best bet is probably going to be the kits that most of the chain stores now offer. A 55 Gallon kit (rectangular) will generally cost around 150$ plus tax in these stores. For this price, you will get the tank, a hang-on-the-back style water filter, heater, hoods and lighting—just add water, decorations, and fish. For a 29 Gallon kit, you can expect to pay about 100$, and the price will go down as your tank size does the same.

But remember, and this seems illogical to most beginners, but large tanks are easier to maintain than small ones. This is largely due to the volume of water, as a large quantity of water is more difficult to foul than a small one. Small tanks really are for experts or alternately--for fish that have really low requirements to stay alive, like goldfish and betas. So, if your budget allows for it, go one size larger than you are now considering. You’ll thank yourself later. If you have an unlimited budget, shoot for the moon! …Read more >>