Selecting Your First Aquarium
Buying your first aquarium is an exciting proposition but it's also one that you need to get right first time.
Aquariums can be expensive pieces of kit, as well as being bulky to get home and very heavy once they're all set up.
The last thing you want to do is to realize you've made a mistake and have to try and replace it.
So what should you be looking for in your first aquarium? Size The larger your aquarium is the more it will weigh so if you are wanting to place an aquarium on the ground floor of your home it can be as large as you like.
Conversely if you are planning to place a fish tank upstairs then it is generally wiser to select a smaller fish tank to reduce the weight.
However generally big fish tanks not only look much more impressive but surprisingly may actually be easier to care for and make keeping fish far easier.
This is because the more water there is, the less that fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry will be felt by your fish, meaning they will normally be far healthier and happier as a result.
Appearance Aqauriums don't just come in oblong box shapes, there are also a range of other shapes available from tall, slim fish tanks to round ones and all sorts of other shapes in between.
While one may be tempted to go for an unusual shape of fish tank, it may prove difficult to clean these and to find aquarium supplies which will fit them such as filters and lights.
So decide whether you're going more for practicality or appearance and appreciate that an odd-shaped aquarium may either hold less fish or be considerably more expensive to kit out due to the specialist equipment required for such a job.
Lighting Fish tanks generally require lighting for a range of reasons.
Lit fish tanks look far more attractive, help to produce a more natural environment for your fish and also are essential if you want to keep live plants in your tank.
So consider whether lighting comes built in with the aquarium that you like and if it doesn't, ensure you investigate how you're going to add lighting before investing in your aquarium.
Accessibility Fish tanks require a range of electrical goods including pumps, filters, lights and so on, and they will also require regular maintenance in the form of feeding, cleaning and so on so also consider the practical aspects of any fish tank you like the look of.
Will it be easy to access on a regular basis or will you get frustrated with all the fancy bits such as hoods, stands and so on?
Aquariums can be expensive pieces of kit, as well as being bulky to get home and very heavy once they're all set up.
The last thing you want to do is to realize you've made a mistake and have to try and replace it.
So what should you be looking for in your first aquarium? Size The larger your aquarium is the more it will weigh so if you are wanting to place an aquarium on the ground floor of your home it can be as large as you like.
Conversely if you are planning to place a fish tank upstairs then it is generally wiser to select a smaller fish tank to reduce the weight.
However generally big fish tanks not only look much more impressive but surprisingly may actually be easier to care for and make keeping fish far easier.
This is because the more water there is, the less that fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry will be felt by your fish, meaning they will normally be far healthier and happier as a result.
Appearance Aqauriums don't just come in oblong box shapes, there are also a range of other shapes available from tall, slim fish tanks to round ones and all sorts of other shapes in between.
While one may be tempted to go for an unusual shape of fish tank, it may prove difficult to clean these and to find aquarium supplies which will fit them such as filters and lights.
So decide whether you're going more for practicality or appearance and appreciate that an odd-shaped aquarium may either hold less fish or be considerably more expensive to kit out due to the specialist equipment required for such a job.
Lighting Fish tanks generally require lighting for a range of reasons.
Lit fish tanks look far more attractive, help to produce a more natural environment for your fish and also are essential if you want to keep live plants in your tank.
So consider whether lighting comes built in with the aquarium that you like and if it doesn't, ensure you investigate how you're going to add lighting before investing in your aquarium.
Accessibility Fish tanks require a range of electrical goods including pumps, filters, lights and so on, and they will also require regular maintenance in the form of feeding, cleaning and so on so also consider the practical aspects of any fish tank you like the look of.
Will it be easy to access on a regular basis or will you get frustrated with all the fancy bits such as hoods, stands and so on?
