The sight of a colourful aquarium in a corner of the room not only adds to the beauty of the room but also has a soothing effect on your mind too.

If you are feeling enthusiastic about having such an arrangement for yourself,you have to start thinking of the tank, the first item towards building your aquarium.

Choice of a tank—its size and shape:

The size of the tank should be determined in relative to the size of your room and the point where you want to keep it.
The size of a tank is measured by its capacity of holding water,and is classified as follows:

Small: This will hold less than 10 gallons
Medium: Its capacity varies from 10 to 45 gallons.
Large: its capacity is more than 45 gallons.

Apart from available space you have to keep your budget in mind and the time you’ll be able to devote to its maintenance, though the initial setting-up of the aquarium will need the same amount of time.
As can be guessed a larger tank will demand more of your time,not to mention the initial and running expenses.

1. While deciding the precise point where you are going to house your tank bear in mind that it should be away from direct sunlight as well from surfaces,which would get damaged by water.

2. Having decided the spot for keeping it,take measurements of the available area and note down the dimensions.You will find these dimensions handy while finalizing the size and shape of the tank and its stand.

It is always better to buy your stand and tank arrangement a little shorter,say by an inch or two than the available floor-space.This will help you to accommodate small accessories associated with filter and lights etc., and offers an easy approach to these items.

3. Having studied the preliminaries,you can step out to visit a store or search on the web for the choice of tanks being offered these days.
Apart from the traditional rectangular tanks,you can get those in a variety of shapes and materials.You may have a round, hexagonal or a vertical tank.While deciding the shape, keep in mind the ease with which corners can be cleaned.

Likewise a vertical tank may be a good idea if you are short of floor space.

But,it has its own drawbacks too.These tanks would hold fewer fish than a conventional tank.Here’s how. To maintain a good health fish need oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.

This exchange of gases is a continuous process-taking place near the top of water surface.As squared tanks offer smaller area for being in contact with air,as compared to rectangular shapes,one can’t have as many fish there as in a rectangular tank.

4. Conventional tanks are made of glass.But the hexagonal shaped or round tanks that you
might come across are molded out of acrylic.

Both the materials have their own advantages as well limitations.

You should realize that an acrylic tank with rounded corners is lighter in weight and would not break as easily like glass.
These tanks may cost more and get scratched and discoloured whereas glass tanks are heavier but harder to get scratched.

Depending upon your priorities you have to compromise on the characteristics of the materials used.

Once you have taken a decision of the tank that you are going to have,please keep the following guidelines in mind with respect to the number of fish you can have in your tank.

Never overcrowd you tank as it causes stress to fish leading to their ill health and makes their maintenance all the more difficult.

Tropical freshwater tanks can hold one inch (tail included) of fish per gallon of water.That means for a 10 gallon tank you should have not more than five fish of two-inch size or ten fish of one-inch size.

Saltwater tanks permit one inch of fish for every 5 gallons whereas coldwater tanks would allow one fish for every 2 gallons of water.

Keeping these fundamentals in mind go ahead to have a live colourful spot in your room.

David
AquaticMagic