Choosing the Right Aquarium for Your Tropical Freshwater Fish

Aquatic aquariums can bring life and a certain ambiance to a room. Unlike dogs and cats, tropical fish and the aquariums that they live in do not require as much work if set up properly. The type of fish and the size of your tank will also determine the amount of work it would take to care for it. Cichlid fish (for example) can grow to an estimated 14 inches. Therefore, you will need to have a bigger aquarium to accommodate them; increasing your workload. Regardless of the aquarium size, I recommend that you make sure the tank is maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Small aquariums should be cleaned more often than much larger tanks because they develop algae and toxins faster.

With a large tank, there is much more space and water and the fish waste will not cloud the take and produce toxins as fast. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean a larger tank as often as a smaller one. Beginners should always by a large tank to get use to the cleaning methods. With a smaller aquarium, it is easy for a beginner to get frustrated by the rapid growth of algae and constant cloudiness of the water.

There are two types of aquariums that you can buy; glass and Plexiglas. The glass tank is the more conventional and popular tank among fish-keepers because they are widely available in the United States and can be purchased at a lower cost. However, the glass tanks can easily crack and are more subject to leak with age. All glass tanks are heavy. The Plexiglas is becoming much more popular among fish keepers, but may not be available everywhere. They are light, and much more attractive than glass tanks. Plexiglas tanks are more prone to scratches and are subject to bow with age. Regardless of what type of tank you choose, make sure it comes with a top to avoid evaporation of your water and your fish from jumping out.

Aquariums can also come in various shapes. The short rectangular shaped tank is more suitable for fish because it has enough surface space for swimming and gas exchange. The tall rectangular shaped aquariums lack the surface space and swimming room for your fish. Some fish are very territorial and will fight one another if they are too packed. Hexagon aquariums are nice and will bring some décor to the room. However, they lack the same problem as tall rectangular tanks; no room.

Always consider the amount of fish and the size of your fish you plan to have in one tank. You do not want to have too many fish in one tank because it will be much harder to fight off algae and harmful toxins that can build up from waste and discarded food. I currently have two large Oscars in a 75 gallon tank; just enough room for the two of them. For small fish, there should be at least one for every ten gallons.