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By Reef Saltwateraquarium
All it takes is one glance and the carefree motion of flapping
fins entrances us. Fish silently add beauty to every
environment and ask for a lot less in comparison to other
pets.
Of course, choosing the right aquarium in a market flooded
with
products is enough to make you dizzy. Factoring in location,
available space, and base support will make introducing
aquatic
life into your home a breeze.
Choosing a location before you buy an aquarium increases the
likelihood of purchasing one that’s the right fit. Aquariums
are heavy and fragile. It’s a good idea not to lug them around
while you decide where the aquarium will look its best. When
selecting the tank’s location, consider the aesthetics of your
environment. Will your aquarium easily be seen? Would it
compete for attention with other décor, or be complemented by
it?
Selecting a location is not all aesthetics. Avoid direct
sunlight and airy drafts that can affect your tank’s
temperature. Save some extra “breathing room” around the
aquarium for maintenance and cleaning. For safety’s sake, you
should also keep the aquarium clear of high traffic areas.
After deciding on a location, carefully measure the space to
determine how much aquarium can fit into it. Great Danes are
wonderful dogs, but they are not so great in studio
apartments.
This same theory applies to aquariums. With your location in
mind and measurements in hand, you are ready to purchase an
aquarium. You are certain to find several that will fit
comfortably into your space.
Water chemistry and temperature are best stabilized in larger
volumes of water, so it’s best to get the largest tank that
your space and budget will allow. However, do not select an
aquarium by water volume alone. Surface area is also a
critical
factor to consider. A tall twenty-gallon tank is very
different
from a short one that is twenty gallons. Taller tanks may take
up less space, but they do not have the surface area relative
to the water volume. This results in a low rate of gas
exchange
that is unhealthy for fish. Twenty to thirty-gallon tanks are
ideal for those new to keeping fish and they allow for a nice
selection of fish.
Aquariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are
constructed of either glass or acrylic. Glass tanks are less
expensive and are easier to clean. By nature, they are also
more apt to crack and break. Glass aquariums were once only
available in rectangular shapes that are still popular today.
They also now come in octagon and hexagon models. Acrylic
aquariums, on the other hand, offer more shapes and sizes than
their glass counterparts. The strength of the acrylic also
allows the material to flex upon impact rather than break.
Acrylic aquarium owners can boast of a clearer tank and one
that is easier to lift, which may offset their aggravation
from
the tank’s tendency to scratch. (These scratches can be buffed
out with scratch-remover kits.) Many acrylic tanks come
equipped with covers and fluorescent fixtures, something that
you would normally purchase with your aquarium. Glass tanks,
while less expensive, typically are not packaged with cover.
Consider this when doing price comparisons.
You’ve got the perfect aquarium in sight and accessories in
your shopping cart, but your purchase is still incomplete. On
what will your tank sit? Too many new aquarium owners (and
some
naïve experienced ones) mistake household furniture for tank
stands. A modest twenty-gallon tank weighs over two hundred
pounds once it is filled with water. If your table or
bookstand
is not sturdy enough for a football player to sit on, then it
is
certainly not enough support for an aquarium? Support for your
aquarium also differs according to its construction. For glass
aquariums, choose a stand that supports the outside of the
aquarium. Acrylic tanks require full support along the bottom,
so choose accordingly. With support in place for your new
aquarium, you have everything you need to start making a home
for your new aquatic friends.
Copyright 2006
Reef Saltwateraquarium
About The Author: www.reefsaltwateraquarium.com
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