Choosing an Aquarium

[P4Angels]

Aquariums




The standard aquarium is a rectangular prism, but there are many alternatives available. Here are some major considerations:

Shape
Surface area is where gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out) takes place, and the bottom is where many territorial fish set up their home turfs. Often the more decorative aquarium shapes have relatively low surface area. Good water movement and filtration can make up for poor surface area, and restricting the livestock to non-territorial species makes bottom area less significant, but in general, a longer, lower aquarium can sustain more life than a narrower, deeper tank can.
Very deep tanks are harder to service. Just scraping the algae off the glass of a 6-foot tall aquarium requires considerable ingenuity. Siphon vacuuming the gravel is another considerable challenge.




Size[size=78%]
Standard sizes range from 2? gallons to 240 gallons, and custom sizes are available from less than a gallon to thousands of gallons and even larger.
Get the largest aquarium you can possibly manage. It is easier to care for a large aquarium than a small one, and it is much easier to care for a huge aquarium than a tiny one. The reason is simple: maintaining a fish tank is in large part a matter of keeping a complex system in balance; the more water there is, the longer it takes for an imbalance to occur.
Aquariums are heavy, and water is even heavier. For a final weight of tank, stand, gravel, and water, figure about 10 pounds per gallon (1.2 kilos per liter) of the setup. You must use a stand or cabinet that is specifically designed to hold an aquarium of that size, and you must be certain that the floor under the stand is able to support the weight without problem.
Aquarium dimensions for tanks between 10 gallons and 90 gallons are considered small tanks and edge up to large tanks. As the dimensions increase so does bio load capacity as well as the need for greater filtration capacity?





[/size]     [size=78%]10 Gallon Aquarium: 20″ x 10″ x 12″ ? 20 1/4? x 10 1/2? x 12 9/16?
[/size]     [size=78%]15 Gallon Aquarium: 24″ x 12″ x 12″ ? 24 1/4″ x 12 1/2″ x 12 3/4″
[/size]     [size=78%]15 Gallon Aquarium: 20″ x 10″ x 18″ ? 20 1/4″ x 10 1/2″ x 18 3/4″ (High)
[/size]     [size=78%]20 Gallon Aquarium: 30″ x 12″ x 12″ (Long)
[/size]     [size=78%]20 Gallon Aquarium: 24″ x 12″ x 16″ ? 24 1/4″ x 12 1/2″ x 16 3/4″ (High)
[/size]     [size=78%]20 Gallon Aquarium: 20″ x 10″ x 24″ (Extra High)
[/size]     [size=78%]25 Gallon Aquarium: 24″ x 12″ x 20″ ? 24 1/4″ x 12 1/2″ x 20 3/4″
[/size]     [size=78%]29 Gallon Aquarium: 30″ x 12″ x 18″ ? 30 1/4″ x 12 1/2″ x 18 3/4″
[/size]     [size=78%]30 Gallon Aquarium: 36″ x 13″ x 16″ ? 36 1/4″ x 12 5/8″ x 16 3/4″
[/size]    [size=78%]40 Gallon Aquarium: 36″ x 13″ x 20″ (High)
[/size]    [size=78%]40 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 13″ x 16″ ? 48 1/4″ x 12 3/4″ x 16 7/8″ (Long)
[/size]    [size=78%]45 Gallon Aquarium: 36 1/4″ x 12 5/8″ x 23 3/4″
[/size]    [size=78%]50 Gallon Aquarium: 36 3/8″ x 18 3/8″ x 19″
[/size]    [size=78%]55 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 13″ x 21″ ? 48 1/4″ x 12 3/4″ x 21″
[/size]    [size=78%]60 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 13″ x 24″
[/size]    [size=78%]65 Gallon Aquarium: 36″ x 18″ x 24″ ? 36 3/8″ x 18 3/8″ x 25″
[/size]    [size=78%]75 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 18″ x 21″ ? 48 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ x 21 1/8″
[/size]    [size=78%]90 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 18″ x 24″ ? 48 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ x 25 3/8″

[/size]Aquarium Dimensions: Select Tanks Over 100 Gallons      [size=78%]110 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 18″ x 30″
   120 Gallon Aquarium 48″ x 24″ x 24″ ? 48 1/2″ x 24 1/2″ x 25 1/2″
[/size]     [size=78%]125 Gallon Aquarium 72″ x 18″ x 21″
[/size]     [size=78%]150 Gallon Aquarium: 72″ x 18″ x 28″
[/size]     [size=78%]180 Gallon Aquarium: 72″ x 24″ x 25″ ? 72 1/2″ x 24 1/2 ? x 25 5/8″
[/size]     [size=78%]210 Gallon Aquarium: 72 1/2″ x 24 1/2 ? x 29 5/8″

[/size]Aquarium Dimensions: Hexagon Tanks & Breeder Tanks[size=78%]
In addition, there are types of specialty tanks with different aquarium dimensions?bow front tanks, tanks with round shapes, and hexagon shaped tanks to name a few. When considering purchasing a specialty tank, be mindful that these types of tanks have non-rectangular aquarium dimensions so measure and plan accordingly.
[/size]         [size=78%]10 Gallon Hexagon: 14 1/2″ x 12 9/16″ x 18 3/4″
[/size]         [size=78%]20 Gallon Hexagon: 18 3/4″ x 16 1/4″ x 20 5/8″
[/size]       [size=78%]35 Gallon Hexagon: 23 1/4″ x 20 3/16″ x 24 3/4″
[/size]       [size=78%]60 Gallon Hexagon: 27 1/4″ x 24 1/8″ x 29 1/2″

Also, there are other types of fish tanks used for breeding purposes. The aquarium dimensions of breeder tanks vary based on the gallon size and water volume, but they generally are deeper in terms of width. Just be aware that when one speaks of a 40 gallon tank for example, it may be 40 gallon long tank a 40 gallon breeder tank, each with different aquarium dimensions.

Desktop Tanks

Desktop tanks include the popular nano systems, as well as a great range of aquariums, from ornate  betta bowls to art-deco sculpted tanks with miniature lighting and filtration options. But they must be properly utilized; you cannot simply scale down a regular aquarium setup to fit a tiny desktop unit.

Small displays are perfect for animals and plants that would be lost in even typical small tanks. Small invertebrates like shrimp?both freshwater and marine?are great for these little tanks. Tiny fish like Heterandria, Boraras, and the smallest gobies can be the focus of the display instead of just being lost in the background?or eaten for lunch! So instead of a lone zebra danio endlessly switching directions or a stunted community of regular aquarium species, a school of truly tiny fish can explore a planted landscape in which they are the main attraction.
Water stability is extremely precarious with these small volumes?another reason to use only the smallest livestock. Heating, lighting, and filtration become major issues as well, but manufacturers are rising to the challenge and producing equipment designed specifically for these diminutive aquariums.




There are many factors which determine the proper aquarium for a given application. Many of these factors are aesthetic, and therefore up to you to decide. Factors outside your preferences include the size and type of fish you wish to keep and your purpose for the setup?ornamental display, breeding, etc. So remember:

Overcrowding is always bad, and often it ends in tragedy. There is a terrible tendency among hobbyists to squeeze too many too-large fish into a tank.
Stock wisely. A 150-gallon tank is too small for a single 2-foot arowana, but it could easily house a thriving community of 200 or more Heterandria formosa! Likewise, you could keep a collection of a half-dozen Central American cichlids in a 55-gallon tank, but if two of the fish are a pair and they spawn, the other four cichlids would need to be removed.
So, weigh the factors, make your choices, and get the perfect aquarium for your wants and needs. The enormous variety of aquariums on the market just about guarantees there are several that will work well for you.[/size]

[Mugwump]

Nice post, Aron....there's some good info there for anyone considering fish keeping.