Article by Sandra Gaffney

Aquariums are good stress-relieving alternative; they give that soothing ambience when you gaze at the fish that swim about in the fish tank. Hobbyists often have a good time with their fish. Like with other domestic pets such as cats and dogs, fish are even given names by their owners. Keeping an aquarium at home is such a wonderful hobby that anyone at any age can enjoy it, and we’re going to give you a few tips and some helpful freshwater aquarium information to help you get started.Big Aquariums = Easy MaintenanceSmall aquariums should never be used by beginners. There are a lot of factors to consider when maintaining the water in your aquarium suitable for life, and small aquariums tend to spread the changes in the water chemistry far too quickly because of the small volume that they have to cover, leaving a very small room for errors. Thus, keeping small aquariums is absolutely not recommended for beginners. Big aquariums, however, tend to extend the changes in water chemistry over a large volume of water, so these changes are actually “diluted”, making it easier for the beginner to observe and maintain these water chemistry factors.Make Fish Population proportional to Tank SizeDon’t try to sardine-pack the fishes on a small space. If you can’t help having a large number of fish in an aquarium, then try to purchase an aquarium that can surpass the overall “fish mass” of about 50% when the net water volume is measured. Otherwise, reduce the number of fish that you plan to raise. This is very crucial, because you don’t want to end up having to lose all of your fish in one day, just because you didn’t pay enough attention to the space that the fish need. Learn About Your Aquarium’s Water ChemistryThis is considered as the vital freshwater aquarium information: monitoring the different levels of impurities or composition of the water. There are four general levels that you have to observe when maintaining your fish tank, and these are the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and the water’s pH levels. Ammonia is beneficial ONLY during the startup cycle. In different circumstances it is quite toxic, and at uncontrolled levels it can instantly kill your fish. Nitrites are also quite toxic, and should be kept as low as possible to support marine life. Nitrates are a lot less toxic than the other two, and are in fact the by product of algae breaking down the two previous substances, but you can’t keep too much of them in your tank either. Water pH levels refer to the acidity and alkalinity of water, and are mostly controlled by applying the appropriate substrate to your fish tank. Most of the times, pH levels are controlled by your filtration system, although they are best managed by controlling the substances in the water that cause them to rise or fall.Do a Full Maintenance of your Aquarium at Regular IntervalsThis is perhaps the most challenging, if not the most tedious, thing to do when setting up your fish tank. Filters need to be changed once in a while (around 2-3 weeks at best), and if you don’t do this, your fish tank is in big trouble. Also, you need to change the water of the tank periodically. Don’t forget to put your fish into hospital tanks before doing this. NEVER EVER use soap when cleaning the articles that you put on the substrate (such as decorative corals, etc.). Instead, soak them in a tub filled with hot water mixed with salt for a few hours, and scrub them with a clean sponge. If you need to change substrates, then you have to test them again for water pH level changes.  

Article by Sandra Gaffney

Good and clean aquariums are the pride of the aquarist. But in order for these proud aquarists to have, sparkling clean fish tanks, they have to do regular maintenance. But doing freshwater aquarium maintenance can be a bit demanding, and so these aquarists have come up with an array of different tools right from the aquarist armory, to ensure that dirt and its minions can never win over the cleanliness of these prime enthusiasts.

Gravel VacuumsSpecifically called aquarium gravel vacuums, for a more defined naming convention, these machines work exactly like your ordinary vacuum cleaner: they suck off excess dirt in the aquarium that you can’t get your hands on, such as excess food and waste materials.

Algae Pads/Scraper/ScrubberAs the name suggests, they are specifically used to remove the algae from your aquariums, keeping them free of these green monsters. The softer pads are commonly used for acrylic tanks, which are scratched very easily due to their flexible composition.

Fish NetsThese nets can be utilized as a separation bay, much like how fish farmers grow their fish in the sea using nets. You can also use these fish nets as transportation devices, when moving dead or large fishes from the main tank. The size of the holes determines their use, and obviously, the smaller-holed ones are for small fry.

Forceps or TongsPrimarily useful for picking out certain obstructions in the aquarium, as well as removing dead fish. Apparently, they can also be used as planting sticks.

PailsAh yes, the ever so faithful water container. Bet you’re unsurprised? Yep, pails are also good aquarium maintenance tools to use, because they carry water that you can use for partial water changing, full water changing, and many other things.

Siphon TubesThese are commonly used to drain the water out of the aquarium without you having to literally lift the aquarium and tilt it sideways (which is quite difficult if you know what I mean). This is the reason for the minimum length of a siphon tube: it should at least be able to reach to floor from the rim of the aquarium.

Water pH Testing KitsAs the name states, is used to check the water pH levels in an aquarium. It can generally be used as a pH testing kit for almost anything (yes, even if it not even about aquariums), which is why it can also be used to test certain kinds of waters, like tap water, if they’re safe to use for an aquarium (of course, after following the correct procedures in testing pH levels of tap water).

These tools give the aquarist the edge against all kinds of dirt that can desecrate his or her sacred aquatic sanctum. And in using these tools, you can now conduct your freshwater aquarium maintenance with maximum proficiency. For best results, however, a combination of some of all of these tools would be necessary, along with the proper maintenance procedures.

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Now that the tank is running smoothly, the temperature should be around seventy-eight degrees. I would suggest adding two products that I use in my tank to aid in the breakdown of waste and improve cycling. They are called “Cycle” and “Waste Control” from Hagen. I have been using them since day one and they work wonders.

OK time to use our test kit to test several components of your aquarium water. We will test the “PH”, “Nitrites”, “Nitrates”, “Ammonia”, “Iron”, “Phosphate”, “Carbonate Hardness” and “General Hardness”. There are several different test chemicals out there but I use the Hagen test kits and find them very reliable. You’re saying to yourself, I don’t have any fish in the tank, why test the water.

The simple answer is we need to know where the water is because in order to get a nitrogen cycle going and for it to complete a cycle, fish need to be introduced.

Before we go on I will take the time to explain what a nitrogen cycle is. Nitrogen cycles happen continuously in nature on it’s own, but in a Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium ecosystem we need to control it.

In stage one, ammonia is produced in the aquarium via tropical fish waste, dead plants and uneaten food. This waste will break down into either ammonium (NH4) or ammonia (NH3). Ammonium is not harmful to tropical fish but ammonia is. If the PH is under seven, you will have ammonium. If the PH is seven or higher you will have ammonia. Most home aquariums unless they are home to fish that need low PH will be above seven.

In stage two, bacteria called nitrosomonas will develop and they will oxidize the ammonia in the tank, essentially eliminating it. The byproduct of ammonia oxidation is Nitrites.

Nitrites are just as toxic to tropical fish as ammonia.
In stage three, Bacteria called nitrobacter will develop and convert the nitrites into Nitrates. Nitrates are not as harmful to tropical fish as ammonia or nitrites, but nitrate is still harmful in large amounts. The quickest way to rid your aquarium of nitrates is to perform partial water changes.

A new Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium without anything in it will not start a nitrogen cycle on it’s own. There are several ways to start a cycle but since this is a new setup I will will discuss the first two. The safest and least expensive method is to add a few flakes of fish food every twelve hours. This replicates uneaten food which will decay and become ammonia and the cycle begins. The downside to this is approximately two more weeks without any fish.

The second way and the one I have used is to add fish. I started with six neon tetra and a couple silver-tip tetra. Danios are hardy as well. This is quicker but remember ammonia and nitrites are deadly to fish and this can kill them. Daily water tests must be conducted and water changes preformed if the levels climb to high.

Water testing is a very important part of having a freshwater tropical fish aquarium. If we don’t know what the water is doing we will not know why we have cloudy water, our plants and fish die or maybe algae is growing. Earlier in the article I listed the main items that needed to be tested for. I will now give you the range that each should be on average for a community tank.

* The PH of my tank is generally in the range of 7.0 to 7.6. It is more important to have a constant PH rather than the so-called ideal PH.

* Nitrites should be kept below .3 mg/L. Nitrites are toxic to fish so if the nitrites climb above this level do a minimum 20% water change.

* Ammonia should be kept below 1.2 mg/L. If the level is above this mark follow the instructions in the test kit to determine the level of toxic ammonia and if a water change is necessary.

* Nitrate levels should not climb above 50mg/L. Levels above this will contribute to the growth of algae. I try to keep my levels around 25 mg/L as this supplies the plants with food but not enough for algae growth. There’s a fine line between the the balance of nitrates with the number of plants in the tank.

* Phosphate levels should remain below 1.0 mg/L. Phosphates are a result of poor maintenance or overfeeding. If the levels climb above 1.0 mg/L do a 20% water change.

* Iron levels should be kept as close to .1 mg/L as possible. Iron is a necessary element if you have live plants in your freshwater tropical fish aquarium. A lack of iron will result in poor plant growth and even plants dieing. Excessive levels of iron on the other hand is toxic to fish. A case where more is not better.

* Carbonate hardness should be kept at or slightly above, 80 mg/L. Carbonate hardness (commonly called alkalinity) is the capacity for the water to neutralize an acid. I maintain a level of 80 – 90 mg/L.

* General Hardness is the hardness of your water. A level of 40 – 80 ppm with give you a slightly hard water which I find works great in my community tank.

We now wait until the first cycle completes and the tank settles in and we are ready to start maintaining our tank. I will discuss this in my article titled Maintaining a Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium.

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How Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Hobbyists Are Adding The Blue Bee Shrimp

According to wholesale tropical fish supplier Gary Smith, of East Coast Tranship, the Blue Bee shrimp is a species that is becoming quite popular with owners of small aquariums. The Blue Bee Shrimp is comparatively new to the shrimp hobby, having first been introduced around March 2008.

This shrimp can be many colors and is occasionally hard to get because it is caught in the wild and is just recently starting to be bred by hobbyists in significant numbers. The Blue Bee is a species found in freshwater streams in China. So far most all of the Blue Bee Shrimp obtained by hobbyists from the pet store trade are wild caught. However, since breeding has begun, captive bred specimens should not take long to hit the hobby shelves.

Breeding the Blue Bee Shrimp

Successful breeding has been reported in a pH range of 6.5 to 6.8 with a temperature of 74 Fahrenheit. These parameters are very similar to the factors required for the Crystal Red Shrimp or Bee Shrimp. Since this is a close relative of those two species, Gary recommends that the same care should be applied to the Blue Bee Shrimp.

Feeding the Blue Bee Shrimp

It is best to do feeding once per day. Only feed an amount of food that the shrimp can finish within 2-3 hours maximum. It is not good to feed in excess and have food sitting for too long. Overfeeding is a known cause of death and can also cause water quality issues. Because shrimp are scavengers in the wild, they will eat anything they can find and are not accustomed to a constant food source.

Most freshwater tropical shrimps are undemanding in their care requirements. They should be kept in a well-established aquarium with no predators. The most important factor for water parameter is stability and as long as none of the water parameters are in the extremes they should be happy and healthy.

Because of the shrimps’ non-aggressive manner and their algae-eating habits, they are also widely popular in natural/planted aquariums. If there is not enough algae present, foods intended for aquarium fish and invertebrates can be used as a supplement to their diet. Another fine supplement is vegetables that have been boiled just until they are soft.

There are a good number of other distinct and colorful species of shrimps that can bring interest to small aquariums such as the Black Crystal Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp and the White Spot Shrimp.

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Article by John Thomson

What Tank Should You Buy?

Firstly you need to decide on a place for your tank in the house. Find somewhere out of direct sunlight and away from vibration and drafts. You will have a good idea of its possible size once you have decided where it’s going. Do not look at any tank which is less than 30 galls capacity that is 36″ x 18″ x 12″. The reason for this is that larger aquariums are much more stable and easier to maintain than smaller ones which can go wrong very quickly.

You will find fish tanks made of either glass or the more expensive acrylic. Acrylic tanks are much stronger than glass but they do scratch fairly easily. Acrylic is a better insulator than glass so electrical costs may be less. Acrylic is a good choice if children are afoot but under normal circumstances glass is fine.

What Other Equipment Do You Need?

An aquarium will weigh a lot so make sure that whatever you support it with is man enough for the job.If you are going to have live plants you will require a substrate of some sort. Filtration is a major consideration as well. There are several kinds of filters ranging from under gravel through external filters to power filters. Water treatment equipment is completed with one or more heaters and thermostat and two or more aeration blocks and pump.

If you are going to have live plants then you will need a timer and high K value lighting. If you’re not clear what that means then you would be well advised to seek advice from your fish man.Finally you will need a few extra things like a siphonic gravel cleaner, small net and a rubber glass scraper.

How Do You Setup The Tank?

Position the under gravel filter if you are using one and then add the substrate or gravel, finally to it up with freshwater. Put in place everything else that you need like rocks, ornaments, filter system, heater, thermostat and aeration blocks. As your fish supplier’s advice about plants if you are a beginner because they can be a complex subject. Then leave your tank for about a week to allow the water chemistry to stabilise and give the important micro-organisms time to grow.

It is absolutely essential that your aquarium has stabilised before you add any fish to it. It is the most common mistake made by beginners so be warned.

The pH level should settle to an acceptable level and the temperature should be normal for all the fish in the tank. Make sure that everything is in place including rocks, ornaments and plants before you stabilise the tank.

What Fish Do You Buy?

Now that the aquarium is stable and has been running for about a week, you can go back to the pet store and buy your fish. You need to make sure that the water conditions (temperature, pH, hardness) suit the fish that you buy. It is also important to check that your selected fish will live in peace together. Lastly you should use the rule of thumb ‘no more than 1 inch of fish to each gallon of water’. Remember that your fish are babies when you buy them and they will grow quite quickly so you should take this into account when applying this formula. The higher your fish population is the more frequently you will need to clean the tank.

Never just tip your new fish straight into the tank. Fish usually travel in water filled plastic bags pumped up with oxygen, float these in the tank for 20 minutes to equalise the temperatures then add some tank water to the bag water for another 20 minutes before gently tipping the newcomers into your tank. Don’t be worried when your new arrivals huddle together at the back of the tank for a day or two, this is perfectly normal.It is true to say that fish are cannibals and if a fish is of a size that will fit into the mouth of another then it will be eaten. The consequence of this is that you should not add small or baby fish to an established aquarium, the larger fish are going to eat them.

How Do You Maintain It?

Unlike ponds and lakes which reach an equilibrium, your aquarium is not large enough to do this so you need to clean it out regularly. Roughly about every two weeks is usually enough. A siphonic ‘hoover’ should be used to clean the gravel and you should remove roughly 1/3 of the aquarium water which should be replaced with treated freshwater. In other words, tap water which has had its chlorine removed by the addition of a small amount of chemical.

So. in conclusion. To have a relatively trouble free start with your home freshwater aquarium do what I have described above.

Article by Renske Buursma

A freshwater aquarium can be a great idea. Fish are relatively easy to care for but there are a few things to bear in mind before deciding which fish to get. Remember, first of all, that your aquarium should be left running for two weeks before introducing any fish, to let the good bacteria in your filter mature to a safe level for the fish.

Fish should be purchased from a reputable dealer or pet store. Fish won at fairgrounds rarely last! If the fish in the dealer’s shop tank look happy and there are no dead ones floating on the surface, they should be fine.

Try to get compatible fish. School fish tend to be compatible with one another. Examples include catfish, loaches, barbs, pearl and zebra danios, cardinal tetras or neons. A pair of catfish can control the algae but can also grow to be large fish, so ask in the pet store how big that particular breed can get. Also, they can be predatory and eat your other fish. Killifish can be hard to find but are good in a freshwater aquarium, especially for beginners. Oscars eat other fish and make a lot of mess, as do knife fish. Goldfish can suffer from many health problems and need a lower water temperature than many other fish so might be best avoided.

Some fish like a lot of greenery and plants so if your aquarium is to amuse a child, for example, it might be better to opt for the type of fish who prefer a few rocks, else you will not see much of the fish. They hide a lot.

Do not overcrowd your tank. Two inches of fish to every gallon of water is a good rule of thumb to bear in mind. Fish prefer square or rectangular tanks to spherical ones. Angel fish need a tank larger than ten gallons.

Do some research on the freshwater fish you prefer. You should find out about their special needs, whether chemical, temperature, compatibility-related or dietary.

You can get cold water aquariums, sub-tropical and tropical freshwater aquariums so make sure you know what temperature of water your fish likes and do not mix different species of fish if they like different temperatures.

Before adding a fish to your tank, you will need to quarantine it for a short period, to make sure it is healthy and not going to pass any illness to your other fish. Adding more than four fish at once can cause a chemical imbalance so add fish gradually, checking they remain healthy and settle in well, before adding more.

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Article by Chris Walker

There are many things to consider when choosing a freshwater aquarium tank. Things to consider include aquarium size, the location where you should place your tank, and the material from which the tank is made.

The size of your freshwater aquarium tank you choose will depend upon many factors. The first thing you want to think about is how many fish you think you want to keep. A general rule is to load your tank at 1 inch of fish per gallon of water; however, I tend to load my tanks less so that there is less fish waste, therefore, less maintenance. A larger tank can also be easier to maintain because they maintain their equilibrium better than small tanks in regards to water quality. Also consider how much space and money you have. The larger the aquarium setup, the more expensive the tank and filter will be.

To fully enjoy your aquarium, you will want to place it in an area where you can easily view it often. A living room is often a good choice. You will want to make sure to place your tank away from drafty doors and windows if possible. This helps stabilize the temperature of your tank and reduces the chance of algae problems. Also, keep in mind that you will need to plug your filter system, lights, and heater into an electrical outlet, so it helps if there is one nearby. Your wife might not like you stringing an extension cord across the kitchen. Lastly, make sure that you setup your aquarium so that it is easy to drain. You can always get a longer hose, if needed for water changes.

Another factor to consider is the type of material from which the aquarium is made. Acrylic tanks are stronger and are available in various shapes. In addition, they can be easily modified if one needs to cut or drill for special setups. Glass is more breakable, although, it is more scratch resistant than acrylic. The biggest bonus for using a glass aquarium is that they are cheaper.

Taking these things into consideration will make your freshwater aquarium tank much more enjoyable in the long run. It could also save you time and money by doing it the right way the first time.

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Article by Paul Curran

Before you think about setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium you must consider the following 10 issues and how you will deal with them. This article gives you the information you need to get started.

The Tank? Whether you have an acrylic or glass tank it must be sterilized before you can start putting anything in it. And you must have a hood/cover/canopy to reduce water loss by evaporation, stop the fish from jumping out and it holds your lighting systemWhat About Heating The Water? You need to maintain the water temperature by means of a heater and thermostat combination. For tanks greater than 3 feet in length you may need a couple of these to ensure an even temperature throughout. Thermostats can be either internal or external to the tank and must be adjustable by the aquarist. A thermometer will be needed to check the temperatureHow Much Lighting? You will need sufficient lighting to encourage plant growth but not too much giving you an algae problem. Use fluorescent tubes or tungsten lighting or a combination of the two. Experiment to achieve the desired result. Lighting the aquarium for ten to twelve hours per day is commonWhat About Filtration and Aeration? A filtration unit (internal or external) to the tank will remove suspended material from the water. An air pump attached to an air stone can aerate the water and boost the oxygen supply along with the small amount from the plants; although many do not see mechanical aeration as compulsory if the aquarium is properlyWhat Do I Put In The Tank? The bottom of the tank is covered with washed gravel substrate arranged so the level rises up towards the back and deep enough for aquatic plants to be rooted. Rocks can be placed to disguise corners. Tall plants behind bushier species will give the impression of depth. The front and foreground of the tank will be fairly open for the fishes to swim around inHow do I Fill The Tank? Install the heating and filtration system. Pour water into a cup on the bottom of the tank and continue till it the tank is two thirds full. Insert your plants, top up, switch on heating, lighting and filtration systems. Now run your aquarium for at least two weeks to establish your plants and the biological system before adding your fishesHow Do I Stock The Aquarium? Before you add your fishes calculate how many fish you can accommodate based on the surface area of the tank. A rough guide for tropical aquarium fish is to allow 12 square inches per one inch of fish. For example, if your tank’s surface area is 408 square inches then you could have 36 one inch fish or 18 two inch fish etc. And also take into account the fishes particular swimming and behavioral characteristics.Introduce the fish into the tank by keeping them in their plastic bag till the water temperature equalizes that of the aquarium. You could add some of the aquarium water to the bag. Then release the fish into its new environmentIs The Diet And Feed Correct? Generally speaking fishes do not have specific dietary requirements though its is always best practice to do a bit of research and determine if a particular species your have has any. Dried foods area available in a wide range of forms; flakes,pellets, tablets and powder. Live foods can also be introduced to give a varied diet. Included in this category are insect larvae, micro-worms, freshwater crustaceans, and brine shrimp young.If vegetarian diets are needed use lettuce, oat flakes and chopped up spinach. It is important to make sure that the fishes only eat what you feed them in a few minutes. Otherwise the excess food will rot and pollute the waterWhat Maintenance Do I Need To Do? Daily: Check on temperature and how the fish look. Weekly: Measure water quality (nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, pH), prune aquatic plants, remove debris from floor, clean and/or filter media. Monthly or longer: Partial water changes of 10-20% of the tank volume with the water at the same temperature and make up if possible. Algae on the tank front can be scraped off. The sides can be left for the fishWhat about Illnesses?: Isolating fish is a great way to reduce the chance of illness occurring. Before you add new fish to your community, quarantine them or him/her in an isolation tank for a couple of weeks so you can see if they were bought with an illness established. Make the tank comfortable with plants and substrate just like the main tank and maintain the same conditions.There are some illnesses you need to know about. Mouth fungus – cured by antibiotics. White spot – tiny white spots on the fish. Raised water temperature, salt treatment and medications are potential solutions. Fin rot – this infection happens after physical damage and is cured by antibiotics in clean water. Fungus – appears like cotton wool on the skin. Cured by salt baths or methylene blue or malachite green treatments. Use your isolation tank for treating your ill fish from the main tankSo there you have it, 10 issues you have conquered in setting up your tropical freshwater aquarium.

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It’s strange how some folk start a hobby, become fed up with it and then tell other folk that it’s the worst hobby in the world. Probably the number one reason for this is lack of research and knowledge in the first place. When people start a freshwater fish aquarium correctly with the proper research, they are the ones who keep the hobby for life.

When I was a seven year old school kid, my friend came to class one day extremely excited about his new found hobby of Origami the art of paper folding. Before the week was out, he told the whole class what a “stupid ‘orrible hobby” it was! Why? Because he couldn’t do it successfully. Why? Because he hadn’t read up properly on the instructions and so his attempts at paper folding were pathetic.

This is not dissimilar to starting a freshwater fish aquarium. A person gets so excited about this hobby he assumes it’s as easy as buying a tank, a couple of plants, a decoration or two together with a few fish and throwing them all together in the tap water filled tank.

Folks, that ain’t how it’s done.

When you start the hobby in this way that is when you will be saying what a “stupid ‘orrible hobby” it is. How on earth can it be successful with little to no knowledge? Impossible.

To start a freshwater aquarium you need to do some research which incidentally, you will find really interesting and rewarding. With this new found information you can then move on to actually starting your new found hobby, but this time with success, reward and fulfillment.

Get that essential information folks. Read it, enjoy it, and use it.

That is the only way you will have a hobby for life, some very happy fish and one extremely proud owner.

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Article by Burt Greer

The manufacturer can present you with information since they have got a strong background in aquariums. As well, you can purchase manuals out of your manufacturer on many varied topics about implementing and maintaining tanks. You can also go to the pet shop that sells fish to enable you to acquire additional knowledge on the subject of freshwater aquariums. Ask them about specific different kinds of plants that may or may not thrive well with your fish in your aquariumVarious printed materials and additionally electronic forms of information are available for the fish hobbyist. All you must know is what information you may want, the usefulness of your materials and their effectiveness in that delivers new ideas. .Starting a freshwater aquarium is usually a rewarding project, but it might be somewhat daunting at to begin with. Deciding on which striped bass, plants, filtration, and other accessories to generate requires careful consideration. The complete process has to start somewhere understanding that, of course, is along with the tank itself. The number of products of freshwater aquarium designs now available is quite large. The sizes start around 1 gallon to aquariums from the hundreds of gallons, and water volume seriously isn’t the only variable. There’s a lot of differently shaped tanks today, too. The basic rectangle is still far and away the most popular figure, but hexagons, ‘L’ sized, square cubes, and more is found. A new style that is gaining popularity in recent years certainly is the bow-front aquarium. This is really a rectangular tank with entry side bowed out (so with above it resembles a ‘D’ shape) to grant a better viewing go through. Choosing the aquarium just isn’t as simple as deciding what existing décor will look best in your residence. It is important to understand how tank shape will certainly affect the fish which is kept in it. You may be thinking a bit like putting the cart prior to when the horse, but you should think about what fish you desire to have before you choose the tank. Why is this the situation? How do the style of fish and the numerous fish play into a tank shape? Consider the issue of may be fish first. Most everybody knows that you should not overcrowd a fish tank, but what constitutes overcrowding ranges from tank to reservoir. A very common suggestion for how many fish an aquarium can hold is one inch associated with fish per one gallon from water. This is never entirely accurate, and it won’t take into account a more elevated, narrower tank shapes. An even better rule of thumb will be based upon surface area of that tank, not the fullness, and it states that for each one inch of fish there should be 12 square inches of expanse (12 square inches, not really a square foot). With the surface area rules to guide you, a 40 gallon hexagon-shaped tank would only be able to hold about half as many fish as a 40 gallon rectangle-shaped casual. The rectangular tank will have much more surface area, so it can offer more fish. The larger expanse is important for the gas exchange in the water. The fish need dissolved oxygen which the water gets from contact with the air.

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