Aquarium Buyers Guide

Choice

Choosing the right aquarium can be difficult, confusing and a time-consuming task, especially with our wide variety of Aquarium sizes. This section of our website will give you important information not found at your local fish store or online website. This information should guide you to a wonderful Aquarium that will be easy to care for and look great. Below, we discuss in detail the most important features when purchasing a new aquarium.

• AQUARIUM SIZE & LOCATION (determined by location in home & finances)
• AQUARIUM HEIGHT (optimum height of 18" to 26")
• AQUARIUM WIDTH (DEPTH) (as wide as will fit in location)
• AQUARIUM SHAPE ( rectangular affords the best viewing and least expense)
• AQUARIUM QUALITY & WARRANTY ( straight seams and edges with at least 1 year warranty)

 
Size & Location

We recommend the 29 gallon Aquarium as a good minimum size. Larger aquariums offer more choices of fish varieties and decoration options and greater stability. Smaller Aquariums (under 20 gallons) are less stable and are therefore more difficult to maintain than larger aquariums. Remember that the aquarium should be placed where everyone will enjoy it and where it will fit properly. Avoid locations near a window, outside doors and heating & cooling vents.

Aquarium Height

It is very tempting to choose an extra high aquarium because of the overall viewing area it affords. However, high aquariums offer no advantages in fish capacity over the lower height aquarium of the same base size. Therefore, choosing an aquarium height should be based on personal preference taking into account that an aquarium that has a low height has limited viewing and decorating options. Can an aquarium be too high? Yes, Aquariums over 26" high have more disadvantages than a low height aquarium and include -

• Difficulty in cleaning and service, remember that most hobbyist's arm length is 24".
• Aquariums that are 30" high require mechanical tongs or grabbers to plant, or decorate or rearrange the inside aquascape.
• There are very few aquarium decorations or plastic plants that reach over 24" high.
• The higher the aquarium the more light and energy is needed. Live-planted aquariums will require extensive light systems to grow plants. Saltwater aquariums will require larger and more intense lighting systems.

Aquarium Width (Depth)

Wider Aquariums from front to back offer many advantages over standard 12" Width Aquarium Sizes including -

• Greater depth offers a more realistic underwater scene.
• Decorating options include larger pieces of rock and driftwood and the ability to design caves, valleys and cliffs and beautiful aquascapes.
• More hiding places and refuge areas for aggressive fish.
• Wider Aquariums offer Saltwater Natural Live Rock system a better base area for arranging live rock to avoid front and side glass.
• We offer a wide variety of 18" to 30" wide aquariums not offered by other stores. These aquariums generally are offered in the most user-friendly 18" to 26" heights. Consider a wider aquarium and you will not be disappointed. Also, allow 6” extra width for outside Filters or 2” extra width for Canister filters when estimating an aquarium width that will fit your location.

Aquarium Shape

Aquariums are offered in many shapes. Rectangular, Bow Front, Corner Pentagon and Bow Front, Hexagon, and S Shaped. Generally speaking, Rectangular Aquariums are the most reliable and offer the largest selection of gallon sizes and height and width at the lowest price per gallon. Rectangular Aquariums also offer the best-unobstructed view of fish and decorations. Corner aquariums offer large viewing area and take up less space than many aquariums and therefore offer advantages over rectangular aquariums in specific circumstances but cost considerably more. Hexagon aquariums and small rectangular aquariums offer the smallest viewing area and fish capacity and are the least desirable aquariums for most hobbyist applications.

Quality & Warranty

Quality built Aquariums have features in common, listed below are a few.

• Straight silicone seams with no silicone curl.
• Double silicone seaming (sealed with silicone in-between and inside glass edges)
• Even and straight glass edges.
• One-Piece Style Plastic Framing with Plastic Cross-Bracing on Large Aquariums
  Written warranty with set-up instructions.

Summary

Choose as large a rectangular aquarium as your budget and space will provide. A height of 18" to 26" will give adequate viewing and choose as wide an aquarium as space permits. Place it on a manufactured aquarium stand and follow the set-up instructions on your written warranty. Buy the best filtration you can afford and take your time when setting up and stocking your new aquarium and enjoy the hobby.