| Setting up a freshwater aquarium is a rewarding | | | | accurate, and it does not take into account taller, |
| project, but it can be somewhat daunting at first. | | | | narrower tank shapes. A much better rule of thumb |
| Deciding on which fish, plants, filtration, and other | | | | is based on surface area of the tank, not the |
| accessories to get requires careful consideration. | | | | volume, and it states that for every one inch of fish |
| The whole process has to start somewhere and | | | | there should be 12 square inches of surface area (12 |
| that, of course, is with the tank itself. | | | | square inches, not a square foot). |
| The number of choices of freshwater aquarium | | | | With the surface area rules to guide you, a 40 gallon |
| designs on the market today is quite large. The | | | | hexagon-shaped tank would only be able to hold |
| sizes range from 1 gallon to aquariums in the | | | | about half as many fish as a 40 gallon |
| hundreds of gallons, and water volume is not the only | | | | rectangle-shaped tank. The rectangular tank would |
| variable. There are many differently shaped tanks | | | | have much more surface area, so it can carry more |
| now, too. | | | | fish. The larger surface area is important for the |
| The basic rectangle is still far and away the most | | | | gas exchange in the water. The fish need dissolved |
| popular shape, but hexagons, ‘L' shaped, square | | | | oxygen that the water gets from contact with the |
| cubes, and more can be found. A new style that is | | | | air. More surface area equals more air contact which |
| becoming more popular in recent years is the | | | | means more oxygen for the fish. |
| bow-front aquarium. This is a rectangular tank with | | | | The type of fish you want also determines the best |
| the front side bowed out (so from above it | | | | tank shape. Different fish prefer different water |
| resembles a ‘D' shape) to give a better viewing | | | | levels, i.e. surface dwellers, mid level swimmers, |
| experience. | | | | bottom dwellers. It would be a bad idea to fill a tall |
| Choosing the aquarium is not as simple as deciding | | | | hex shaped tank with very active surface swimmers |
| what size and shape will look best in your home. It | | | | like danios or fish that like a large bottom area to |
| is important to know how tank shape will affect the | | | | roam. Slower mid-level swimmers like goldfish or |
| fish that can be kept in it. It may seem a bit like | | | | angelfish may be a better choice. |
| putting the cart before the horse, but you should | | | | Of course, if you are just getting into the aquarium |
| think about what fish you would like to have before | | | | hobby and have no idea what type of fish you would |
| you buy the tank. Why is this the case? How do | | | | like to have, then you can buy whatever size and |
| the type of fish and the number of fish play into the | | | | shape tank that you prefer. When it comes time to |
| tank shape? | | | | buy fish, though, the tank size, shape, and surface |
| Consider the issue of the number of fish first. Most | | | | area must be factored into the fish buying decision. |
| everybody knows that you should not overcrowd a | | | | Above all, just make sure some planning goes into |
| fish tank, but what constitutes overcrowding differs | | | | the process of choosing the freshwater aquarium |
| from tank to tank. A very common rule of thumb | | | | design for your home. Do not rush the decision and |
| for how many fish an aquarium can hold is one inch | | | | everything will work out fine and you will have a |
| of fish per one gallon of water. This is not entirely | | | | healthy, beautiful aquarium to enjoy for many years. |