Mary Allen
The underwater world fascinates many people with its bright colors, the many different fish, and the beautiful plants. So it’s no wonder that aquaristics are also becoming increasingly popular and the number of aquarium owners is steadily increasing.
However, if you also want to buy an aquarium, you should be aware that this involves a lot of work and that the responsibility you assume for the plants and animals should not be underestimated. An aquarium must be maintained regularly, the water values must always be optimal and must therefore be checked again and again, and the plants must be trimmed.
In this article, you will learn how to find the right aquarium for your home and what you need to pay attention to.
The different form factors
The aquariums are now available in many different designs. Starting with 20 liters and the nano aquariums over a few hundred liters up to several thousand liters, there is nothing that the aquarium market does not have to offer.
The most common aquarium has a rectangular shape, although there are also round shapes, aquariums with a curved front pane, or special models for the corners of a room, the so-called corner aquariums. But also with a square basic shape or particularly unusual shapes can be found or can be specially made.
When it comes to choosing the right shape, your own taste and the available space play an important role. Of course, the tank must be selected according to the available space, because it is clear that the corner aquarium would of course be the right choice for the corner of a room. Of course, the shape and the available space also determine the effect of the pool that is later fully furnished.
The larger the aquarium, the more options you have in terms of stocking and design. However, it is also clear that aquariums become more and more expensive in terms of purchase, technology, and maintenance, the larger they are.
What should the new trim look like?
Of course, not only the available space plays an important role. It is also important to know which fish should live in the aquarium in the future. The different fish species bring different requirements to their habitat, which urgently need to be taken into account. Fish that don’t have enough space, aren’t given the right water parameters or are kept with fish species they shouldn’t be socialized with live shorter lives and don’t thrive.
For this reason, it is important to think carefully in advance which fish should be placed in the tank that has been entered. For example, guppies don’t need as much space as honeycomb catfish and neon tetras do well in a smaller tank, although swordtails like it when they’re given more space.
Of course, there are also exotic fish, which clearly stand out from guppies, mollies, and gourami. Also welcome are the small shark species or discus fish and small ray species, whereby several thousand liters are of course necessary for these fish.
So not only the furnishings and the rest of the trimmings play an important role. Because the first priority is the tank size with the existing volume and dimensions, so that for all fish species it is necessary to research in advance how much space they need at least. Even with these dimensions, experts advise taking one size larger.
When choosing the tank for the fish you want, you should never make any compromises, because fish need space, they grow and should feel as comfortable as possible.
The different aquarium types
There are many different types of aquariums, all of which are interesting in their own way. Many aquarists decide before buying a new tank in order to find the right aquarium because not every tank is equally suitable for every type.
The community pool
General information
Most interested parties opt for the typical community tank, in which several fish species are kept together. It is particularly popular with beginners and is therefore recommended by experts as a beginner’s model. The variety that you get with such a tank is almost endless, so that not only can many different types of fish be kept here, but there are also no limits to your own imagination when it comes to decoration.
Aquarium size
Ideally, the aquarium for the community tank should be a little larger. Pools with a size of only 100 liters or less are not suitable. It is important that the different fish species can avoid each other so that they do not injure themselves. Here, too, the size has to be adjusted to the individual stock, because many ornamental fish can only be kept as a school, which of course needs more space than a pair.
The facility
When setting up, one or the other compromise always has to be made, so that there is something suitable for all fish species in the tank. It is important to provide plenty of hiding places in the form of caves, roots, and plants at all levels of the tank. It is also important to subdivide the aquarium so that the fish can withdraw from time to time. The setup should only be chosen once the fish species that will live in the aquarium in the future have been selected.
The aquarium inhabitants
When choosing the animals, interested parties are offered a large selection of different types of fish. However, these should not be thrown together at random, because the selection of different fish is a particularly big challenge, which requires a lot of research and time and should not be rushed. So it is important that the different fish have similar demands on the water parameters and the facility. However, it is important to know the existing water values, which can be found out by special water tests. Now you can start looking for ornamental fish that you like visually and would also be satisfied with the water parameters. It is also important to know whether you can socialize the selected ornamental fish with each other or not and whether they can be kept together.
The Art Aquarium
General information
For many, the Art Aquarium sounds very boring because only one specific species of fish is kept in this tank. Of course, you can offer the fish the best conditions in terms of equipment and water values in such an aquarium.
Aquarium size
Depending on the type of fish, the perfect aquarium size varies. However, it is clear that the tanks up to 100 liters should only be used as species tanks, as there is very little room for compromises. But there are also larger fish species, which of course also need larger tanks, which can easily be several hundred liters.
The facility
In the case of a type of tank, the complete set-up is adapted to the selected fish species. In this way, you can ideally orientate yourself towards these preferences and needs in order to create an optimal environment for the fish.
The aquarium inhabitants
As already mentioned, only a selected type of fish lives in a type of aquarium, which of course should be well selected in advance. Of course, the water values also play an important role here, although the facility and pool size can be adjusted.
The biotope aquarium
General information
In a biotope aquarium, several species of fish are kept together, similar to a community tank. This is an excerpt from nature with all the associated fish, decoration and the different plants.
Aquarium size
The tank size is to be kept the same as in a community tank and is therefore dependent on the fish species that are to live in the biotope aquarium in the future.
The facility
The setup is a real challenge here. Above all, the research is a lot of work with such a special aquarium and therefore often extends over a long period of time. So you have to find out which plants and decorations occur in the area of origin of the fish, which of course also means that the respective water values have to be adjusted. ´
The aquarium inhabitants
Of course, the fish that are to be kept in a biotope aquarium all come from the selected habitat, so that no compromises can be made in this regard.
The nature aquarium
General information
A natural aquarium is particularly eye-catching because of the stones, the different roots, and the plants and is therefore particularly popular with aquarists. With these special aquariums, it is not a must to keep fish or shrimp, or other creatures in the tank, because the focus is clearly on the natural furnishings and decoration. Aquascaping, i.e. setting up natural aquariums, is currently becoming more and more popular and modern. The aquarium is decorated true to nature.
Aquarium size
The size of the tank is irrelevant here, because the natural aquariums are clearly suitable for tanks of any size. At least as long as no fish or shrimp are kept in it, because in this case the tank should be adapted to the requirements of the animals again. However, if you do not want to keep animals, there are numerous requirements that are no longer applicable, so that there are no longer any limits to your own imagination and designing a small nano tank is of course also a real challenge.
The facility
The aim of setting up a natural aquarium is to create a harmonious underwater world. Be it through differently shaped substrate, through breathtaking buildings made of stones or roots or through planted stones or beautiful flora. The natural aquariums are diverse.
The most important features of the different pools:
| cymbal type | features |
| The community tank | Living together, several species of fish from 100 liters, tank size feasible Compromises (decoration and water values) have to be found due to the different needs beautifully colourful recommended for beginners as freshwater and saltwater aquarium possible not all fish species get along with each other Hiding places are important |
| The Art Aquarium | only for one species of fish
Decoration and water values must match the fish species Tank size depends on stocking |
| The biotope aquarium | based on nature
Coexistence of fish of one origin Water parameters and furnishings also depend on the place of origin easier socialization suitable for any pool size |
| The nature aquarium | Plants, stones, and decoration are in the foreground
also possible without keeping fish and co suitable for all pool sizes Creation of different landscapes |
Aquarium with or without base cabinet?
The individual aquariums can now be bought individually or with the matching base cabinet. The latter is particularly practical for stowing all the important aquaristic utensils in the cupboard so that they are always ready to hand. This not only applies to the right reading material, but also to food, care products, and water conditioners. Landing nets or the right tools for cleaning can also be stowed in the closet. Furthermore, many aquarists use the base cabinet to store the aquarium technology safely and out of sight, which is particularly ideal for the cables and an external pump. The base cabinet, should it not be purchased directly with the aquarium, should be able to withstand the heavy weight of the aquarium, so it is always advisable to buy a coordinated set, as these can ensure that the cabinets for the aquarium were designed and therefore have no problem with the high weight.
Conclusion
Which aquarium is right for you depends primarily on your individual taste. It is always important to be able to offer the animals that live in the tank a habitat that is as natural as possible so that they can live a long and healthy life. Only then will you be able to enjoy your new aquarium.