TANK

Which tank to choose:

  A beginner is confronted with a wide array of tanks of different materials, sizes and shapes in a pet shop. A beginner always thinks that small tanks are enough for him and as a starter he does not need big ones. Well that is the first mistake all of us make. Each size of tank has its own special use. Smaller tanks are useful in their own right, but not for the beginner. I would recommend a size of 3 ft x 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft. You can do a calculation of how much volume of water this tank can contain. I have given below a table of simple volume conversions and calculations. I recommend the user to get familiar with the units such as cubic feet, gallons etc..This tank is not very expensive and will form a good attraction among the living room decorations. Simple rectangular size tanks are conventional and serve the purpose. There are also more attractive and expensive tanks made to different shapes like hexagonal, triangular and many other shapes custom built to fit the furniture of your home. If you cannot buy new tanks, you can always look for garage sales, where lots of fish keepers give up the hobby due to lack of time or other factors and you can strike a good bargain to get the complete set up including accessories for half the price of new tank alone. But beware of leaks, you must check for leaks by asking the owner to fill up the tank one day before you buy and check the next day for leaks. Used substrate should be checked to see if it will suit your tank pH, as some substrate such as crushed coral can cause the water to turn hard. It depends on what pH you want to keep in your tank. Used gravel if purchased should be washed thoroughly with hot water before using.

  You should remember that larger the surface area the more is the oxygen adsorption and more number of fishes you can keep per gallon. For the same gallon capacity of water, a rectangular tank can have much larger surface area than a square or hexagonal shaped tank which is taller. I would recommend a simple rectangular tank for aquarium use, unless you want to decorate your living room with a fashionable tank. Aquariums also come in Acrylic and Glass. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

   While smaller tanks will result in your fish having less space to swim about, it also means less oxygen for the fishes. Often the beginner would soon go on a shopping spree, ending up in more number of fish than the small tank can hold, resulting in an ultimate disaster. Many beginners give up their hobby when this happens the second time they go on a shopping spree. Some fishes can live in a Jam jar, while others need gallons of water. Bettas can live in a Jam jar more than comfortably, where as gold fish as a rule need at least 10 gallons of water per fish. So be careful while selecting the tanks. I would advise you decide on what kind fish you ultimately want to keep and then choose a tank. Also never buy costly and more difficult fish to keep at first, just because you have purchased a large tank. Start with smaller and easier fishes and few of them. Learn the water chemistry and habits of fishes and then slowly go for more difficult ones to keep.

Unit Converter for Reference

Formula

A Simple Formula for conversion of size to volume in the case of rectangular or square tanks is as follows:

GALLONS = {WIDTH X HEIGHT X LENGTH } / 231

All dimensions shall be in inches. Above formula is very handy.

Rectangular tanks

Typical Rectangular tank sizes and volumes available in the market are as follows:

Hexagonal Tanks

Typical Hexagonal tank sizes and volumes available in the market are as follows:

 

Volume (US G)	Tank Size (inch)	Application
10	14 x 12 x 18	For small fish, Decorative
20	18 x 16 x 20	For small fish, Decorative
35	23 x 20 x 24	For medium fish, Decorative
60	27 x 24 x 28	For medium fish, Decorative

Bow front Tanks

   

Typical Bowfront tanks have a curved front glass. These add to the beauty of the tank but has no real advantage over simple rectangular tanks.

Selecting the Tank

  Here are some tips for selecting the tanks whether new or old.

• The tank should not have bends or deformations in the glass used. When placed on a flat surface it should not rock.
• The Glass should be of adequate thickness to withstand the pressure of water. For the size of tank mentioned above the minimum thickness should be 5 mm. Thickness should be more for more deeper tanks. There shall be no visible cracks.
• The sealant which is often silicone glue nowadays, should have been evenly applied and well worked. There shall be no visible gaps in the glue.
• If buying used tanks always check for leaks. Never buy a leaking tank, unless you have lots of patience to locate the leak and seal it. Ask the seller to fill it up with water and keep it for a day before checking.
• If you are enterprising enough try to make your own small tanks. You can always buy glass plates cut to the required size. Buy a silicone glue gun and some glue and there you are. Be careful, silicone glue while curing releases acetic acid which can be dangerous if inhaled too much or gets into the eye. Use rubber surgical glows.
• Other recommended sizes are
  • 36 x 18 x 18
  • 48 x 18 x 20
  • 24 x 12 x 20
• If you really are having financial or space problems then get a 24 x 12 x 12 tank. But beware of the number of fishes you can keep and the type of fishes.
• There are also many acrylic aquariums in the market. You have to be careful, acrylic gets scratched easily and once it is scratched the visibility disappears and the charm of the tank is gone. You have to clean the algae often with a razor blade and this you cannot do to a acrylic surface. My preference would always be glass.
• If you have young children then please be careful about glass, as any banging on the surface would very easily break the glass which is already under the pressure of the contained water.