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Aquarium Tanks
Fish tanks are mainly made of glass, but acrylic is sometimes
used as well. The size of the tank you need will depend on the type and
number of fish that you plan to have. Use the Fish Facts tab at the left
to research how big a tank is necessary for specific fish. A general rule
is to allow one gallon of water for each one inch of fish. This equates to
about one centimetre for each litre of water. For example 20 neons would
be manageable in a 20 gallon tank. If the tank is just being established
be sure to read the Water Quality
section. With a well balanced aquarium and a proper filter, you will be able to
exceed these limits. One of the main factors in supporting fish is the surface
area of the water.
Glass bowls are only suitable for Bettas. Goldfish
shouldn't be placed in small glass bowls, because they need more oxygen and are
messier than most fish. A glass bowl is usually smaller at the top and
reduces the exposure to oxygen. Since bettas can breathe air directly,
this isn't an issue for them.
For value in aquariums, it's hard to beat Walmart. They
provide excellent 20 and 29 gallon aquariums by Regent / Aqua-Tech, complete with heater, filter,
canopy and fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting will produce much
better lighting for viewing your fish than incandescent light bulbs will.
Regent / Aqua-Tech from Walmart are actually products from Marineland. If
you'd like to turn your Regent filter into a Penguin Bio Wheel filter,
click Penguin.
Place the tank in an area which gets as little direct light as
possible. This will help reduce the build up of algae, reduce temperature
build up from the sun and provide better viewing. You will notice that
most retailers don't have windows near their fish displays.
Rectangular Tank Volume Calculator
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