If you are new to the hobby of aquarium tanks let me just start by mentioning this could be one of the most exciting experiences you may ever have. Now to ensure success and optimum conditions for your new wet friends some careful planning is required on your part. Some things that are be considered a priority to ensure your success would be tank selection. A huge mistake that many beginners make is selecting the wrong size of tank before they have even thought about the type of fish they are going to put in it.
Because this is your first time I would suggest you to inquire about the fish you plan to keep before you do anything else. Why? Because not only the type of fish but also the amount of fish you plan to have will dictate the size of tank you will need. In fact the pets you choose totally dictate what type of extra equipment you may need as well as how you will go about performing regular maintenance on your marine tank.
There are lots of choices available and the first one you will have to make will be whether you pick a saltwater or freshwater aquarium tank. Regardless of the pet you select it will have specific demands such as diet, reproduction, compatibility and maintenance. The fish you get at your pet shop come from various freshwater and saltwater sources from around the globe like lakes and creeks and of course the many oceans. Now unlike freshwater species the saltwater species have a tough time adapting to fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry. This is why, beginners are recommended to begin with easier to maintain freshwater fish such as anabantoids, catfish, livebearers, rainbow fish, and loaches.
As you are now aware there are lots of different set ups attainable and they all offer the right conditions for many types of fish. An example would be a freshwater set up which is the cheapest course to travel as far as fish tank supplies and fish are concerned.
Saltwater on the other hand is almost a different animal. It will usually always have live rock that act as a biological filter as well as a protein skimmer and equipment for detecting and dealing with the temperature. This helps keep your pets environment is healthy and stable.
You can see that a saltwater fish tank is the more expensive route, but it is known to be the ultimate experience. The reason for this is because the tanks are usually bigger and they are better equipt to accommodate a large variety of sea life like jelly fish, coral reefs and anemones.
Aquariums tanks come in all shapes and sizes. The most common materials are glass or acrylic. Available sizes can range from as low as 10 gallons up to 500 gallons or more. Rectangular shaped tanks are usually the most common aquariums tanks but other shapes like flat back hexagon and bow front shapes are also common choices. Aquarium tanks made from acrylic are noted for being lighter, stronger and more durable compared to glass. But they are more prone to scratches and are tougher to buff. For beginners, it is usually advised to invest on a large tank because it tends to have more stable water conditions. It better limits sharp temperature fluctuations, which assure more stable environment for your fish.
One option that is gaining in popularity with hobbyists of all levels is the biorb fish tank. To sum up what a biorb is, it is basically a combination of old technology meets new in a sense that it can be used like a classic style fish bowl but it also has the latest filtration systems normally used in a larger style aquarium tank.
Lastly, you must think about your fish tank stand and make sure that it will hold the weight of the tank plus the accessories mounted to it. Whether you have a glass or acrylic tank you can be sure it will weigh a ton once it is filled with water and accessories. Always make sure your aquarium and stand are on a level footing and keep it out of direct sunlight as it might cause increased algal growth.