Having Fun with Fish Tank Aquariums
Posted on May 8, 2010
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Fish tank aquariums can be a relaxing and enjoyable addition to your home. Here we will discuss the things you should consider in making a wise purchase. Buying a fish tank aquarium with no forethought can be an expensive mistake and can discourage a successful installation.
Begin your decision making process by deciding where to place your aquarium. Put it where you spend most of your time and where it will be readily visible. Picking the best spot will also help you determine the size of the aquarium. Keep in mind that if you ever have to move the aquarium it will have to be torn completely down. This is stressful to the fish and a great deal of trouble for you. In picking your location keep in mind that an electrical outlet will have to be nearby to power the heater and the filter pump. A reasonably close water source will also be helpful.
You will want to locate the tank in an area that allows access to the tank on all sides. Cleaning the tank and filter will be much easier if there is room to maneuver around the tank. Having adequate ventilation around the tank will discourage the growth of mold.
Place the tank away from HVAC registers and outside doorways. These sources of hot and cold air can interfere with the stable water temperature needed for healthy fish tank aquariums. Also avoid direct sunlight on your aquarium because this can create an overgrowth of algae.
Take into account the weight of a fully loaded aquarium when choosing your location. The weight can be estimated by multiplying the gallon capacity of the tank by 10. So a 50-gallon aquarium will weigh about 500 pounds. Dividing the weight by the number of square feet in the base of the aquarium will tell you how many pounds per square foot will be exerted on the floor. For really large tanks placed on a wooden floor you should consider getting a professional opinion on how much weight per square foot your floor could withstand.
Tanks are made of either plate glass or Plexiglas material. Plate glass offers an advantage in that it will not scratch easily. On the other hand Plexiglas, which is plastic, will not break like glass will. Anyone living in an earthquake prone area would want to buy Plexiglas.
Tanks can be purchased in tall octagon or hexagon shapes that can be interesting. These shapes are generally chosen when there is little room in the area where the tank is to be located. The cubicle shape of the standard tank will give the fish more room to swim and you can place interesting objects like coral in the bottom.
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