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10
Once you have decided what
species of fish you wish to keep,
you’ll need to provide them with a
suitable home. Here are some of the
things you’ll need to consider when
choosing a tank for your fish.
TIP
BIGGER AQUARIUMS
ARE EASIER TO MAINTAIN AS LARGER BODIES OF WATER ARE
MORE STABLE
.
THEY ALSO ALLOW YOU TO KEEP
MORE FISH!
Before
you
T
ake a minute to
consider what sort of
fish you wish to keep
and their requirements.
Marine systems use specialist
marine equipment, so if buying
a bare tank check first that the
extra equipment can be fitted.
Live plants and corals need
bright light, so again, check that
the light fittings supplied will do
the job.
Tank size
Fish can vary in size so the
right tank must be chosen
accordingly. Always buy the
biggest tank that you can afford
as larger volumes of water are
more stable and will hold more
fish.
As a rough guide, an
aquarium should be at least six
times the adult length of the fish
and bear in mind that
some territorial fish need lots
of space if they are to live with
others.
Weight
Aquariums are very heavy when
filled with water so they must
be placed on a suitable level
surface and combined with a
strong, specially made stand.
A Juwel Vision 180 aquarium
holds 180 litres when filled.
Each litre weighs one kilo, so
add that to the weight of the
tank, the gravel, the décor and
the cabinet and the whole thing
could weigh the same as three
grown men once set up, and
they should never be moved
when filled.
Check that the area is level
with a spirit level before you fill
it up. Even empty tanks can be
heavy so make sure that you
have lots of help available to lift
it into position when you get it
home.
Aquarium
furniture
Most larger aquariums will have
matching furniture to stand the
tank on and a matching or built
in hood that accommodates the
lighting. Whether you want slick,
silver finishes or something to
match the dresser we have the
tank for you, and many designs
are available in several colours
for that purpose.
But there are added benefits
from choosing proper stands
and cabinets as they can
complement the tank and they
are fit for purpose. Whichever
tank you choose, speak to a
member of staff instore. They
will be able to recommend the
best type of cabinet to suit that
tank.
Cabinets can be used to
store and disguise equipment
too. Large aquariums and
cabinets often come with
doored cabinets to place an
external filter, and a shelf to
store food and medications.
This not only looks neater but
the filter can be accessed away
from the main tank with minimal
disturbance to the fish.
Design
This is where you can let your
imagination run wild. If you
can think of a shape, there
is probably a tank to match
– but some designs are more
suitable than others. If space
is at an absolute premium, a
square nano tank may be for
you and can be placed in the
office or kitchen without taking
up any more room than a
small, portable television. Nano
tanks have come on leaps and
bounds too, with models not
only being suitable for small
tropical and coldwater fish but
also marines.
If the traditional style goldfish