Saltwater Tank Selection

Tank Selection

Which tank is right for you?

There are many things to consider when you're deciding which tank to purchase. Tanks come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and even materials from which they are constructed. Deciding factors for tank selection can depend not only on the physical space that you have available to accommodate your setup, but also which animals it will be supporting and, sometimes more importantly, your purchasing budget.

All modern tanks are constructed of either tempered glass or formed acrylic and are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Generally speaking you should look for the largest tank that your space and budget allow, but the minimum recommended size for any successful marine aquarium is about 20 gallons. With tanks smaller than this it will be difficult if not impossible to maintain a consistent water quality. Tanks with a larger capacity have a better ability to absorb small chemical changes which can have a drastic effect on animals in a smaller aquarium.

Another important consideration in tank selection is the water surface area that it will provide. Oxygen enters the water through it's open surface and carbon dioxide and other chemicals are released through this same surface. It is therefore important to choose a tank that will provide the largest surface area possible. For instance, you can find a 30 gallon rectangular tank in either a tall or long variety. It's easy to tell by simply comparing these two that the long tank will provide a larger surface area while the narrower, tall tank has a much smaller surface area. Make the right choice and choose the long tank, your fish will thank you. Additionally, a long tank provides more swimming room for you fish since most fish swim from side to side and not top to bottom.

Now, let me qualify one of my earlier statements. Just because you can afford a 100 gallon tank and your living room has enough space to accommodate, there is one other thing to consider before selecting a large tank. Salt water weighs approximately 8.5 pounds per gallon. A little simple math shows that 100 gallons of saltwater tips the scales at 850 lbs. Add to this the actual weight of the tank, stand, and accessories, and well, you get the idea. If the substructure of the floor where you place the tank is not suitable to support this kind of weight you will come home one day to a nasty surprise in your basement, or worse, your downstairs neighbor's living room. Do your homework on this one. And while we're on this subject, keep the same things in mind when selecting a stand for your tank. Most stands available in your local pet shop are designed specifically for this purpose and should be more than suitable. If you're thinking of using another object as a stand, say a table or some other stand that was not designed specifically for an aquarium, be absolutely sure that it will be stable enough to support the weight.

OK, that's enough for now about tanks for now. Let's move on to the other essential equipment and accessories you will need for a successful aquarium.

When you're done here, check out some of these other aquarium sites:
Katy's Tropical Fish
Angelfish Revealed
SaltWater Aquarium Advice
Tropical Fish Secrets
Aquatic Experts
Starting A Reef Tank