Choosing a tropical fish tank is really important. The right choice will make the maintenance of the tank easier and much more fun for you and the fish, so you want a tank that not only looks good, but is also functional and appropriate for your needs. At the end of the day the decision is yours to make, but here are a few ideas that may help you choose a tank that’s right for you!

The Shape of The Tank

The most common shapes for tropical fish tanks are hexagon and rectangular, but you can also buy rounded bubble tanks, coffee table fish tanks and slimline fish tanks that fit in the wall!

When deciding on the size of the tank, you have to consider where it will be placed to be sure it will fit, and will not cause an obstruction.

Rectangular tanks are best for your water quality and fish health.

Because rectangular tanks are long, the surface are is greater in ratio than other shaped tanks. A hexagon tank looks great, but the surface area is smaller, which means more maintenance and water changing.

The rectangular tank is less work, and with the bigger surface area, allows you to keep more fish.

Location For Your Tropical Fish Tank

If you are just going to be keeping one fish as a conversation piece on a small shelf or bathroom vanity, then a cool decorative tropical tank would be ideal. before deciding on a location for the fish tank be sure to take the weight of the tank into consideration.

A filled tank can weigh 12 pounds per gallon so a filled 20 gallon Aquarium can weigh over 200 pounds. Choose a spot that can support the weight including the right stand. When buying your tropical fish tank, it is necessary to think about its placement in your house.

If you are looking to add appeal to an empty corner, a hexagon shaped aquarium tank might be wonderful, but a long rectangular tank could make an interesting statement along a wall.

The Size of Your Fish Tank

If you are just a beginner you should consider a 20 to 30 gallon aquarium setup. A small 5 gallon tank is OK if you don’t have a lot of space, but you will have to be careful not to overload the tank with fish, or the quality of your water will deteriorate, and your fish will not be healthy.

Don’t be tempted by those little fish tanks or bowls that have 1 or 2 fish with no filtration, Believe me, the fish will not live very long time in that tank and you will spend a lot of time monitoring the water quality and performing water changes. As a guideline, the bigger the tank is, the less maintenance it will need.

Typically you can house 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water in the tank – along with adequate aeration and filtration, that is. If you buy a 20 gallon tank, you can have 20 inches of tropical fish, or about 15 fish. With the smaller 5 gallon tank you will only be able to keep 2 or 3 fish.

Picking the right tank is really a matter of personal preference. You just need to weigh up your options and pick what best fits your needs. Doing your homework before you go to the store will help to save you both time and money in the long run.

Choosing Your Tropical Fish

Now, before you start choosing your tropical fish, it’s maybe worth mentioning that not all tropical fish can be kept together in the same aquarium. There are some that have special water needs, and there are some that can be very aggressive, although by and large, most can get along.

The best way of starting to populate your home aquarium is by buying what is called community fish, like Guppies and Catfish. These are normally quite active fellows in the aquarium, they look great, you have a good range of choice, and they’re not al that expensive to buy.

Cichlids, Discus, and other freshwater tropical fish species tend to have some special needs, like particular water conditions or habitat. The Piranha fish can also be considered to be a specialised breed because they are very aggressive. Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish) also have a reputation for being aggressive, but they do usually tend to get on OK with the neighbours.

Gouramis and certain kinds of Catfish, although sociable enough, can expand large enough for a medium sized fish tank. They are not so easy to buy now as in the past, and it’s probably just as well, as they could outgrow the fish tank and pollute the water. These species are best left to experts & marine biologists. There are some good Tropical Fish Books for Discus and Betta.

Other Creatures and Plants

There are other creatures you can put in your home aquarium, such as invertebrates, but they do need meticulous care and maintenance. Tropical fish keeping is easy to deal with, but if you introduce marine slugs and snails, they have special needs for them to live in a mock habitat.

Aquatic plants such as Amazon Swords will develop in any kind of home aquarium providing they have enough light and ground to root in. But remember, if you start off with a ready-planted aquarium, you need to make sure that you give the plants enough light, ground and water conditions for them to develop. But more than anything else, have fun with your new aquarium.