Buying a fish tank for the first time is very exciting. While there are a lot of things you should look for when buying a fish tank, we have put together a list of the most important things to consider. We hope this list helps you in your search for a fish tank!
5 Things to consider when buying a fish tank for the first time
- Size
Size is by far the most important thing to consider when buying a fish tank for the first time. If you have the option, we alway recommend getting a bigger fish tank rather than smaller. There are many advantages of having a bigger fish tank. You always have the option to get more fish. Also, the water chemistry will be more healthy because the waste from the fish will get diluted if there is more water. Additionally, fish strongly prefer larger fish tanks because they have more room to swim around and it is more similar to their natural habitat.
- Glass vs Acrylic
There has been a new trend where some people are buying fish tanks that are made of acrylic. While acrylic is usually clearer and less distorted than glass, they are a lot more expensive than glass. Additionally, acrylic is scratched a lot easier than glass. Therefore, if you have the choice, we recommend getting a glass fish tank.
- Budget
You should keep in mind that there are a lot of different things you need to buy for a fish aside from the fish tank. You also will likely need to buy a hood, light, heater, tank filter, rocks, ornaments, water chemicals, and brushes for cleaning. Therefore, you should not spend all of your money on the fish tank.
- Weight
One thing that is often overlooked by first time fish tank buyers is the weight of a fish tank. A lot of times, they don’t realize how much a fish tank will weigh with water. For example, a 20 gallon fish tank will weigh around 225 pounds. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have a stand that can hold the weight of your fish tank.
- Plants
Plants are another thing that you must consider when buying a fish tank for the first time. There are many advantages of having living plants in a fish tank. Primarily, they help decompose carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the water which helps keep your fish healthy. Additionally, you can sometimes save money on fish food if your fish eat the leaves of the live plants. Live plants are also great because they give your fish places to play and hide in. This is important because live plants resemble a fish’s natural environment.
