Acrylic Aquariums
Common Sizes
When you go to buy your aquarium, you'll need to consider first your living space and the room you have for an aquarium. Most experts will tell you to get the largest aquarium for which you have space and that you can afford. At a minimum, you should go with a 10-gallon tank for a fresh water tank and 20 to 40-gallon tank for a marine aquarium. Here are common acrylic tank sizes:
- Usually, you'll find acrylic tanks in the following sizes: 10, 20, 25, 29, 55, 75, and 90 gallons. When you pick tanks, consider that wider and longer are usually better than taller given the same volume because they provide more surface area (which promotes oxygen exchange - good for your fish)
- Special tip: A 55-gallon tank is very popular but be careful about the dimensions. You don't want to shortchange your water to air surface area with too large a height to width or length ratio. For example, you'll commonly find that 75-feet and 90-feet tanks will have the same exact surface area, even though the 90-feet tank carries more water. This is another reason to reconsider any "new" molded shapes like the hexagon or column (which are much taller than they are wide). All things being equal you want a tank shape with the greater surface area.
Online Sources for Acrylic Aquarium
Here are some great online sources for acrylic aquariums:
- Doctors Foster and Smith have a great web site with just about everything a generalist fish keeper could need.
- AquariumSource stocks aquariums from 8 gallon BioOrbs to 870 gallon rectangular tanks. Hexagons, Pentagons, Bullets, and Half-Cylinders shapes are all available here.
- FishTankStore sells Clear for Life tanks in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- MarineDepot sells the VERY popular SeaClear Aquariums.
- Petco also sells Marineland Eclipse tanks as well as SeaClear tanks.
- Tenecor is also another popular manufacturer for acrylic tanks.
Read Related Miscellaneous Aquarium Articles
- All Glass Aquariums
- History of Fish Tank Materials. Pros and cons for glass tanks.
- Changing The Water
- Tips to make changing the water easier.
- Custom Aquariums
- This article delves into the pros and cons of custom built aquariums - and more.
- Aquarium Stands
- Discuss the role that aquarium stands have on the fish keeping hobby.
- What Is A Refugium
- Why people use refugiums with their aquariums? Different types of refugium - and more.
- Stacking Rocks in Your Aquarium
- Learn how well stacked rocks can add personality and a natural look to your aquarium.
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- Different kinds of screensavers, top aquarium screensavers available today.
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- Understanding the nitrogen cycle and its importance to a healthy tank.
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- Euthanasia options for Fish.
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Member Tanks
my tanks front
My 90 gal
Grove
Purple tang (We call Prince), and mini box fish (We call Square pants)
55gal. tank. Mostly black gravel with a touch of blue. One Plastic rock(Petsmart) , about 60 pounds of petrified wood. Plants are fake as I have no luck with real plants. Am running Two 200W heaters(house temps are in 50's at night.) One Penguin 200 Biowheel, one Top Fin 60 Filter(came with tank.), one Penguin 550 power head with attached Bio-Sponge. Three airstones, twin 15W lights.
Inhabitants:
2- Yellow Labs(1m,1f)
2- N. Brichardi (2f)
2- Hap. Moori (2m)
1- Pseud. Duboisi (m)
2- Pseud. Crabro (1m,1f)
2- Electric Blue Johanni (1m.1f)
1- Pseud. Lombardoi (f)
3- Syn. Petricola Cat.