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Choosing the right fish tank aquarium can be overwhelming. With hundreds of fish tank aquariums on the market, which one should you get? Some of the fish tank jargon can be both intimidating and confusing, but choosing the right tank is probably the most important decision you need to make if you want be successful at keeping a beautiful fish tank.

Here are some of the most important considerations when choosing your aquarium tank:

1. Size – How big do you want to go?
The size of your tank will not only determine how many fish you can keep, but it will also dictate your budget. Generally speaking, fish tanks are priced by capacity and the bigger the tank the more expensive. As a rule of thumb you need to allow, 1 gallon of water for every (1) inch of fish you keep. In other words a 10 gallon tank can keep 10 fish with a length of 1 inch each. Overstocking your tank is the biggest reason why most fish tanks fail. Make sure you allow enough space for your fish.

2. Material – Glass or Acrylic?
Although we all think of fish tank aquariums as being made from glass, the latest trend is to make tanks from acrylic. Acrylic is light weight and more transparent than glass. This makes it look better and handle much easier than big bulky old glass tanks and acrylic tanks can come in a wide variety of shapes. Glass tanks still do have some advantage in that they tend to be more robust and have a longer life.

3. Location – Where are you going to put your tank?
Where do you intend to put your tank. This will also influence your decision of the size of tank you intend to get. Your fish tank should never be exposed to direct sunlight as this will promote the growth of algae and having yr tank too close to a hot or colds source can play mind games with your tank’s temperature stability. Also, keep in mind that a tank filled with water can get really heavy. For most tanks above 10 gallons, standard home furniture will be insufficient to support the tank and you may need a special stand to support the weight.

4. Style – What shape and style are you looking for?
The days of plain old rectangular tanks are long gone. Apart from getting tanks in a variety of curves, you can also get freestanding tanks. These tanks offer a 360 degree view and the filters are usually neatly tucked away in the lid or base. There are some real interesting shapes on the market and some designs are even built into coffee tables.

5. Budget- How much can you spend?
Tanks can vary quite a bit between brands and manufacturers and the quality of filters, materials and lights can make a big difference in the price. The more sophisticated your tank gets, the more expensive it will be. You need to set a budget and try and stick to it – otherwise you can run wild and blow a small fortune by adding more features and gadgets. Save your money for the fish instead!

Traditionally virtually all fish tank aquariums were made of glass but in the last couple of years the advances in plastic technology spurred a new wave of acrylic tanks on the market. So, is an acrylic fish tank better than a glass one? Many old school fish keepers still swear by glass tanks, but the new generation is embracing acrylic tanks with open arms.

The one is not necessarily better or worse than the other, but they do have some important differences that you might want to keep in mind. Here are the 5 reasons why I like acrylic tank aquariums:

1. Scratching
Although glass is much harder and more difficult to scratch, the scratches are permanent. Acrylic on the other hand is easy to repair when it is scratched. Acrylic polishing kits are available in many places, and these can be used to remove scratches and make your tank good as new.

2. Weight
A filled up fish tank can be heavy, especially when you get to 50 gallons or more. Glass tanks can weigh as much as 10 times more than an acrylic tank. Acrylic is a very advanced material which gives it a lot of strength for very little weight. A lighter tank aquarium means that you can support it on normal furniture (don’t need a special stand) and if you have to move it you can.

3. Seamlessness
Glass tanks are made of sheets of glass joined together while acrylic can be molded into a single seamless shape. Not only does this give you greater clarity, but shat slick seamless look is very modern and looks really good.

3. Shape
Acrylic is easily molded and formed into almost any shape. Although glass can be curved it tends to distort the images behind it and you won’t get that with acrylic. Acrylic tanks come in a great variety of shapes and sizes to suit virtually any space you have available. You don’t need to be confined to the square or rectilinear glass tanks anymore.

4. Strength
Glass is very strong in compression, but because it is so hard it’s very brittle. Acrylic is softer and can be twisted without breaking. This makes your acrylic tank aquarium less prone to cracks and even breaks. On top of that, you can even drill holes into an acrylic tank (for overflows) without compromising it’s strength.

5. Brightness And Clarity
Most commercial aquariums use acrylic for their windows. This is not because it is stronger, but because the quality of viewing is much better. The science behind it is that glass has a different index of refraction than water which means that the image behind the glass (the fish) is distorted. Acrylic on the other hand has nearly the same index of refraction as water which give the appearance of the fish floating in mid air – you can barely see the water.

Regardless of your preference, there’s no doubt that acrylic aquarium tanks are sexy. They are definitely the in thing and here to stay. The seamlessness, brightness and amazing transparency makes it the ideal solution for a showpiece aquarium that can brighten up any room or office.