Once
you’ve decided on your fish tank, the next step is acquiring
the support accessories. Remember: an aquarium is an alien environment,
and a very complex one. The large bodies of water your fishes come
from – big lakes, or in the case of saltwater fish, the oceans
– have very stable environments.
For the beginning aquarist, or for experienced hobbyists with limited
space, a 20 gallon fish tank is a good size to work with. It is large
enough to display a selection of the smaller species of fish you’ll
find at your local aquarium shop, but small enough to be easily cleaned
and maintained.
You’ve
made a creative choice if you’ve decided to buy an acrylic fish
tank. The nature of acrylic, its ability to be molded into unconventional
shape and thicknesses, makes it a natural material for keeping aquatic
pets. Acrylic fish tanks have come a long way from their origins decades
ago, and are now available from many manufacturers in virtually every
size and configuration imaginable.