Best Fish Tanks: Types, Sizes & Setup Guide

Setting up your first aquarium can feel overwhelming, but understanding what makes a balanced aquarium truly transforms the experience. From nano aquariums to massive 125 gallon setups, success starts with knowing your goals. 

Whether you are a beginner or experienced aquarist, choosing the right tank size, understanding fish species compatibility, and creating stunning aquatic environments requires careful planning and consideration. This comprehensive guide covers popular types of fish tanks, various sizes, shapes, and materials to help you make informed decisions for creating a thriving, beautiful aquatic environment.

Types of Fish Tanks

Understanding the different types of aquariums available helps you choose the perfect setup for your needs and experience level.

All-in-One Aquariums

All-in-one aquariums prove ideal for beginners, offering built-in chambers for heating and filtration. The manufacturers put a lot of work into their designs, making these the most stylish and visually appealing options. Models with built-in aquarium stands and cabinets make organizing your fish tank super convenient. All-in-one aquariums come in various shapes and sizes, including nano tanks perfect for shrimp or betta fish, medium setups for community fish, and even bigger tanks large enough for impressive African cichlid or saltwater predator displays.

Tropical Community Setup

The tropical community setup is probably the most popular choice in the aquarium hobby. This kind of aquarium houses a variety of different freshwater tropical fish together in the same tank. However, it's very important to research each fish carefully because some prefer different water parameters and temperatures while others just don't get along. Good filtration and heating are very important for this type of fish tank. Stocking options include bottom dwellers, schooling fish, and all sorts of colorful species. Other creatures like African dwarf frogs, snails, and shrimp can also be kept in some tropical freshwater tanks.

Cold Water Aquarium

A cold water aquarium is the ideal choice for fish keepers who want to keep goldfish and other types of fish that prefer cooler aquarium water. Unlike tropical fish, coldwater species come from parts of the world where winter temperatures can drop pretty low, so these species do not need a heater to survive in most homes. Stocking options include goldfish, koi for indoor and outdoor ponds, Japanese ricefish, white cloud mountain minnows, and axolotl.

Saltwater Aquariums

Aquariums aren't just for freshwater fish. You can keep all sorts of marine fish in a home aquarium, including some stunning tropical reef fish. Keeping a saltwater aquarium isn't that different from keeping freshwater species, although it does require some extra equipment and knowledge to keep the water salinity correct and maintain a healthy aquarium environment for the fish.

Nano Aquariums

Nano aquariums are simply small tanks up to about 20 gallons or so. These are popular choices for small fish like guppies and betta fish. While nano aquariums might be cheaper to buy and easier to clean, they're not necessarily the easiest to maintain. You can keep invertebrates like snails and shrimp in 1-2 gallon tanks, but 5 gallons is about as small as you can go for fish, and only a few species will thrive in such small space. However, a 15-gallon tank is great for beginners and allows you to keep many more fish species, including small tropical communities.

Tank Materials

Choosing between glass and acrylic is one of the most important decisions when selecting your aquarium, as each offers distinct advantages.

Glass Tanks

Glass fish tanks offer high clarity and visibility, making them the best choice for enjoying crystal-clear views of your fish. They're widely available and come in standard sizes, so you can easily find a hood, stand, and equipment to match your setup. Glass is relatively scratch-resistant but is a brittle material that can crack and break if bumped or filled on an uneven surface. Glass is also a heavy material, which becomes an important consideration for large fish tanks.

Acrylic Tanks

Acrylic fish tanks come in a much wider range of shapes and sizes than glass tanks and are the go-to option when designing custom fish tanks. Acrylic is much lighter and tougher than real glass, although it does not offer the same viewing clarity and scratches easily if cleaned carelessly. While acrylic tanks may have some important benefits, they generally won't last as long as a well-cared-for glass tank because they can become scratched and discolored with age.

Tank Shapes and Sizes

The shape and size of your aquarium significantly impact fish health, maintenance requirements, and overall aesthetic appeal of your setup.

Rectangles and Cubes

Most fish tanks are rectangular, and this shape should be your first choice for most aquarium types. Rectangles offer more floor space for aquascaping and more horizontal swimming space for your fish. This is especially important for active, open-water species. Longer tanks also tend to decrease aggression as fish become more aggressive in small environments. Rectangular tanks are also strong and easy to construct from sheet glass or acrylic, and they offer a large surface area for oxygenation.

Cube tanks are readily available and offer several benefits over the traditional rectangular tank. There's something undeniably elegant about a cube aquarium that makes them really pop. Their symmetrical shape also improves visibility, making them great for positions like the center of a room where you might view them from any direction.

Rimmed vs Rimless

Traditionally, glass aquariums have been built with solid bracing around the top rim for added strength. However, many modern aquariums are designed to be rimless, with no plastic strip along the top edge of the glass. 

Rimmed tanks might not look as good, but they are stronger than rimless tanks. They're also cheaper and the top edge of the glass stays well protected from chipping. The benefits of rimless tanks aren't that obvious, especially since the hood of your aquarium may cover the rim anyway. However, many aquarists prefer to keep open-top aquariums which allow the viewer to see the animals and plant life from a whole other dimension.

Essential Components

Every successful aquarium requires certain key components to maintain a healthy environment for your fish and plants to thrive.

Filtration Systems

Effective filtration proves vital for maintaining a healthy freshwater fish tank. Smaller tanks have limited volume of water, so any imbalance quickly leads to poor water quality. High-quality filtration systems keep water clean by removing debris and harmful substances. Various types of filters suit small tanks, including sponge filters, hang-on-back filters, and internal filters, each with distinct advantages and drawbacks.

Substrate

Substrate remains an important part of any aquarium setup. The beneficial bacteria primarily inhabits your gravel, sand, or whatever bottom layer material you've chosen. Whether maintaining planted aquariums or not, the nitrifying bacteria converting ammonia to nitrite to nitrate predominantly resides here. Over an inch of gravel works best because more beneficial bacteria can colonize that increased surface area.

Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in the health and appearance of any aquarium. The right lighting setup can enhance colors of your fish and plants while providing necessary light for plant growth. LED lighting remains a popular choice for fish tanks due to energy efficiency and adjustable settings. Beyond improving aesthetics, proper lighting helps maintain a balanced aquarium environment.

Temperature Control

Maintaining the correct temperature stays essential for the health of fish and plants in fish tanks. A reliable heater is crucial for ensuring your aquarium maintains a consistent temperature suitable for its inhabitants. When choosing a heater, consider options like adjustable submersible heaters. Heaters with built-in thermostats help regulate temperature and prevent fluctuations, which stress fish and plants.

Choosing the Right Setup

When selecting an aquarium, consider a medium-sized cabinet aquarium if you're getting started. These types of fish tanks are the easiest to set up and they provide storage space for all your equipment and supplies. When it comes to size, larger fish tanks are generally better than smaller tanks because they require less aquarium maintenance to keep the fish healthy. However, very large tanks can be quite a chore to clean, so consider a 20 to 55-gallon starter setup before moving to something very large.

Always choose a location before you buy the tank, taking care to consider factors like the distance to the nearest electrical point and faucet, the amount of foot traffic and noise the area gets, and the distance from windows. You should avoid positioning your tank anywhere that receives direct sunlight. Fish tanks are surprisingly heavy when full of water, so you'll need a strong stand to hold a medium-sized tank.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Overstocking the tank with too many fish species or incompatible fish leads to poor water quality and stress

• Carefully select fish species suited to the size of your tank and monitor the bioload to avoid overcrowding

• Neglecting proper filtration and maintenance affects water quality

• Failing to regularly clean the tank and monitor water conditions can lead to algae overgrowth and poor health for fish and live plants

Regular Maintenance Tips

• Regular water changes are essential to maintain water quality and remove accumulated waste

• Change a portion of water weekly or biweekly, depending on the bioload and size of your tank

• Routine cleaning and checking of equipment, such as the filter, are important for long-term tank health

• Regularly inspect the filter for clogs and clean it as needed to ensure effective filtration

• Monitor the health of your live plants and replace any that are deteriorating

With so many amazing options available to the modern aquarium hobbyist, choosing just one type of aquarium requires some careful thought. Understanding your goals, space limitations, and the needs of your chosen fish species will help you create a thriving aquatic environment that brings joy for years to come.

Conclusion

Creating a beautiful aquarium is all about balance, patience, and understanding the needs of your aquatic pets. From choosing the right tank size to selecting suitable fish species and maintaining proper equipment, every detail contributes to a thriving underwater world. 

Whether you are  setting up your very first tank or upgrading to something larger, take time to plan thoughtfully and enjoy the process. With the right approach, your aquarium can become a stunning, relaxing centerpiece in your home. Start building your dream aquarium today by exploring premium fish tanks and accessories at PetDiscountMart.com!