In the beginning, it is important to learn how to care for your aquarium so that your fish and other marine life can thrive. The tank should be placed on a flat, hard surface and be covered completely with gravel or sand. A glass aquarium will require a top layer of glass or acrylic. Both types of glass are sturdy, although some consider clear glass more durable.

One of the key features of a glass tank is that it is extremely sturdy and difficult to break, according to professionals . Glass tanks are typically manufactured from a combination of copper and aluminum, giving the tank the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all aquariums types. Because the strength of glass is optimum, it is typically used to support marine plants and rocks as well as holding the actual fish or aquatic animal. Because of this, when considering purchasing an aquarium, the thickness of glass used should be one of your main concerns.

An aquarium is a tank of any size with at least one side displaying and containing live aquatic organisms or plants. Many aquarium owners use aquariums to contain fish, live invertebrates, amphibian, reptiles, and other aquatic organisms. You can purchase aquariums pre-made, but building your own aquarium can be a rewarding project for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. Aquarium construction can also be an enjoyable learning adventure.

As your tank and marine life grow, you will find that the size of the tank will dictate the size of the filter system you will need. Typically, a 4 gallon tank will support between fifteen and thirty gallons of water with a nitrate and nitrite combination for plant life. Once you have decided what your tank will contain, the filters you will use will play a large role in the health of your tank. Although there are many different types of filters, three popular options include sand, sub micron and biological filters. Each has different benefits and uses, so be sure to research each before making a final decision.

Sand is typically used as a bare bottom tank option. Sand will keep debris off of your aquatic plants and fish and prevent other forms of clogging from occurring. If you have any sort of vegetation or waterfalls within the tank, it will be important to remove these before putting the sand in. While the tank will look cleaner, it will also be harder to maintain once these things have been placed.

Sub micron filtration removes all kinds of waste products from your tank. These waste products are generally ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. These waste products can over time create nitrite gas, which can cause fish to become ill. By removing the excess nitrogen waste produced by the bacteria, this helps keep your tank healthy.

Biological filter options are often used in aquariums that contain aquatic life such as live rock or coral. Because these biological filtration systems need to be turned on constantly, some tanks may not be appropriate for these types of systems. Glass aquariums are generally fine with this type of filter.

The last form of filtration in an aquarium is the use of biological loading. Biological loading occurs when a certain amount of a certain bacteria or an organism is introduced into the tank. The bacteria will then work to de-stress the tank, giving your inhabitants something to do other than fill their mouths with food. This will keep the ecosystem healthy, because the inhabitants will be less stressed due to the absence of a real threat. However, be sure to not introduce more than the recommended number of organisms or bacteria into the aquarium because you do not want to overload the ecosystem with too many of one thing.