The first decision you will make in beginning your fishkeeping career is which aquarium you'd like to buy...sure it sounds easy, but this "simple" decision requires many other decisions to be made in selecting an aquarium that will suit you and your fish for the duration of their lives.

Budget is obviously a big consideration; some simple internet research or a quick perusal of local aquarium offerings should give you a basic idea of how much aquariums of various sizes will cost.

What kind of fish do you want? We'll start with this simplistic approach to the question and worry about specifics later. Do you want big fish? Small fish? Schooling? A single gorgeous specimen to take pride in? Once you have a basic idea of what fish you like you can research their compatibility and space requirements and that should give you a basic idea of the size of aquarium you need for the fish you want.

Next, how much space do you have to devote to an aquarium? Look at your home or office and select a place away from direct sunlight, heaters, contaminants (grease splattering in the kitchen, that deodorizer spray you use in the bathroom) and then measure the space you have available. You may have to modify your plans for the type of fish you want, but you may also discover you could do something much fancier than you originally planned.

Glass or acrylic? The material of your aquarium depends largely on your personal preferences, there is no general consensus amongst experienced fishkeepers regarding which is better. My personal favorite is glass because it generally seems to be more scratch-resistant than acrylic and does not discolor with age (some acrylic aquariums of mine have discolored when stored empty for some time) but there are some other considerations. Do you move a lot or foresee a move in your future? Acrylic is lightweight and less likely to crack due to the stresses of moving so it is much easier to move than glass. In addition, acrylic tanks generally do not have seams; glass tanks have silicone seams that can spring leaks and become brittle with age so if you do not want to bother with repairing a tank the acrylic is the way to go. Cost comes into consideration as often acrylic is cheaper and can be found in more shapes, but some higher-quality acrylic tanks can run a lot higher prices than glass.

If you've done any research regarding this decision to buy an aquarium you will have noticed there are a lot of different shapes available out there and each with their individual value in terms of versatility and aesthetics. While rectangles are probably the most widely-available and cost-effective tanks on the market and often what people think of when they picture an aquarium, but they are also just a tiny bit of what is available. Bow-fronts are often fairly expensive but hugely popular...these attractive tanks can make the tank and its inhabitants look larger and throw more light into a room, making awesome additions to waiting rooms, dark corners or smaller rooms. Hexagons, globes, cubes...these are but a few of available aquariums, so you have the flexibility to find something that will fit perfectly with your personal tastes and decor.