Background:

Aquariums have fascinated humans for many, many years. Today, it's easier than ever to have your own home setup with an fish tank and a good selection of fish... but which size tank is best, and why?

Fish tanks range from the super-small 2 gallon (8 litres) size that you could probably only keep a pet snail in to monster 1,000 gallon (4,000 litres) aquariums which would take up most of your garage! A fish tank of about 50 gallons (200 litres) is on the large end of the readily available sizes of aquariums, but it does have many advantages over smaller aquariums.

Smaller Is Not Better

It may seem strange, but a 200 litre fish tank, if you have room for one, is actually easier to take care of than a smaller tank, such as a 40 litre tank. There's ample water in the system constantly flowing through filters, and it takes a long time for levels of nitrates and other pollutants to build up. It also just plain looks better because you can stock more fish and see them fom different angles. A 200 litre aquarium can become a sort of self-sustaining eco-system in its own right whereas a small tank will quickly become polluted with fish waste products and leftover food. There is much more to it than this, but the general rule is to buy the largest aquarium you can because they're easier to take care of, and you won't "out grow" a large tank as easily as a small one. Upgrading your aquarium is stressful for you and your fish, so start out with the largest tank you can afford and have room for.

With a 200 litre fish tank you also have the option of it being freshwater or saltwater. A saltwater aquarium is more work than a freshwater aquarium, but you can house very beautiful fish in it once you have it all running smoothly. A freshwater aquarium is going to be your best bet if you're a beginner at fishkeeping. When you understand the basics and have researched saltwater aquariums, you can use your 200 litre fish tank as a saltwater environment instead of a freshwater one.

Something you'll need to take into consideration is the space a 200 litre fish tank can take. They are quite large and very, very heavy with the weight of the water and gravel or sand, so you'll need a secure area to place the tank and a good, strong stand to put the tank on. One recommendation that a lot of aquarists will make is not to place an aquarium in front of a window that receives direct daylight because the extra light can warm the tank and cause more algae than would otherwise occur.

If you're just starting in the world of aquariums, a 200 litre fish tank may seem daunting, but, believe me, you'll be happy you went for the larger size. Smaller aquariums are simply harder to look after well, especially controlling the water parameters. A 200 litre fish tank can be a masterpiece and a work of art when maintained correctly. Whatever size of tank you choose, please look after it well, for both you and your fish to enjoy.