Aquarium Shapes and Design Ideas

Aquariums for fish come in many shapes, sizes and designs. The one you choose should depend upon your fish and your budget and aesthetic preference. While glass bowls are fine to keep fish in, they have to be cleaned more because they do not have a filtration system. Aquariums are better options if you have more fish and space and because the filtration system will break down bad bacteria and generate "good" bacteria for fish.

  1. Basic Aquariums

    • The basic aquarium is a 10-gallon rectangle, according to Old Town Aquarium. For more fish, you should get a larger aquarium. PetSmart recommends getting a 20-gallon or a 29-gallon aquarium because the more water in the tank, the easier it is to maintain stable water chemistry and temperature. Glass aquariums are easier to clean than acrylic ones because they do not scratch and are less expensive. Most glass aquariums come in only squares or rectangles, as opposed to acrylic ones that can be made into almost any shape.

    Shapes of Aquarium

    • The shape and size of the aquarium you choose depends upon your taste. Aquariums come in hexagons, flat back, rounded outward, domed, pentagons, cylinder, half cylinder or quarter cylinder, according to Old Town Aquarium. The largest home aquariums can hold 870 gallons or more. That, of course, does not compare to the Atlanta Aquarium, which is one of the largest in the world, holding 8 million gallons of water. While shaped tanks may look beautiful, curved edges can distort the view of the fish.

    Fish Furniture

    • Some people choose to have aquariums built into pieces of furniture such as cabinets, sinks, toilet tanks, old television sets, computer screens, columns, fixtures, coffee tables or even shower stalls. These aquariums add to your home's decor and also provide a calming ambiance. The design of these tanks hides the filtration equipment that otherwise looks bulky. Custom built aquariums can cost thousands of dollars as opposed to the hundred dollars it will cost to get a basic rectangular tank.

    Larger Fish

    • Larger fish such as redfish, catfish, zebra fish, tetra fish, barracuda or freshwater sharks must be kept in larger tanks. Some of these fish will eat other, smaller fish and grow rapidly if they are not fed often enough. Some breeds of fish will grow much larger if you get them as babies, so it is important to get a tank that the fish can grow in. Ask a sales clerk at a pet store the size tank you should be looking into.