How the Shape of an Aquarium Tank Can Affect Your Fish

Aquarium tanks come in many shapes these days besides standard rectangular tanks and round fish bowls.

Most unusually shaped tanks are made of acrylic, as the material is relatively easy to mould geometrically shaped tanks with straight sides (e.g. hexagons) can be made of glass, as the edges can be silicone-sealed. However, these edges may interrupt your view of the fish.

A well-moulded acrylic tank of a polygonal or oval shape can come with gently rounded edges and surfaces that do not distort your view of the tank’s inhabitants too much.

Have You Consider Your Fish’s Welfare?

While an interesting shape may be excellent for your décor, you must consider the welfare of the living things you will be keeping in that tank.

Some unique shapes may not hold as much water as you think they do at first glance. Irregular shapes also make it hard to calculate the volume of water the tank will hold.

To be sure of the volume, you will either have to pour pre-measured amounts of water into the tank until it is full and count as you go along. Or get a tank from a reputable manufacturer who can vouch for its volume.

As we learnt in the last week’s articles, you need something like four liters of water per inch of small, freshwater fish, and much more for larger or marine species. So a great-enough volume is important if you have a certain number or size of fish, even if you install aerator.

Do Your Fish Have Enough Room to Swim?

Even if the volume is sufficient, odd-shaped tanks may not provide as much swimming space as a standard, long rectangular tank. Fish need room to dart about and turn in like any other pet does. Tall and narrow tanks are not as kind to them as longer ones.

Some tanks are made to be wall-mounted and are very narrow. They have scarcely any width forcing fish in them to only swim from east to west or up and down, with little turning room and no means of darting around freely.

Other tanks are designed for tabletops and hold special oxygen-providing materials. They are thus absolutely miniscule. Although there is oxygen aplenty and the fish won’t suffocate. There is hardly room for them to move!

Both these tank types are hardly ideal for raising living, mobile creatures in, and their use borders on animal cruelty.

Are Special Shaped Aquarium Tanks Durable?

As most tanks with special shapes are acrylic, fishkeepers much watch for “sagging” or warping. Acrylic does not hold its shape as wall as glass over long periods of time, with the weight of water pressing on it (water is a heavy substance).

If the tank sags too much, you’ll have to change it. Some acrylic also yellows over time with exposure to sunlight and the elements, affecting the beauty of the aquarium.

I’m sure you will agree with me that unusual shaped aquarium tanks are pretty, but are they practical?

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