The aquarium is not only a corner of nature, but also a piece of furniture. In this regard, the question arises - How to choose an aquarium of a particular model? There are 2 approaches to this issue: an aquarium as a life support system for organisms and as an interior detail. It is difficult to combine them, so it is important to determine the priorities.
What are the components of the aquarium?
- The aquarium itself
- Stand or cabinet
- Cap
- Equipment
- Scenery
- Population
Glass part of the aquarium. It comes in different shapes and sizes. It is made of silicate (window) or acrylic glass (plexiglass). Silicate glass is very hard but brittle, acrylic is easy to scratch but difficult to break. Straight aquariums are usually made of silicate glass, aquariums with arched and spherical elements - from acrylic. Its cost depends on the thickness of the glass, which in turn depends on the height of the aquarium.
The main troubles when choosing aquariums. For silicate ones, this is poor-quality gluing of glasses or their insufficient thickness, illiterate design and construction of the aquarium. For acrylic, "silvering" is also dangerous - the appearance of microcracks in the thickness of the glass. It does not appear immediately, but after months and years. The way out is to buy aquariums from well-known manufacturers, which are correspondingly more expensive. You can, of course, choose a cheaper aquarium, but no one will give you a guarantee of its long-term operation.
Stand or cabinet. This is the support of the aquarium, often contains equipment inside and decorates the interior. It must be durable, moisture resistant and roomy. But due to the economy of resources, the curbstones are often of the same type, beauty is sacrificed for functionality.
Cap. It combines a cover glass with a lamp and a top panel. Contains electrical appliances and sockets, you cannot save on the quality of the cover.
Equipment. It is necessary to buy high-quality imported equipment, in Russia it has not been produced for a long time. Better to trust the advice of a consultant. Its cost depends not only on functional characteristics, but also on the brand. Whether to overpay for the brand is up to you.
Scenery. You can buy them at the poultry market, at the pet store, or make yourself.
Population. It is better to buy fish at a pet store, because there will give advice on their content. It is obligatory to go through quarantine, have documents, etc. This, of course, increases the cost, but these measures are entirely justified, otherwise there may be a lot of trouble with the health of the aquarium population in the future.
