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What ever kind of fish I end up getting, the first thing I'll need is a place to hold the water, and other "stuff", so my new friends can have a nice home.
My search found that the tank is not the most expensive item, or ultimately the only important item. But, it was definitely the gating item.
Because I've had no "successful" experience with fish I figured I'd start small and work my way up. WRONG! It seems that there is a better chance of success if I get a larger tank. Because fish are so responsive to changes in living conditions, a larger tank allows more time for the fish to give me its frantic (or subtle) signals that something is wrong. Small tanks shorten the reaction time, and my new little buddies could have been heading for the porcelain bowl within hours.
I decided to get a 20 gallon tank (maybe 30), but then someone asked if I'd seen the new tank shapes. Yep, there they were -- oval, square, octagon, etc., etc., etc. Somehow good sense won out over adventure, and a traditional glass rectangular tank was picked.
Yes, I said a &glass" tank. I had the choice between that and acrylic. Glass won out because:
Speaking of cleaning, I found out you cannot use soap and water -- only a mixture of aquarium salt and warm water. I guess the fish don't like that soapy taste.
While browsing the internet I was daydreaming about laying on the rug, chin resting on my folded hands, and watching my fish eye to eye. Just then one of my two cats jumped up to say hello, and I immediately began looking for fish tank stands!
Here's where things could get expensive. Fortunately, my cheap side kicked in and I settled on a unused small, but STURDY table (water weighs 8.8 pounds per gallon!!). There was, however, the temptation to get a piece of furniture that made my entertainment center look like trash. I like nice things, and that fancy stuff will still be there if the fish and I can become permanent "roomies".
An alternative to buying a stand, or using an old table, is to make your own stand. And, I found a set of plans. Chris Freyer was kind enough to put his on his web site, and you can get them by clicking Tank Stand
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