Freshwater

Tank shape
Although it is cool to have an oddly shaped aquarium, be aware that a few
drawbacks go along with these tanks. The shape of an aquarium helps determine
the amount of oxygen its water contains.
Vital gas exchange (carbon dioxide for oxygen) occurs at the water surface. A
tall, thin tank, such as a tower aquarium, with a small water-surface area, has
less gas exchange going on than a shorter tank with a longer, and therefore
larger, surface area.
Another factor to take into consideration is that odd-sized tanks, especially if
they are really tall and narrow, can be hard to clean or decorate without
scuba gear. There may even be areas near the bottom that are totally
unreachable. You may also find yourself having a hard time locating equipment
such as filters and hoods to fit a tank that isn’t a standard size if the
original part happens to break. (Even if you do find a good match, it probably
costs twice as much as the same piece does for a standard-sized tank.)
Carrying capacity
The carrying capacity is simply the total number of fish you can keep in your
aquarium safely without their going belly up. If you choose to buy a tank that
is very tall and narrow, you can’t keep as many fish in it as you can in a tank
with a larger surface area. It’s as simple as that. We’ll say it one more time: If
you get a fancy tank that has a small surface area, don’t count on having a
whole bunch of fish.
Choosing the Right Stand
Chapter 4: The Tank and Stand
Choosing a good aquarium stand can be just as important as picking the right
aquarium. A stand needs to be sturdy and strong and look cool at the same
time. The one thing that you don’t want to do is use Granny’s antique table as
an aquarium stand, because any unforeseen water leaks will quickly ruin that
heirloom. A heavy tank can warp the wood on your regular household furniture,
too. It is always best to use a manufactured aquarium stand built to support
a tank’s weight and designed to be perfectly level.
Make sure your aquarium fits its stand correctly. If the edge of the tank hangs
over the stand, the stand is too small and eventually can cause the aquarium
to warp or break.
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