I recently bought a 10-gallon aquarium for my kids. They really wanted a puppy, but I just don’t think they’re ready for that much responsibility yet. So instead, I got the aquarium and filled it with colorful Nemo look-alikes and cool accessories, such as a treasure chest that opens and closes, a model of a diver, and a hollow shipwreck that the orange clownfish can swim through. The kids really seem to enjoy the aquarium thus far, so I think I made the right choice. Now I just have to buy a fish tank stand, and we’ll be all set.

Until we get a good fish tank stand, the aquarium is sitting on top of my oldest son’s dresser. Of course, this has led to some whining protests from my younger boy about how it’s not fair that his brother gets to keep the little Nemos all the time, so I have to act fast here. I don’t need one of those fancy fish tank stands that cost an arm and a leg; I’d be perfectly happy with some plain old thing that merely serves its purpose without any additional bells and whistles.

Fortunately, fish tank stands are relatively easy to shop for. I don’t need to put a whole lot of planning, research, or time into the process. In fact, the only thing I really need to do is know my aquarium’s measurements so I can buy the right size. Since we have one of those standard 10-gallon tanks, I can easily find the measurements and the weight online. Apparently, this is an important question that many people need the answer to, because there are lots of free charts available that contain this information. I guess everyone shopping for fish tank stands face the same problems!

Anyway, according to the charts, my unit is 20" x 10" x 12" and weighs 111 pounds when filled with water. Obviously, I’m going to need a pretty sturdy fish tank stand to hold all that weight stably and securely — especially since my kids will undoubtedly be poking and prodding the glass on the aquarium. The last thing I want is to get one of those cheap fish tank stands that will fall over as soon as it’s nudged. I’ll gladly pay a few extra bucks for a better quality product that isn’t going to end up injuring any of my family members or causing a nasty spill that will require lots of cleanup!

I’ll probably end up ordering my fish tank stand online. I’ve seen a couple of good options already, and am sure I’ll be able to settle on a specific model soon. The prices are even lower than I expected, plus the aquarium supply store that I was browsing through offers free shipping, which is definitely a bonus. I hope to have one in the house by the end of next week!

Technorati Tags: affordable, display, Fish, stand, tank

If you love fish, you probably already have some type of aquarium in your home – or you have been thinking about getting one for quite some time. When you go to a pet specialty store or if you look around online, you will see a bigger selection of choices in aquarium than every before. Whether you are getting something for yourself, your family, or just your kids, you have some things to consider before you decide which you should get. Some families and businesses choose wall aquariums, but this should never be done without some serious thought.

Wall aquariums are probably the most awesome looking fish displays that you can have in your home or small business. These are aquariums that seem to be a part of the wall. You can not have one of these in a rental home or apartment without consent, so they are mostly for homeowners and those with a small business that want to add a whimsical touch in their waiting room or client area. This is because you must take out part of the wall or have an area where you can take out a small section in order to have wall aquariums put in. You can do this on your own or have someone install it for you.

When you have decided that wall aquariums are what you need to have, think about where you want to put one. Remember that they are going to add some weight, just like a free standing aquarium, so you want to make sure you choose an area that can easily support that weight. Then you must make sure you can open up a space in the wall that is big enough for the wall aquariums that you have in mind without going through a support beam or stud. If you remove a weight-bearing support, you are compromising the overall structure of your home.

Some wall aquariums are big and some are smaller. As with other aquariums, you want to get one that is big enough for the fish that you want to have, but that is also small enough so that you can manage taking care of it without too many problems. If you are putting wall aquariums into your business, remember that some aquariums require more maintenance than others. If you have a business that is only going to be open during the week, you are going to have to go in on the weekends to care for your wall aquarium. That may not be something you want to do.

If you are putting wall aquariums in your home, think about the long term commitment and work. If you decide that you no longer want this in a month or a year, you are either going to have to remove the tank or aquarium or you are going to have to do something with it if you leave it where it is. That means having to redo the wall again, or keeping something clean that you no longer wish to have. Wall aquariums are great additions to any home or business, but make sure you know the specifics of what you want before you choose a model or make the commitment.

Technorati Tags: aquarium, picture frame, tank, wall