We recommend starting with freshwater, but the decision is yours. Freshwater animals can handle a wider range of environmental conditions since their natural environments can change dramatically over the seasons. They’re also generally less expensive than saltwater animals. Plus, if you’re ultimately hoping to keep corals, caring for freshwater plants can be good practice for keeping a reef tank.
If you’re not certain you’re really interested in keeping a tank, you might want to start small to keep the cost down. Another option might be to base the size of your tank on the space you have available. A third approach is to decide what animal(s) you want to keep and build the tank around their needs. Keep in mind: the smaller the tank, the harder it can be to keep the water parameters stable.
Water is heavy (about 10lbs per gallon) and so is glass. Some materials can also be damaged by water that might spill during setup or maintenance. Not to mention the risks of an unlevel surface. For tanks over 30 gallons, we recommend a stand built specifically for holding an aquarium. Regardless of what you choose, make sure it’s waterproof, strong, and level. You will also want to avoid placing a tank near windows, AC, or heating elements, and you may also want to avoid places where the tank will receive natural sunlight.
Most of the filtration that keeps your aquarium habitable for animals is done by bacteria. If you’re starting with a new filter, you’ll need to introduce some and give them the time and nutrients to grow before they can handle a fish. We recommend using a starter culture and feeding the tank as if you already have fish for a week or two before adding any animals. If you want to be certain your tank is ready (or just want to see what’s going on in there) you can always bring us a water sample and let us check it for you.