That lovely acrylic aquarium weighs a lot--about 10 pounds per gallon of material, so it definitely needs a structure to support it.
Creativity can be applied to structural supports as freely as for the aquarium itself.
The structural support itself should be...
1) Solid. Avoid individual legs as these tend to be weaker.
2) Even. The surface on which the aquarium sits should be even; using a level to gauge this is vital.
3) Wide enough to spread out the weight. Make sure the structure spreads out the weight of the aquarium and is not too tall.
Steel supports are a good idea for very heavy aquariums. The steel beams are usually powder coated to resist corrosion from humidity.
The structural support is often a wood cabinet. Many types of woods, finishes, decorative carving and metal fixtures can be applied.
Believe it or not, fish will sometimes try to jump out of an aquarium, especially if they are stressed, so the canopy will prevent them from floundering on the floor.
An acrylic aquarium canopy or hood is a finishing touch on the aquarium. You want to see the beautiful aquarium and aquatic life, not the wires and filters that keep it running! This additional part of the cabinetry hides the components of the tank, yet provides easy access to it for cleaning and maintenance.
The aquarium canopy also keeps out dust, debris, and flying insects, and reduces evaporation.
Canopy considerations include...
1) Type of lighting. Hotter light sources need a taller canopy to allow heat disbursement.
2) Fan holes. Holes are cut into the canopy in the back to allow for ventilation. Placement of these holes for aesthetic reasons is necessary.
The finishing touches for your aquarium include decorations for the inside and outside of the tank. You can have...
1) Picture frames
2) Driftwood
3) Ships and other sea-going vessels
4) Underwater castles, volcanoes and mermaids
5) Artificial plant life
Decorations outside the aquarium as part of the structure can be wood carvings and inset photos or other images.
A prime consideration, of course, is that anything that goes into the aquarium is not toxic to your fish.
Be careful that nothing you put in the aquarium contains metal that will rust.
What's the key to the perfect aquarium? Find out here... http://aquarium-guide-online.blogspot.com/
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