Well, that is a good question. After all, it's the tank that you're keeping the fish in, and it's the tank that dictates what size fish you're gonna end up putting in there. So suddenly your question turns into a multiple choice:
a) Whatever I can afford
b) Whatever suits the fish I'm planning to keep
c) Whatever I can find
d) Whatever fits through my front door
e) Whatever I'm willing to put the effort into
f) Whatever is practical
g) Whatever
In most cases, you'd only get to choose one of the choices from this list. But because I'm nice, I'll let you choose any selection of these choices.
Each one of the things mentioned will affect the size of tank you're gonna end up getting, as each one needs to be taken into consideration before you hand over a wod of cash to that smirking salesperson at your petstore. If you get the jist of what I'm saying in the above 7 points, good for you. Take that advice and head out and use it, share it. For the rest of you, read on.
a) Whatever I can afford
Sure sure, if I was to be a goody goody responsible fishkeeper, I'd say "the welfare of your pets matters more than the weight of your wallet". However, it's quite the opposite. It's YOUR money. In the end, you'll be spending quite a lot of money on this tank, and should something go wrong or the tank goes to waste, it's going to be YOUR money wasted. Take what you can afford without sacrificing your petrol/food money.
Unless you're quite well off like our friend Billy Gates, you're going to look for the best deal around. After taking all the other points into consideration, you'll be out looking for that dream tank. Go shop jumping - different shops sell different brands, and even if they sell the same brand, one shop may sell the tank cheaper than anywhere else. It'll be well worth your looking around.
Your second and often preferred option is to buy second hand (gasp!). To many, this doesn't even sound like an option, like some sorta dodgey backstreet deal that sometimes happens among the unfortunate in the hobby.
Fancy a second-hand two foot tank?
To be honest, I don't know why some people don't like this option. Their loss, really, because second hand tanks are the cheapest tank available (well, usually). So long as you keep your eye out for things like chips, cracks, bad scratches, peeling silicone, bent glass, bad repairs, and thin glass, you're set. Even if the tank has its problems, it can sometimes be cheaper to buy a second hand tank and get it re-sealed than to go ahead and buy a new tank. Keep your options open.
b) Whatever suits the fish I'm going to keep
Bingo! In the perfect world, this should be the only option you'd have to consider. But, we don't live in the perfect world, so we can shed our tears here and move on.
Now, what exactly does this crazy fish ranter mean when he says 'suits my fish'? Well, what I'm trying to say is consider the fish you would like to own before choosing your tank size based on this point. Do plenty of reading on several fish you're interested in, see what they're like. Then you think:
- does it get big?
- does it need space to swim? Is it active?
- does it have to live in groups?
- does it need space for territory?
- if so, how many am I planning on keeping, and how much space is needed for territories?
- does it need a big tank footprint (length and width of tank)?
- does it need a tall tank?
And please, please, please never think that "a fish will grow according to the size of the tank it's in". Just. NO.
To some degree, this statement is true. If you keep a fish that, say, grows to 30 centimeters (1 foot), you buy it at 5cm (2 inches) and you put it into a 60cm (2 foot) tank, there is no way it'll get to 30cm (1 foot) length. It's body growth would be STUNTED. If you're still ok with that, then consider this: it's body stops growing, but its insides (organs), well, don't. Pretty much, over time its organs will grow inside its never-growing body, squishing them and causing organ malfunction. So your fish will live for 2 or 3 years instead of maybe 7 to 10 years.
In the same logic...
Do you remember back when you were a kid (or maybe some readers still are, my apologies). You'd go to a family function, and see all these people you hadn't seen since you were in diapers. Suddenly, one of your supposed relatives approaches you and tugs on your cheek, saying:
"My, how you've GROWN! Your mother should have tied a brick to your head!"
And while all the adults giggle, you blush and turn away.
You see, your mom could have tied a brick to your head. In that way, she'd never have to buy you clothing ever again, because you'd never grow! However, some would consider it cruelty...
Generally frowned upon by society.
Yup. Cruelty.
c) Whatever I can find
This pretty much applies to those who live in areas which lack pet stores, aquarium stores, or whatever. I've been to places which have only one general pet store, who have three tank sizes, and that's that. Any aquarist living in such a hell-hole, my heart goes out to you.
There isn't much that you can do about this. Ideally, get the biggest you can find. The problem is, whatever is available dictates what kind of fish you can get, not the other way around.
Wish you luck.
d) Whatever fits through my front door
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? I'm sure that you'd be surprised to hear that some people have returned tanks to the shop because they couldn't find a place for it to fit, or worse than that, they've had to knock down their flipping wall just to get their tank into their flipping house. One word:
Planning.
Grab yourself a measuring tape and get moving. First, look at where you want to put your tank. Not all side-boards, tables and bar counters can hold the weight of a fishtank, so be sure to check up on that first. Measure the stand/table/doohickey that you're gonna use, and be sure the you'll be able to fit the tank on that. The tank mustn't stick over on any of the four sides, and the tank must be 100% level (you'll need a spirit level for this task).
Next, measure your door/doors. Height and width are important here. Also take into consideration arm and body space - arms are those things you're going to use to hold the tank, and the body is that thing that arms are attached to.
Then, do some measuring on your mode of transport (if this includes a bus and/or bicycle, you'll in for an interesting time). Door width and height, trunk size, collapsible seats, you name it. Just make sure that you can fit it in your car, you have a way to stop it sliding about, and that you can get it out afterwards.
e) Whatever I'm willing to put the effort into
Don't let this happen. People are, at first, proud of their huge tanks, but after time their interest wanes, or their tank is just too much effort to bother cleaning. Big tanks cause more problems, and should you have to wear a wetsuit to clean your tank, buddy, be ready to gear up when you have to. If it's beyond your capability to take care of the tank, go for something smaller.
f) Whatever is practical
Somewhat the same as above, but includes some other little things to consider too. For instance, if you want to start a marine tank, don't go nano instantly. The smaller the tank is, the more quickly things can go wrong simply because there's less water. Think practically.
Also, think what is practical to your lifestyle. If you barely manage to feed your children because you're on the job way too often, go for something a little smaller. Smaller tank = smaller maintenance = less time taken during maintenance.
g) Whatever
Yeah.
Just...
Don't even get a tank.
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