Sitting your aquarium

Ask for and take the advice of the retailer from whom you purchased the aquarium concerning siting it in your home. It certainly should not be subject to rapid changes in light or temperature or be subject to vibrations e.g. a repeatedly slamming door.

Aquaria full of water are HEAVY. Each gallon of water weighs 10lb. Thus, when full, a normal 24inch aquaria may weigh more than 150lb, while a 36 inch aquarium may weigh 250lbs.

It is very important to ensure that the floor you select upon which to stand your aquarium is capable of carrying the weight for an indefinite period.

Concrete floors are usually strong enough to support the weight of aquarium. When aquaria are placed on wooden floors it is important that its weight is evenly spread, perhaps by placing boards over the floor. Heavy aquaria should be placed so that the weight is evenly spread across the joists. If you are in doubt about positioning an aquarium, particularly if you wish to put it upstairs, then ask the advice of the retailer.

The surface upon which the aquarium is placed should be clean, smooth and level (both from front to back and along its length). Follow the manufacturers recommendations about the use of polystyrene. However, remember that polystyrene will not compensate for as surface that was not properly level in the first instance.

Aquaria are best established where they can easily be viewed. They should not be sited where they may be damaged by moving furniture or household appliances, such as the vacuum cleaner. Where children are present, the tank should be sited where the children cannot tamper with it or fall against it.

See also: The manufacture and sale of glass aquaria