Here I want to consider the ways and means of going about acquiring tropical fish tanks for beginners.  What to look out for and what to consider before going ahead and purchasing your tank.  Also we will look at what I consider to be the right size and shape tank.

Location and Space

The first thing to consider when thinking of getting a tropical fish tank is where are you going to put it in your house.  This will ultimately lead to your decision on size.  Where you are going to put it must be considered carefully as once you have it in place and full of water you are not going to move it without taking all the water out.  No matter what size tropical fish tanks for beginners are you must not move them once set up.  First of all weight is a big factor when you consider 1 liter weighs 1 kilogram.  Work it out for yourself.  Put a 260 liter tank upstairs and if the floor cannot hold it, boom!! quarter of a metric ton on your lap in the living room.  Also if the tank is big enough to pick up when full of water the glass will crack as it twists under the weight.  So location is very important and this is closely coupled with the space you have in your house and how much space there is where you want to put the tank.  This is something which would be thought of more in countries with small houses and flats like the UK.  This in turn could determine the shape of the tank for example if you had a bit of space in the corner of the living room you may want to get a corner tank.

Size

The size of your tank or aquarium should be for a beginner about sixty liters if this is possible.  I say this because if the tank is too small it will be just that bit more difficult to manage.  You can liken it to a large game farm or reserve in Africa.  The smaller the reserve the more difficult it is to manage because the animals and the whole ecosystem is in a smaller area.  It cannot function as a proper system because the bio diversity is not as great.  With a fish tank its the same, you are trying to create a mini ecosystem.  So it becomes more difficult the smaller you get.  A fish tank that is too big can be a bit off putting if you are just starting out and what if you decide you don't like tropical fish keeping.  You will then be stuck with a tank and you do not get people wanting to pay much for second hand tanks.

Shape

This is really a matter of preference for tropical fish tanks for beginners but may be determined by the location and amount of space as mentioned above.  I personally think that the standard rectangular shape in glass is the best shape if only for the fact it gives you a better visual experience as opposed to a round or bowl shape.

Price will of course be a concern for many and this will be determined by the facts stated above which are coupled to how much you want to spend.  Tropical fish tanks for beginners like all interests and hobbies come with a price but shop around and you will be surprised at what you can purchase for a reasonable amount.

Finally, many people go into fish keeping without doing a bit of research.  So they have no idea what to do and you have made a start here but this is the tip of the iceberg.  There is no substitute for a good book or e book giving you all you need to know.