General tips
First things to consider before purchase
Acquiring an aquarium is a great thing and will inspire your family and you! Since there are many different types of aquariums (comparable to car types), a few considerations at the beginning are quite helpful. For example, if you want to keep certain types of fish, let's take the angelfish as an example, its size requires the aquarium to have at least 200 litres volume and be at least 50 cm high. If you would like to keep colourful Malawi cichlids, the aquarium needs a minimum length of 100 cm, as the animals form territories and otherwise fight constantly. If your aquarium space is limited to e.g. 60x35 cm, choose smaller fish species that are content in smaller aquariums. As a general rule, a larger aquarium is easier to maintain than a smaller aquarium, as it is more forgiving of the occasional mistake. And, despite what you may think, a slightly larger aquarium does NOT mean extra work!
Here are a few tips before you buy:
An aquarium weighs approximately as much as the water volume in kilos (100 litres = 100 kilos) plus cabinet and equipment. Just add the water volume weight again and you have the maximum total weight. For aquariums up to 250 litres this is usually no problem, even in old buildings. For aquariums with a larger volume, it’s better to talk to a structural engineer. It is often sufficient to place large aquariums against a load-bearing wall with another load-bearing wall underneath.
Nowadays, aquarium bonding is extremely safe and reliable. Of course water damage can still occur if - for example - you damage a pane while handling a stone in the aquarium. Check whether your household insurance covers aquarium water damage. Or you could join an aquarium club. Then special aquarium insurance is usually included and the other members can give you good tips!