Home aquariums offer a wow factor

Why visit the Great Barrier Reef when you can have your own jumbo aquarium in your living area? A home aquarium is magnificent, but do your homework first to ensure you get a fabulous result you can enjoy forever.

Jay Cook of Oceanlink Aquariums says there are many factors that come into play when installing a large-scale aquarium, the first being the type of fish you want.

Fish for your aquarium

"There are many options available when it comes to home aquariums, and infinite possibilities as to how aquarium tanks can look," he says. "The most popular is to have a saltwater reef, full of live corals and reef-compatible fish. This is arguably the most stunning choice, but also requires the most care and maintenance."

Other options include saltwater tanks with larger predatory fish, or freshwater tanks. "A typical set-up for a beginner is a freshwater tropical aquarium. This can include a wide variety of communal fish and freshwater live plants, which are a lot easier to keep than corals," says Jay.

Aquarium tanks

Potentially, you can install an aquarium tank in any location, but depending on its size there are strict standards to be observed. "Aquariums can be built to any size - the sky is the limit," says Jay. "Some hold up to 10,000 litres of water, but at this size you need engineering approvals on everything: a glass engineer to approve the design, a steel engineer to approve the steel support and a structural engineer to approve the foundation for the tank. Together, the glass, steel, water and other contents of the tank will weigh over 15 tonnes."

Cleaning and maintenance

When it comes to cleaning and maintenance of a home aquarium you can DIY, but Jay recommends that you engage a professional to ensure the equipment is working properly. "Depending on the set-up, to be successful on a large scale you do require commitment, especially with a reef aquarium. If insufficient time is allocated to maintenance and care of an aquarium, it can all go downhill pretty quickly."

Finding an aquarium tank

It can take as little as four weeks to have your aquarium designed, built, installed and filled, but a really large one could take two to three months to have up and running.

Jay emphasises that if you want a tank, it is imperative you talk to a reputable fish aquarium manufacturer. "The cheapest quote may not guarantee the cheapest tank in the long run," he says, "and the last thing you want is a tank that splits open!"

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