Round aquarium: pros and cons, design, choice of plants and fish

A circular aquarium can add a dramatic touch to any space while providing your aquatic friends with a distinctive and tasteful display. It is a popular option for people wishing to add a little flair to their home or office because of its curved, smooth lines that have an eye-catching visual appeal that is difficult to ignore.

Round aquariums do present a unique set of difficulties despite their lovely appearance. When choosing this kind of tank, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits and drawbacks because the shape influences everything from water flow to the selection of plants and fish.

This post will explain the unique features of circular aquariums, go over their benefits and drawbacks, and offer advice on creating the ideal setting for your fish and plants. Regardless of your level of experience, you’ll find helpful advice to assist you in selecting the ideal option for your aquatic setup.

General information

Round aquariums were less expensive than rectangular ones during the Soviet era. The boring spherical home reservoirs were forgotten when beautiful examples of rectangular reservoirs came up for sale. These days, round aquariums are making a comeback.

Both conventional glass types and acrylic options are available in stores. The range of capacities is wide, ranging from three to fifty liters. Acrylics are prized for their dependability and durability since sturdy plastic is more difficult to shatter. These aquariums may have extremely intriguing designs. However, it may leave scratches from sharp objects behind. Its main drawback is this.

Pros and cons

It is advisable to educate yourself about the benefits and drawbacks of circular aquariums before selecting one for the interior of a space.

• Round tanks are cheaper in price than a similar rectangular one of the same size.
• The design of spherical home ponds is presented in a large assortment.
• Thanks to their rounded shapes, they are compact, take up less space.
• Easier to move from place to place due to the ease of grip.
• The rounded shape is easier to clean from fish waste.
• They look stylish and elegant in the interior of a room or office.
• In a non-standard model of a home pond, you can design an original water landscape.

• Round aquariums are very cramped for many types of fish.
• It is impossible to place a full-fledged filter system. This limits the number of fish species that can be kept.
• The flask narrows towards the top, air exchange is worsened, you will have to change the water more often.
• It is absolutely forbidden to keep marine fish in them, because it is almost impossible to maintain the required salt water parameters.
• The spherical shape of the walls distorts perception, which negatively affects the fish.
• Plants are much more difficult to place.

Nonetheless, aquarists are not deterred by these shortcomings. For many years, they have been able to maintain round aquarium fish with success.

Rules for arranging an aquarium

Knowing what accessories will create a comfortable microclimate in a tank with rounded walls and what aquatic life will thrive there will help you set it up correctly.

Necessary equipment

The following equipment must be installed in round aquariums:

• Compressor. They saturate water with oxygen. The power depends on the parameters of the tank.
• Heater. It is necessary if the pond is in a cold room and heat-loving fish species live in it.
• Lid with backlight. Solves the issue of lighting and safety of fish. If it is missing, many novice aquarists install the tank closer to the window. It should be taken into account that direct sunlight is very harmful, as it provokes the rapid development of algae.
• Bottom filter. Such a pond simply needs it. The appearance resembles a pancake. Equipped with a pump on a leg, which is hidden behind the aquarium decor. The power is selected based on the capacity of the tank. The larger the volume, the more carefully the filter is selected. It is better to take with a small power reserve so that the equipment works longer.

Note: Sand should not be used as a substrate when using a bottom filter as it will quickly clog the filter apparatus.

Design

Because the bottom area of a round aquarium is constrained, the design has unique characteristics.

The following guidelines must be followed:

• The thickness of the soil should be 40-50 mm.
• It is advisable to use decorative stones that will allow you to disguise the elements of the equipment.
• When selecting pebbles, you need to see how they look through the spherical walls. The lens effect distorts the outlines of the stones.
• It will not be possible to place large decorative items.

You will have to give up big, crumbling castles and sunken ships, and add very little in the way of ornamentation. Decorating a round aquarium has the advantage of allowing the beauty and details of the underwater world to be showcased, as its spherical shape reveals them all.

Plants

Fish are allowed to move around freely because of the way the plants are planted. Because of the small amount of soil, plants with little or no root system development are deemed suitable:

• horn fern;
• mosses;
• salvinia;
• hornwort;
• lagarosiphon;
• vallisneria;
• Elodea.

Fern with horns. Moss. Salvinia. Hornwort. Lagarosiphon. Vallisneria. Elodie.

The majority of aquatic plant species actively remove dangerous nitrates from water in addition to being ornamental. But not every plant will contribute favorably to establishing a biobalance in a spherical reservoir:

• Pistia covers an already small water surface, so it is not advisable to use it in the design of a small round aquarium.
• If you decide to have a naias, you will have to thin it out regularly. This plant can quickly turn an aquarium into a florarium.

It is best to avoid using artificial vegetation. They are inert and serve no practical purpose.

Be aware that not many living things are found in such reservoirs since they produce oxygen only during the day and use it up at night.

What fish can be kept in a round aquarium

Not every kind of fish can survive in such unusual reservoir configurations. The following common fish species are able to adjust to confined spaces:

• guppies;
• neons;
• laliuses;
• cockerels;
• platies;
• catfish corydoras.

Guppy. Brightness. Lalius. Betta. Pecilea. Coronas.

A round aquarium makes an impressive display of goldfish. However, it is completely unfit for life under such circumstances. expands greatly and needs a lot of air. Its skeleton gradually deteriorates and its internal organs cease to function normally in a small pond. The fish shouldn’t be put through rigorous testing.

Be aware that swordtails and mollies prefer to rush in schools around the aquarium where they live in groups. They are not positioned in circular ponds as a result. They won’t know where to go from here.

How to care for

It is unrealistic to anticipate that the plants will remove the dirt. They cannot handle a task like this. It is required to clean the walls, siphon the bottom, and change the water twice a month. Every 1-2 years will be the most frequent frequency at which complete water changes are required to avoid upsetting the natural biological balance.

Round aquariums are fashionable accents to any home, but they have advantages as well as disadvantages. Though its unusual shape makes it visually striking, space restrictions and the curved glass, which may distort the view and alter fish behavior, may limit your options for fish and plants. A balanced and healthy environment can only be created by carefully choosing small, hardy fish and compact plants for a round aquarium.

Popular manufacturers

When selecting a quality circular aquarium, you should consider the offerings of well-known manufacturers:

• The German company Tetra is considered a pioneer of aquarium keeping. Produces many varieties of round aquariums, which are equipped with all the necessary equipment. Popular models with LED backlighting are equipped with all the necessary accessories, are inexpensive.
• The company AA Aquarium makes very beautiful round aquariums, with a volume of 10 and 20 liters. The aquarium set includes: aquarium, lighting, pump, filter, lid and soil.
• Aquael produces elegant round aquariums. Lighting and filter are built into the lid. Fish are fed through an opening with a valve. The cost of the products of the Polish manufacturer depends on the volume and level of equipment of the aquariums. Quality always matches the price.

By selecting a high-quality aquarium, you can greatly increase the design options and establish ideal conditions for the aquatic inhabitants.

Selecting a circular aquarium can give your room a distinctive and refined look. Its unusual shape frequently acts as a lovely focal point, grabbing attention and enhancing the charm of any space.

But it’s crucial to keep in mind that maintaining a round aquarium has its difficulties. Views may be distorted by the curved glass, making it more difficult to see your fish. Additionally, it provides less swimming area, which some fish species may not find ideal. Both choosing the people that live in the tank and decorating it require careful thought.

The correct fish and plants can make a round aquarium flourish and create a serene, eye-catching setting. Just make sure the species you select are well

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