Round aquariums: sizes, selection and design

Despite numerous criticisms by professionals, round aquariums are often found in many homes. Such options can be seen both in offices and in apartments. Surely many aquarists remember their first, not always successful experiments to create an underwater world, associated with a round aquarium.

What makes a round aquarium so attractive? Here are a few arguments in his favor.

• A pond of this form, if properly designed and well maintained, looks appropriate in almost any interior.
• All-glass or acrylic construction is completely devoid of leakage, which allows you to install the aquarium on any surface.
• The internal space of the reservoir is maximally accessible for observation.

As you can see, all the arguments in favor of an artificial reservoir of this form come from the needs and desires of the occupant of the apartment or the owner of the office. The statements of the opponents of the round aquarium are much greater.

• The volume of standard round aquariums is usually small to form a stable biological system. The aquarium is easily permeable to natural light, so there is an intensive fouling of glass with algae, this requires frequent cleaning. Such a reservoir requires frequent intensive and thorough care, and this is the cause of serious stress for most fish.
• The convex glass surface completely distorts reality, as a result of which the inhabitants of the aquarium are constantly stressed even with slight movement.
• The small volume of the aquarium is suitable for the comfortable living of only a small number of fish, which is completely unacceptable for schooling species.
• The shape of the reservoir leaves little water surface area, this makes gas exchange with the atmosphere difficult, and some inhabitants may lack oxygen.
• Similarly, the surface of the soil at the bottom of the aquarium is small. This does not allow to breed in the reservoir a sufficient number of plants for self-regulation of many processes.
• To equip a round aquarium, special equipment is required. Standard aeration and filtration systems are not suitable due to the fact that they will take up a significant amount of an already small pond, as well as they are difficult to hide and give the aquarium an aesthetic appearance. Acquiring suitable equipment is more difficult, it costs more than usual.
• In a round aquarium it is almost impossible to create shelters for fish, from the absence of which many of them are stressed, which affects their life expectancy.

As you can see, the arguments against the round aquarium are related to the creation of acceptable conditions for its inhabitants. It follows that such an aquarium is completely unsuitable for a beginner. It is better for a novice aquarist to master a rectangular pond with a volume of at least 40 liters. This will avoid many disappointments and even small tragedies. A round aquarium is better to make it decorative, without any claims to imitate the natural habitat. The main attention should be focused on the aesthetics and harmony of the aquarium as an element of the interior.

Technologically round aquarium is easier to make a small volume. Currently, the most widespread are small spherical jars with a volume of 2 to 5 liters. They are used as a decorative accessory even when planting indoor plants. In pet stores you can buy a fully equipped small aquarium with a built-in filter-fountain, which simultaneously serves as an aerator with a special lamp and stand.

The most common are still more voluminous spherical banks. In a capacity of 10 l, one can already try to place 2-3 medium-sized fish with relative comfort. If the area allows, you can fit into the interior and a spherical aquarium of 20 liters. It should be noted that a large round pond with a volume of more than 30 liters will require significantly more space than a rectangular aquarium of the same volume. On sale spheres of such and a larger volume are very rare.

Round aquariums, both before and now, are made of glass. The material is traditional, well-developed, however, heavy and fragile. A glass aquarium of 5 liters, having a wall up to 3 mm thick, can even weigh up to 1.5 kg without water and soil, and a 30-liter one with walls at least 5 mm thick can "stretch" all 3 kg. And if with water and everything else, then its weight can reach up to 50 kg. Dropping by accident such a massive object is very difficult. Nevertheless, glass remains a very fragile material, and this argument often sounds not in his favor.

Currently, when traditional materials are increasingly being replaced by new ones with similar properties, plastic glass aquariums are replaced by plastic. Plastic, or rather, acrylic capacity with the same transparency is much lighter. It is impossible to break it by accident. Such an aquarium is easier to handle and maintain. However, the new material has its drawbacks.

When choosing an aquarium sphere, first of all, it is necessary to take into account its harmony in the interior. Using a variety of colors, it can be placed in a room made in almost any style. Illumination, colored stones and artificial plants in the design of the aquarium will help bring it into line with the general plan. So, for historical and ethnic interiors, a spherical aquarium of large volumes, at least 20 liters, with natural soil from coarse sand and pebbles and real plants is more suitable

Aquariums deprived of fish, but with lush vegetation, will look beautiful. Modern styles (loft, minimalism, postmodernism, techno and hi-tech) require appropriate design of the sphere. It is better if it will be small, with a minimum of decor. In some cases, decorative stones of a certain color will do. Plants in such a capacity may be redundant.

Installing a round aquarium is more troublesome than a rectangular aquarium. The latter, as a rule, is installed on a special stand or shelf, one of the functions of which is some protection of the reservoir from accidental influences. The round aquarium is completely open not only for sight, but also for any chance.

It is necessary to think over a place of installation of a round can as carefully as possible. It should not be on someone’s path, prevent simple actions: open the curtain, turn on the light, etc. But at the same time, the capacity should remain noticeable and attractive to the eyes of any visitor who has re-entered the room.

One of the problems with round aquariums is their accessibility to children. In this case, it is important to consider the danger posed by such a container of water for the child. First of all, the sphere should be installed on a special stand, ensuring its stability. Curbstones or other furniture on which the container will be installed must be reliable. In some cases, it is recommended that they be fixed to the wall to prevent tipping over with the aquarium.

Besides, the sphere needs to be placed away from heating appliances, due to the small volume this can provoke strong temperature jumps, which is undesirable for the inhabitants of the reservoir. The proximity of the window can provoke increased growth of algae, which will lead to a green coating on the walls. When installing a round aquarium, you will have to take into account the intensity of natural light.

The equipment of a round aquarium is much more complicated in comparison with a classic rectangular pond. It is more difficult to equip it due to the convex shape of the walls and the relatively small bottom area. Conventional equipment will be difficult to disguise, this will lead to an even greater reduction in volume. Special equipment for a round aquarium is much more difficult to find in pet stores. However, this is perhaps the only way to properly arrange the sphere if it is planned to contain fish or living plants.

It is much easier to start an aquarium with ready-made equipment. Such ponds are manufactured by some companies specializing in aquarium equipment. Aquariums are sold with lighting and a waterfall (an original way of combining aeration and filtration systems).

As already noted, the decor of a round aquarium is a very responsible matter. Therefore, it is necessary to approach its equipment with the utmost care, spheres with inappropriate accessories look rather ridiculous.In such an aquarium, colored soil and artificial plants will not be superfluous, because its main task is to emphasize the style of the room, and for this you often have to sacrifice the comfort of the inhabitants.

There is such a solution as a sphere in which not only there are no inhabitants, but also water. In this case, decorative stones are performed by colored pebbles and artificial plants. Often in such containers place an ordinary indoor plant. Such a decorative element of the interior, of course, cannot be called a full-fledged aquarium. In the second half of the 20th century, round ponds with colored stones instead of soil, completely devoid of vegetation, with one brightly colored fish, also performing purely decorative functions, began to be installed in modern interiors.

The maintenance of a round aquarium due to its relatively small volume is much more complicated than a rectangular one. A small amount of soil requires intensive filtration and constant water change. If such a reservoir is overpopulated with fish, it is impossible to create a stable equilibrium in it. It is such aquariums, overflowing with fish, that require a weekly change of water and a complete cleaning of the soil and walls.

Thus, a round aquarium may not be the first milestone in aquarium farming, it is a common mistake leading to huge disappointments. Proper care of such a body of water is possible only with some experience. Here are a few simple rules that can help create a balanced biological system even in a relatively small circular aquarium.

• Moderation in everything. Do not overpopulate a round aquarium.
• It is better to set the sphere in the least lit place in order to reduce the natural light, which promotes the development of algae.
• Constant monitoring of the inhabitants, stresses common to the aquarium sphere, can provoke the appearance of various diseases.
• If there is no filter, the water will have to be changed daily while blowing the soil.
• Daily monitoring of water condition (smell, transparency, chemical composition).

The aquarium sphere is not the right place for many fish. Let's start with those elementary restrictions that the owner of such an artificial reservoir will have to put up with.

• Flocking fish (neon, zebrafish) will feel cramped.
• Very active fish (many barbs, small cichlids, swordsmen) cannot live in the area, as they will experience constant stress due to the refraction of light, which causes distortion of space and the rapid change of light and shadow.
• Large fish (cichlids, gold) can also not be placed in the sphere due to its small volume.
• Lovers of digging in the ground - various types of catfish and all the same cichlids will not be able to do this, since there is very little soil in a round aquarium.
• And, of course, all fearful fish will live in the area very little, as they will not be able to find secluded corners and shelters that allow them to feel safe.

Who to get, if you still need to revive the round aquarium? From the above examples it follows that most of the popular aquarium fish cannot live in such a reservoir. Single fish, especially cockerels, are perfect for a round aquarium. Guppies are also a good option, the fish are completely indifferent to the many inconveniences of the sphere so that they multiply easily, and over time the overgrown flock will be in very uncomfortable conditions.

Experienced aquarists recommend keeping a small flock of 3-4 males of these fish in a round decorative aquarium. Their closest relatives, Pecilia and Mollinesia, also live well in such reservoirs as part of a small flock of 3-4 individuals. A flock of 3 laliuses, calm and hardy fish, is quite capable of reviving such a pond.One large or 3 fish of small varieties of gourami will also be able to live well in a round aquarium.

Not all aquarium plants are suitable for the sphere. There is little soil, and plants with a powerful root system will not survive. The constant change of water and sharp changes in its parameters also limit the possibilities of growing plants in a small aquarium, which is almost all areas.

About leaving and problems of the maintenance of a round aquarium look in video.