A compact aquarium with a capacity of 20 liters allows you to equip a small, but a real underwater world in a small apartment. What other advantages does a tank of such a volume have? Which models are considered the best? How to choose and equip a 20-liter aquarium?
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the obvious advantages that aquariums with a volume of 20 liters have, their advantages should be noted:
- affordability;
- simplicity in arrangement and technical equipment;
- simplicity in leaving;
- A wide selection of varieties of small aquarium inhabitants (vertebrates, invertebrates, mollusks) and aquatic plants.
Small tanks have their own specific disadvantages. So, it is customary to attribute to their main disadvantages:
- limited selection of equipment models and decor options;
- rapid contamination of water and tank walls;
- the likelihood of conflicts between the inhabitants of the aquarium (especially when they are excessive).
However, the advantages of 20-liter indoor ponds are still incomparably greater. It is from them that experienced aquarists recommend that beginners begin their acquaintance with the world of home underwater fauna and flora.
It should also be noted that the vast majority of representatives of the aquarium fauna, recommended for keeping in tanks with a volume of 20 liters, is characterized by unpretentiousness, good health and unpretentious care. Such inhabitants of the aquarium are quite simple and easy to maintain, they are easy to care for and maintain cleanliness in their habitat.
Shape and size options
On sale you can find small-capacity aquariums of 20 liters in a variety of versions, various configurations and sizes. The most popular are square and rectangular tanks.
Rectangular aquariums with a capacity of 20 liters are considered a classic version of tanksintended for arranging small domestic ponds. The most popular among them are structures in the size 38x26x37, 39.5x28x33, 39x27.5x32, 41.5x27.5x20.5 centimeters.
Organically, the classic round aquarium will fit into the interior of a modern apartment. Typically, the diameter of such tanks varies between 33-35 centimeters, height - within 25-27 centimeters.
Round tanks look very impressive, in which there are frozen air bubbles in the thickness of the glass walls.
In the interiors of apartments made in the Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau style, disc-shaped aquariums will look very organic, outlines resembling a car wheel. Another interesting option for stylish interiors is tanks, the bottom of which looks like a trapezoid or hexagon with rounded edges. The average height of disk-shaped and trapezoidal aquariums per 20 liters usually reaches 38-40, width - 25-35 centimeters.
Manufacturers Overview
Among the most famous manufacturers of aquariums and aquarium complexes, there are both foreign and domestic companies. The largest leaders in this market segment include the following brands:
- Aquael
- Aquas
- Tetra.
Aquael - A well-known Polish company that produces both classic rectangular and polygonal, round and panoramic aquariums of various sizes. In a kit with tanks, the manufacturer usually includes sets of auxiliary equipment - filters, heaters, lamps. Also, constructions are supplied with means for preparing water and feeding for aquarium plants.
Aquas - Russian manufacturer of aquariums for apartments and offices. In the manufacture of its products, the company uses high-quality components and materials of foreign production - for example, high-strength Pilkington glass (England), German silicone sealants. It is noteworthy that the price of the tanks of this brand is quite reasonable.
Tetra - The German brand, which produces feed for representatives of the aquarium fauna, aquarium care products, as well as small-sized aquariums with a capacity of 20 to 130 liters. Cases of 20 liter tanks produced under this brand are presented in 2 colors - dark and light.
How to choose?
Before buying an aquarium for 20 liters, experienced aquarists recommend deciding on the shape of the tank. For many beginners and amateurs, round aquariums seem most attractive. However, such tanks have a number of drawbacks that some inexperienced aquarists do not even realize.
So, round aquariums, due to their shape, greatly distort the contents of their internal space. Fishes and plants in round tanks often appear disproportionate and unnaturally large.
In addition, according to experienced aquarists, in round tanks, fish often experience discomfort. The lack of angles more often than not allows them to feel safe.
The best option for a beginner, according to experienced aquarists, will be a rectangular or square aquarium. Lovers of unusual designs may prefer polygonal or trapezoidal tanks.
Acrylic glass aquariums are considered the most practical and inexpensive. It is noted that they retain heat 20% better than ordinary glass containers. Thus, in operation, aquariums with acrylic glasses can be more economical in terms of costs for heating water.However, their disadvantages are usually attributed to vulnerability to mechanical damage that can be caused by a hard scraper or wire brush.
Glass aquariums are among the most hygienic and durable, but expensive designsvulnerable primarily only to bumps and falls. They are easier to care for, easier to clean from algae deposits, to disinfect.
In choosing an aquarium for 20 liters, it is worth considering such criteria as:
- environmental friendliness of materials (cases, glazing);
- joint tightness;
- wall thickness and transparency;
- integrity and weight of the structure itself.
Where to install?
One of the characteristic advantages of a small aquarium of 20 liters is that it can be installed in almost any well-lit corner of the apartment. However, in addition to lighting, the place under the aquarium must meet other, equally important criteria.
So, The support under the tank must be stable and solid.. When installing the structure on a support (stand, shelf), it is necessary to ensure that the front of the tank does not protrude beyond its edge, since in the future this can lead to leaks and even damage to the walls or bottom.
The surface of the support must be strong. If over time it bends or sags, this can also cause structural failure.
A place for the aquarium should provide a convenient and easy overview of the home reservoir. At the same time, power sources (sockets) for connecting the compressor, lamps and other equipment should be near the tank. It is strongly recommended that all power sources are equipped with residual current circuit breakers in advance.
The aquarium should be positioned so that there is free access to its rear wall. In the future, this will make it easy to perform certain actions - for example, replacing background decorations, garbage collection, cleaning the outside of the back wall from contamination.
Install the aquarium in a quiet place, away from televisions, radios, heating devices. You can’t place the tank in the kitchen, where the temperature is almost always higher (compared to other rooms) and there are sources of unpleasant odors.
How to equip?
The compact size of the tank makes it quite easy to implement original creative solutions. However, when implementing them, one should not forget about the technical side of the task.
So, for the comfortable existence of the inhabitants of the aquarium, the installation of additional lighting sources will be required. In this regard, tanks with a lid, in which small but powerful luminaires are already mounted, are considered very convenient. In other cases, you will need to install an energy-saving lamp or a fluorescent lamp next to or above the aquarium.
Other accessories that should be equipped with an aquarium of 20 liters include the following devices:
- filter - a low-power and inexpensive model is suitable;
- compressor for oxygen saturation of water;
- thermometer and heater (depending on whether the inhabitants of the aquarium will need water of a certain temperature).
So that the tank does not look boring and faceless, it must be decorated with vegetation and decor items. So, The following types of aquatic plants are recommended for 20-liter aquariums:
- Marsilia;
- the thyroid;
- riccia;
- javanese moss;
- elodea;
- duckweed;
- fern.
Small items of driftwood, medium-sized stones, and processed tree branches are usually used as decor items in small-sized aquariums.
Original look in the space of a small home reservoir and ceramic products, sea shells and corals.
How to care?
Practice shows that small-sized aquariums require more frequent cleaning and renewal of water. In such reservoirs, the water “blooms” rather quickly and is polluted by the vital products of the aquarium inhabitants.
To preserve the freshness and purity of water in the aquarium, without disturbing the established biological balance, it is recommended to renew it once every 4-7 days.
Not all water is completely renewable, but only a third of its total volume.
Also, once every 3-5 days, it is desirable to conduct surface cleaning of the tank. In small aquariums (especially those that are in the light), algae bloom quickly enough. During cleaning it should be carefully removed with a plastic or metal scraper.
Pampering the inhabitants of the aquarium with live food (bloodworms, cyclops, tubule), it is necessary to regularly remove its uneaten remains from the water. Unfinished live food quickly decomposes in water, which negatively affects its chemical composition and the ecosystem of the aquarium as a whole.
Experienced aquarists also recommend regular testing of water for the content of nitrates and nitrites, for acidity and hardness. These procedures are carried out using special test strips.
How many and what kind of fish can I keep?
In an aquarium of 20 liters, various kinds of small fish, shrimp, and snails feel great. For example, the tank of the specified volume can be populated by the following inhabitants:
- guppies (7-8 individuals);
- cockerels (5-6 pieces);
- neons (6-7 individuals);
- swordsmen (3-7 individuals);
- cardinals (6-7 individuals);
- catfish corridors (3-5);
- zebrafish (4-6).
Very funny and cute inhabitants of small-sized aquariums are hymenohiruses - dwarf frogs. In a tank of 20 liters, they can be contained in an amount of up to 10 pieces.
Freshwater shrimp (cherry, Japanese pond, cardinals) will also look original in the space of a home reservoir. They do not require special care and quite quickly breed in captivity. In a capacity of 20 liters, they can be made in the amount of 10-20 pieces or more.
A review of the 20 liter aquarium and its inhabitants awaits you further.
