Many of us are enticed by the idea of having a large tropical fish aquarium installed in our home or office in Portland, Oregon. Large, vibrant displays of motion and color draw the eye of anyone walking into a living room, family room, or office, and make an immediate impact on how our homes and businesses are perceived. Choose any seat in a room with a large tropical fish tank installation and the petty distractions of the day quickly fade away, pulse rates are reduced, and our thoughts begin flowing with the water, plants, and animals. However, while the prospect of a having a large fish tank installed is certainly entrancing, there are some very important considerations that must be weighed before a tank and stand are purchased, a drop of water is added, or we start visiting locally owned fish stores to transform a dream into a stunning tropical fish tank installation.

How to Plan for your Large Aquarium Installation

However beautiful they surely are, buying, building and stocking a larger fish tank (125 gallons and above,) is a weighty consideration. Here are some of the most commonly overlooked considerations when thinking about installing a large aquarium of any kind:

• Location – Where to locate your fish tank installation is often the easiest part of the decision initially, but can also be the most costly and consequential if not done correctly. Many folks want their fish tank in the same room as their TV, but the same flashes of color and strobing lights that make a game, film, or TV show engaging can also become very powerful stressors for aquatic animals, leading to health problems and unhealthy systems. Having your fish tank and TV in the same room is possible, but the best ways protect the health of your system and animals should be discussed with your Portland fish tank maintenance service.

  You’ll also want to consider how level the floor is (or isn’t.) Even a slightly uneven surface causes the weight distribution of the water to exert increased pressure on one panel or corner of the fish tank, leading to failure over time. This can happen to even the most well-made fish tanks.

• Weight management – Whether you’d like a freshwater or saltwater fish tank installed, you have to consider the weight of water, the tank itself, the stand, substrate, sump, and life support components. Although the weight of a gallon of freshwater is around 8.3 pounds, and saltwater weighs around 8.8 pounds. Typically, a Portland fish tank maintenance professional will round up to 10 pounds per gallon for safety and simplicity. For a 250-gallon fish tank, for example, figure 2,500 pounds for the water alone and begin adding to that number.

  Will the floor joists safely and reliably bear an additional 3,000+ pounds concentrated in one spot? Will I need to install additional posts in the basement to properly support the weight? Our fish tank installation professionals recommend that prospective clients wanting to have a large fish tank installed in their Portland-area home or office take weight management very, very seriously. If they don’t, their insurer may or may not provide coverage for this oversight. Probably not.

• Fish tank stands – Similar to the previous consideration, a large fish tank stand must be very well-made and -supported. Many affordable fish tank stands are made from particle board and/or soft pine wood, which we do not recommend. If particle board gets wet, it swells, weakens, and the structural integrity is compromised. We strongly recommend that prospective buyers consider having an overbuilt, sturdy, and professionally made stand made from stout lumber, fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP,) or metal with a protective coating.
• Life support for your fish tank – A large living system requires properly sized and installed life support components (LSS) to remain healthy and thriving. Under-sizing the sump for the system is one of the most common mistakes, as is failing to consider adequate room for the mechanical, chemical and biological filtration, pumps, plumbing, valves, and other LSS matters. We strongly recommend consulting with one of our Portland fish tank maintenance professionals early in the process for proper sizing of large fish tank life support.
• Natural light – The perfect location in your living room or office for your large fish tank may also receive a lot of natural light in the mornings or afternoons, resulting in excessive algae growth that will quickly overgrow the natural beauty of your tank. If you’re set on a specific spot that gets natural light in additional to the chosen tank lighting, either you or your Portland area fish tank maintenance professional will have to do a lot of extra algae scrubbing.
• Humidity management – Here in the PNW, humidity management is a fact of life. The same humid conditions that create the abundant natural beauty of where we live also create perfect conditions for mold, mildew, and other unwelcome growth. A large tropical fish tank brings a lot of humidity inside our homes and businesses, where it can create ideal conditions for undesirable organisms in hard-to-see and -reach locations. If the fish tank is located in a well-ventilated area with lots of movement, that’s better, but extra attention must be paid to locations under and behind the tank, as well.
• Fish tank maintenance – As the size of a fish tank increases, so does the amount of time required to keep the system clean, healthy, and looking great. Some Oregon fish tank owners have the time, expertise and passion to maintain their own systems properly. But if you want a great-looking aquatic display but don’t want the additional time and effort of doing the scrubbing, gravel vaccing, water quality testing and analysis, life support maintenance and other proactive and necessary work, consider having it performed by the Portland fish tank maintenance pros at Aquarium Services of Oregon.

Professional Fish Tank Maintenance In and Around Portland, Oregon

There are several Portland fish tank maintenance companies in our area, but Aquarium Services of Oregon is the one most trusted by discriminating home and business owners. Our fish tank cleaning and installation professionals are careful and considerate, arrive when scheduled, and deliver results, not excuses. No other Portland fish tank service can match our technical training, exceptional attention to detail, professionalism, or client satisfaction. If you’re considering having a large aquarium installed in your Portland home or business, we are worthy of your consideration. Please give us a call at 503-784-4403 or Contact Us here. Let us help you turn a dream into a stunning aquatic display!