Aquarium is a vivarium usually placed in a place with a transparent side (of glass or high strength plastic), in which aquatic animals and plants (usually fish, but can also be found invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals and reptiles) are accommodated, and used for public displays. Most aquariums are made of glass panels that are glued using silicone glue. However, pure glass is fragile and can only last briefly after cracking. Generally though, it's the adhesive that will come off first if the tank is overloaded. Aquariums can be made in various types of shapes, from cubes, hexagonal prisms, to angles and tables. A spherical aquarium or a round bowl can be made of plastic or glass.
Although glass aquariums are more prone to cracking and are heavier than acrylic glass, they are more scratch resistant. This selection is generally based on artistic considerations. Glass also has poorer thermal insulation than acrylic, which allows heat to enter and escape, and glass is more difficult to form than acrylic. Acrylic has a melting point of 160 degrees Celsius, while glass requires a temperature of about 500 degrees Celsius (glass transition temperature) to form. Even though higher temperatures are required, its abundant availability makes glass cheaper than acrylic. However, when building a large size aquarium or in large quantities, this price is no longer a consideration but rather safety. Shipping large sizes of glass carries a much higher risk than acrylic. And acrylic is more flexible than glass, so the chance of cracking is minimal. Laminated glass is used to combine the advantages of glass and acrylic, namely it is scratch resistant, flexible, and when cracks occur it is not easily broken.
A hobbyist aquarium will include a filtration system, artificial lighting system, and heating or cooling depending on the animals that live in it. Many aquariums also have a lid to reduce evaporation and prevent fish jumping out or foreign objects from entering the tank.
A combination of mechanical and biological filters is commonly used to convert ammonia from water to nitrate for use by aquatic plants. Sometimes these filters are for removing phosphates. The filter media can house the nitrifying bacteria that carry out the process.
The aquarium heater combines a heating element with a thermostat so that the water temperature is maintained. Likewise with aquarium coolers. The type of thermometer used varies, from alcohol thermometers to digital thermometers. Aquarium owners also use air bubble breakers and fine wave generators to increase the solubility of air in the water.
An aquarium is a vivarium which is usually placed in a place with a transparent side (from glass or high-strength plastic), where animals and aquatic plants (usually fish, but can also be found invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals and reptiles) are accommodated, and used for public display .
