A 200 gallon fish tank is not the choice for a beginner; however, if you are an experienced aquarist who has started with a smaller capacity tank you may be ready to progress to the larger capacity of a 200 gallon fish tank.
A major factor that will influence the serious hobbyist is the cost of the 200 gallon fish tank, as this size tank obviously is expensive to buy as well as to set up. The new tank will require a larger heater, a larger filter, as well as needing a great deal more gravel.
If you are considering upgrading to a 200 gallon fish tank from a smaller tank, do not overlook the extra weight of the larger tank. A gallon of water weight 10lbs so a 200 gallon fish tank is going to exert a great deal of pressure on the surface on which it sits.
On the plus side, you should be able to house a large number of fish which may be able to grow to a foot or more in length!
You may be able to choose a 200 gallon fish tank made of either glass or acrylic; although the majority of aquarists prefer a glass fish tank because an acrylic fish tank can scratch easily which will spoil the view of your fish. Also, a glass fish tank is cheaper than an acrylic fish tank, even though acrylic fish tanks have the advantage of being seamless, and therefore do not leak. Glass fish tanks are generally glued together, however they are very reliable and an experienced fish hobbyist knows to check for leaks at the time of fish tank set up.
There are certain items of necessary equipment required in conjunction with a 200 gallon fish tank; these include an under-gravel filters, bio-wheels, canister filters, power-heads and heaters. The under-gravel filters are inexpensive to buy, are easy to maintain and they keep the fish tank crystal clear. Even though bio-wheels are generally used on smaller sized fish tanks, having one may be of use as they help to circulate the water and keeps the tank clean. The canister filters have also been found to do wonderful service to the fish tank by keeping them clean for weeks on end and removing the necessity of changing water every week or so. They can be a worthwhile addition in spite of their higher costs.
Power-heads in the 200 gallon fish tanks make a big difference to keeping it clean by providing the fish with more oxygen; they are more powerful than air tubes. For a 200 gallon fish tank housing tropical fish, a heater is a necessity; although if your tank is only housing freshwater fish a heater may not be required.
