The most important decision you will make regarding your home aquarium is what tank to get. The tank you decide on will also influence the decision on the stand to purchase. The size of the tank you purchase will determine the size, type and number of fish that you can keep. If you already have an idea of what fish you would like to keep then you should base the choice of fish tank on the needs of the fish. The best plan is to get a tank that space and finance can accommodate. If you're running on a tight budget or live in a small apartment then the larger sized fish tanks might not be the best choice. When deciding on a tank you should keep in mind that larger tanks take longer to get dirty and are generally easier to keep clean.
When considering what type of stand to purchase I have 2 suggestions. First, getting one larger than needed is a good idea if you think you will be upgrading to a larger tank in the future. Second, getting a stand that is built for a fish tank is always better than trying to improvise with a piece of furniture that isn't designed to support the weight of a tank. Remember a full aquarium with water and decorations can be very heavy. A standard 20 gallon tank can weigh up to 235 lbs when full.
