Table Aquarium FAQs

How do I feed the fish?
Feeding is done through opening below glass top. Also, the glass top only needs to be removed for cleaning.

Why do I see a different water capacity for the same aquarium?
For some reason most aquariums gallon size is calculated on the tank's outside dimensions. For a coffee table aquarium, this calcualtion includes the air gap between the top of the water and the glass top. Actual water capacity is usually a few gallons less than "advertised" or "rated" size. We try and provide both the actual and the advertised capacities in our aquarium descriptions.

Can I set up the aquarium for salt water?
We tell customers not to use the coffee table tanks for salt water. This is mainly because we haven't found a filter that is small enough. Also the salt water will leave a mess at the water level and on the bottom of the top.

How many people will I need to set up the aquarium?
Usually one person except for moving the glass top Although it can be done with one person, we recommend two people to move the glass top.

How often do I clean the tank?
If you do not overcrowd the tank and do not over feed the fish, you can treat the coffee table aquarium as a normal tank. Once a month remove 10% of the water and add fresh "aged" water. Some areas of the country require bottled or "RO" water for aquariums. Check with your local pet store for more information.

How many fish can I have in my tank?
The smaller the fish the more you can have in the aquarium. When buying the fish ask how many can live in the size tank you have. Don't get all your fish the same day! Always start out with a few fish for the first few weeks and gradually add as desired (without overloading the aquarium).

What is the difference between a glass top and Acrylic top?
Some aquarium manufactures use Acrylic (plasic) tops instead of glass. These tops can easily warp, scratch, nick, fog, blush, and craze. We use only tempered glass tops (sometimes called "safety glass"). If they break they usually do not leave a sharp edge (just like car windows). Tempered glass is more expensive than normal glass. CustomAquarium.com does not recommend plastic tops or glass tops that are not tempered.

Why is the water cloudy in my coffee table aquarium?
Most common is over feeding. Also,some cheap foods will have a lot of filler material that the fish will not eat. This will saturate the filter and cloud the water. Check with your local fish supplier if you are not sure on the quality of your food.

Can I use a heater in my coffee table aquarium?
Most coffee table aquariums will have the glass top fog and condensate if a heater is used. This happens when the water temperature is above the room temperature. Most tropical fish tanks do not need a heater when at normal room temperatures.

I just received my glass top but no aquarium.
Glass tops may not arrive the same day as the rest of the aquarium. Sometimes they get seperated on different trucks and arrive a few days apart.

Filter Information
CustomAquarium.com is currently using the Dive Clean series of filters for some of our aquariums. If you receive this filter and are using it in a coffee table aquarium, this information should be helpful to you.

The instructions that come with the Dive Clean filter may say to use two (2) foam cartridges and one (1) charcoal cartridge. Only use one (1) foam cartridge and one (1) charcoal cartridge. Keep the second foam unit as a spare.

The Dive Clean filter comes with a plastic hose which attaches to top of the filter. This hose is to add bubbles into the water for both visual effect and to bring in extra air for the fish (usually helpful on a deep aquarium). We recommend not using it only because the bubbles will cause the bottom of the table top to get dirty very quickly. The coffee table aquariums have a large surface area which provides the fish with plenty of air.

You can reuse the dirty foam cartridges used in the Dive Clean filters. Rinse in hot water and squeeze out debris. We also sell new Dive Clean foam filters.