Setting up a freshwater aquarium is a rewarding project, but it can be somewhat daunting at first. Deciding on which fish, plants, filtration, and other accessories to get requires careful consideration. The whole process has to start somewhere and that, of course, is with the tank itself.The number of choices of freshwater aquarium designs on the market today is quite large. The sizes range from 1 gallon to aquariums in the hundreds of gallons, and water volume is not the only variable. There are many differently shaped tanks now, too.The basic rectangle is still far and away the most popular shape, but hexagons, 'L' shaped, square cubes, and more can be found. A new style that is becoming more popular in recent years is the bow-front aquarium. This is a rectangular tank with the front side bowed out (so from above it resembles a 'D' shape) to give a better viewing experience.