Links to Choosing your aquarium tanks:
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Gordon%20&%20Stuart_Tank_Selection.html

A bit of Aquarium History
Some of the first known fish tanks, aquariums, were built in the mid 1800's. England, Germany and the United States were then the leaders in building both public and private aquaria at that time.  It wasn't until about 100 years later, when certain species of fish like the Neon Tetra were being imported, that the industry really exploded here in the U.S.  Early aquariums were framed in various metals such as angle iron, galvanized iron, aluminum, stainless steel, brass and copper, and had slate or metal bottoms. Today most aquariums are made of glass or formulated plastics, acrylic. 
   
Choosing the right aquarium for you
Use
One of the main things to think about before you buy your aquarium tank is, "what do you intend to use it for".  That may depend on the type of or species of fish that you like or intend to buy.  Also, how "many" fish do you intend to house.  There are basically a couple of things that go into your decision here.  The "type" of fish that you want will determine if they can be housed together in what is termed as "community" tanks.  A community tank can house peaceful, non-aggressive species of fish (species that get along with each other and don't attempt to eat each other).  There are community aquariums that house more aggressive behavior species of fish.  Specialty tanks that house species best kept by themselves due to aggressive behavior or special water conditions.  Some thing to consider is will the fish you choose, attempt to breed on their own or due you intend to breed them yourself.  Lastly, you must choose between fresh water or salt water setups.  Fish should initially be chosen according to the environment that they will be placed in. Most fish can tolerate slight variations in pH and temperature as long as it stays stable. The water should not be treated to suit specific fish, fish should be introduced that are suited for the water and the environment created.  A beginner tank can be a fresh or marine set-up. There is no graduation from fresh to salt, as the principals are alike. The graduation takes place in keeping the fish healthy and to move on to more delicate species.  The rule of thumb in stocking the aquarium is one inch of fish per 12 square inches of water surface. The better the filtration and maintenance schedule, the more fish can slowly be added.  Not all fish are compatible and should therefore be chosen carefully.

Size
Your choice of size of the aquarium depends again on the above "use" of the tank as well as the amount of money you are willing to spend.  An aquarium is a closed replica of a natural ecosystem. The smaller the copy, the more difficult it is to maintain.  A common misconception is that small tanks are ideal for beginners.  Nothing could be further from the truth. The Ideal beginner tank is around 30 Gallons. The cost of a 10 Gallon tank compared to a 30 Gallon tank may initially seem somewhat substantial, however the money spent trying to maintain and correct many problems associated with small tanks is worth considering.  Consider spending a few extra dollars when getting a new tank. After all if it where a cat or dog, wouldn’t you want what’s best for your pet?  With small aquariums, it is difficult to maintain an average temperature. Fluctuations in combination with overstocking and feeding often results in stress and nutrient accumulation. The consequence is often uncontrollable algae and sudden fish deaths due to de-oxygenation.

Placement
Where do you intend to put the tank?  Based on your own circumstance you may have limited choices.  One of the things to consider here is that water weighs about 8.5 pounds per gallon.  Multiply that by say 10 gallons and your tank weighs 85 pounds without the hood, outside filter, etc. So, once you've set it up, moving it is generally not an desirable option.