Fish have always been popular pets, going all the way back to ancient times. They are low maintenance even compared to cats. That doesn't mean you don't have to do anything to keep them though, they are animals with needs. The time requirements depend on what type of fish and aquarium you have.
- Fish only aquarium
- Fish and live rock aquarium
- Reef aquarium
The first two are familiar to most people and are the typical low-maintenance aquariums that are great to start with. Reef aquariums are a completely different type of aquarium and will be out focus for now.
Reef aquariums are more complex than other types but it isn't that complicated than the standard fish tank once you see what is involved. Reef aquariums are meant to be as similar to an actual coral reef habitat as possible, so it needs to be a mirror of that ecosystem. Typical reef aquariums will include:
- glass tank where your fish will live
- stand to keep the tank supported above the ground
- sump tank that houses mechanical equipment like filters and water circulators
- lights and canopy so you can see inside the tank and also to keep the aquarium heated
A good brand of reef tank is the Red Sea Max. There are three models available. The first and smallest model is the Red Sea Max 130. It is a 34 gallon tank (130 liters) that comes with all of the tank parts needed to set it up. You do have to buy the stand separate, you can either buy one from Red Sea Max or use a very sturdy shelf that you already own. If you are really determined to start your reef tank today, you can also purchase a starter kit from Red Sea Max as well. It includes all of the chemicals needed to keep your reef healthy and thriving. There is also a Red Sea Max 130D model. It is very similar to the 130 model, but has enhanced skimming and filtration abilities. The last model of Red Sea Max aquariums is the 250. This tank is similar to the 130 and 130D but is almost twice the size. It is 66 total gallons (250 liters).
If you are interesting in having an unique aquarium and are willing to put in some work into it, try out a reef aquarium. The Red Sea Max models are easy to get started with and will give you years of easy maintenance reef-keeping.
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Before you go, make sure to check out Red Sea Max and their full line of reef aquariums.