Aquarium Coffee Table

More than just a fish tank, aquarium coffee tables bring the beauty and wonder of nature right into your living room. Aquariums have long been a source of beauty and fun. Keeping tropical fish has progressed from a fun and educational hobby to adding a new dimension of decor and beauty to our living space. The latest in a series of new novelty aquariums, coffee table aquariums are quickly gaining in popularity. Available in a wide variety of styles, there is an aquarium coffee table for most every decorating motif.

Self Contained and Functional

The humble coffee table is a staple of many living rooms. A gathering place for family and guests, the living room, and the coffee table in particular, should be a place of comfort and relaxation. Often filled with large screen televisions, home theater systems and other electronic gadgetry, many of today's living rooms can be full of visual distractions.

Now, there is nothing wrong with enjoying video or musical entertainment but every now and then we just need a chance to take life a little easier. Imagine being able to relax in your favorite chair while enjoying the serene and calm of a coffee table aquarium. Nearly three dimensional in appearance, you can enjoy the view from the top and sides of these unique pieces of furniture. In addition to coffee table aquariums, many manufactures offer matching end table-style aquariums.

You can find aquarium coffee tables in a variety of shapes from oval to angular. The construction typically consists of a combination of sturdy acrylic plastic and tempered glass. Well designed units include all of the necessary mechanical components such as the air pump and filter which are typically hidden in the base of the table. Strong acrylic plastic is used to form the tank with high quality units using tempered glass for the top.

Lighting effects are achieved using a bottom up design which results in an unobstructed view from the top and the sides of the tank. The balance of the system including the temperature controls are fully integrated into the base of the table. Together, these design features can provide you with years of enjoyment in what some aquarium owners describe as art coming alive.

High quality coffee table aquarium kits will include everything you need to set up a beautiful habitat, right down to the decorative plants. All you have to add are the fish.

Maintenance

Given the unique requirements of maintaining aquariums for salt water fish species, the habitats created by coffee table aquariums are limited to fresh water fish. Like any animal habitat, coffee table aquariums require a certain amount of care and regular maintenance. These routine chores come with owning any type of aquarium and must also be considered prior to making a purchase decision. As with any family pet, our family fish depend on us for food and sustenance. With the advent of the internet, we have quick access to a number of reliable resources for the proper care and feeding of our family fish.

Maintaining the correct water Ph, keeping to a cleaning schedule and understanding the nutritional needs of the fish cannot be understated. Certain fish are highly susceptible to parasites and certain water-borne bacteria that can sicken and kill. As with any type of pet, owners of coffee table aquariums have a responsibility to not only learn about aquatic diseases, but how to properly treat them as well.

The equipment end of these modern fish tanks are integrated into the base of the table. Filter systems are typically of the wet-dry variety and require no more maintenance than a standard aquarium setup. The water capacity of currently available coffee table aquariums ranges between 15 and 35 gallons. The volume of fish that can safely reside in the tank depends not only on the water capacity but on the habitat that the owner establishes.

Safety First

There are several other things to be aware of when opting to purchase a coffee table aquarium. In order to provide power to the pump, filter and lighting, these unique fish habitats require access to a grounded electrical outlet. Since most coffee tables sit in the center of a furniture arrangement, it may be necessary to install a floor outlet with a ground fault interrupter.