Ethereal Aquariums from ZeroEdge

Being a bit obsessed with marine life, we've always loved the idea of owning a home aquarium, but the bulky design of the tanks often seems to negate the delicate beauty of the animals and plants themselves. Not the case, however, with this stunning model from ZeroEdge Aquariums, an open-top tank that resembles an infinity pool, with the water overflowing into an attractively simple base...

Although an open-top tank does limit your fish selection (you'll want to avoid fish that jump!), it's certainly a lovely look, without the clunky brackets and wood trim that many aquariums have. You can view your little underwater world from any angle, including from above, without obstruction.

Unfortunately, aquariums tend to be fairly pricey in general, and the ZeroEdge is no exception. You'll have to contact a retailer for a quote, but the Zeroedge site does list their most popular model, a system that includes the tank, a base, and all the necessary equipment, for $1,195.

Do you keep an aquarium? What do you think of the open-top option?

(Images: ZeroEdge Aquariums)

Comments (13)

what about lights, filters and air? how is all of that hidden and what about water deposits on the side of the glass?

These are absolutely beautiful.

I wonder how the rest of us mere mortals can integrate fish tanks into our decor without resorting to the appearance of a local pet shop?

bepsf, these made me curious about affordable attractive solutions too. Will look into it for a future post.

- Susie

Before or after my cat ate all the fish out of it?

These are gorgeous! Reminds me of the tiny but perfect tank at my favourite Chinese Restaurant -- which features more plant life than fish (just a few tiny fish and a tiny shrimp).

Same thought as bepsf though.

My boyfriend and I have a nano-reef aquarium in our kitchen that currently houses a selection of about ten different types of coral, a handful of astrea snails, and a lone electric blue hermit crab. At twenty gallons, it's on the smaller side, which is perfect for our 450 square foot apartment. It's on a DIY stand, made by my boyfriend's best friend. While the stand is not very attractive, it's simple and unassuming. Twisty-ties helped us organize the wires, and the tank's timer (as well as a power strip) are hidden, mounted on the stand.

To get the tank started, we invested about $550, the majority of which went to a quality protein skimmer and quality lighting. We figured that we could upgrade everything superficial later, if we wanted to--even the size of the tank. In addition to a protein skimmer and lights, we bought live rock, a current generator, a glass tank, timer, heater, etc. Since the first large purchase to get the tank started, we've invested about $20-30 per coral (much less for the snails and hermit crab), plus the cost of liquid nutrients and additives for the corals.

I'd say the most important thing to remember when considering the attractiveness of your aquarium is keeping all cleaning and maintenance tools stored out of sight. Minimal clutter around the tank (and a dark stand) will draw your gaze toward what's most important--your vibrant and colorful reef tank.

The tank is definitely costly, overall, but it has been a genuine pleasure to tend, while watching the corals multiply and grow. It is always a main attraction when we are entertaining and, without a doubt, has been worth the money and work.

I had an aquarium as a child... it was a messy, smelly, high-maintenance thing, and the faint mist from the pump ruined the woodwork behind it. I loved it, but it was sort of an eyesore except for the fish and plants. Saltwater aquaria like the one pictured are *notoriously* difficult to take care of, and given that many problems stem from trying to control the temperature, light, and salt content... and open-air deal like this one seems unreasonably difficult. It's a lot like having an amazing orchid collection-- beautiful, but probably only worth it if you LOVE THEM and like spending the time and money, or if you just get a service to care for them for you (this is a very viable option for both!).

The best fish keeping options I've seen are honestly a very large traditional bowl with perhaps just a beta (or some other fish that actually does OK in a relatively small space without a pump, I've never kept betas) or maybe a few tiny shrimp and plants with a nice rock or two and a little gravel. You basically want animals that are attractive, low maintenance, hardy to moderate temperature and oxygen level changes, and don't need a lot of space, and won't freak out too badly when you scoop them out to change the water. I kept a zebra fish and a goldfish this way (separately) for years in a sort of filtered sunlight shelf up high and out of the way and they did fine and looked lovely, although again, I seem to recall reading that goldfish are not technically good fish for this sort of thing. Our cats never tried to get my fish, but then again, the cats I had as a kid were indoor-outdoor... I think the indoor cats I have now are much more bored and therefore curious.

I contacted an aquarium site about and 18" x 18" x 18" seamless aquarium... $600!!! Crazy!

I have a TOTALLY affordable solution... there are plenty of places online who will make custom aquariums very inexpensively. Recreate a beautiful freshwater aquarium using ADA aquariums as inspiration ( http://www.adana-usa.com/ ); do some research first (regarding underwater filters and aeration) and have holes drilled in the back of the tank (then make leak-proof with silicone) so this ugliness can be hidden behind rocks or decor.

My husband and I recently had a 150 gallon salt water fish tank built for us. It currently sits in our living room and, unfortunately, we don't spend alot of time in this area. I love the idea of buying this sleek fish tank and placing it in our family room. This way we have an additional fish tank in a higher traffic area - and enjoy it!

Been there, done that. Saltwater isn't really all that difficult, though it is a rather spendy hobby.

BTW, the lighting is suspended from the ceiling and the filtration and pumps are plumbed into the floor of the tank (mechanics in a cabinet below).

By the time you get live rock, corals, inverts, fish, tank, lighting, chiller, pumps, etc. it's not at all uncommon to have $5K to $10K in a tank.

Suzie, Look into Biube and Biorb aquariums for some stylish cheaper alternatives for nice looking aquariums. Options even include computer controlled LED lighting systems that mimic sunrise and sunset. I've had my eye on these for awhile now.