This week’s Price Points features a trio of aquaria.

We’ve both kept fish at various times in the past – both outdoors and indoors. A well-kept aquarium is certainly not maintenance free, but we’d say that in most cases it’s relatively easy to keep healthy, happy and attractive fish in the home. They need enough space to move and explore, some natural features to add interest to the living environment, filtration systems & plants to keep water in optimum condition. They’re both fascinating and calming to watch.

We’ve chosen three aquaria that certainly fulfil the varying costs of the price points brief, ranging from £33 to over £700.

Once you have your aquarium correctly set up, you’ll just need to attend to the cleaning and feeding. A small price to pay for so much pleasure and visual interest.

And if you’re afraid that you may forget to feed the fish – the amazing, self-sufficient eco-sphere housing shrimp and algae could be just the solution.

1. Umbra Fish Hotel: £40, Amazon
   

   Featuring asymmetrical glass windows and a decidedly cubist design, this cod condo has a contemporary style… The glass inner cube can be removed from the out ABS white shell for easy cleaning, and if you fishy friend gets lonely, then just stack another Fish Hotel on top! Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 20cm.

2. Biorb aquarium 105: £330, Pets at Home
   

   The biological filtration in the Biorb 105 remains in the aquarium at all times, ensuring that filtration is not disturbed when maintenance is carried out. The Biorb offers multi-stage filtration, every cartridge contains mechanical filtration, chemical filtration and water optimisers to give your fish the ideal water conditions and keep maintenance lower for you. The high performance intelligent LED light is one of the most advanced lights in the aquarium market. The intelligent light replicates natural daylight, with a gradual sunrise and sunset which automatically fades into a blue moonlight after the day time cycle has completed. Approximate Dimensions: H62 x W60 x D60cm.

3. Extra large Sphere EcoSphere: £729.09, Amazon
   

   This fascinating enclosed world contains 30-35 marine shrimp, algae and micro-organisms. Made from hand-blown glass, each EcoSphere is a completely enclosed, self-sustaining little world. The EcoSphere only needs indirect light and comfortable room temperature (between 60 & 80ºF / 15.5 & 26.6ºC). The EcoSphere works on the basis that a closed system recycles its nutrients and does not produce excess waste. The shrimp consume the algae and micro-organisms and they, in turn, break down the shrimp waste. External light, either artificial or natural, keeps the algae growing. There is no feeding or water changes required. Each EcoSphere comes with a replacement, recharge or upgrade policy. Dimensions 22.9 x 22.9 x 22.9cm.

shop aquaria