When people think of an aquarium, they think of fish swimming around a tank.  This is not always the case.  For serious aquarium hobbyists, a live rock reef aquarium is a good alternative to a fish-only tank.  Some enthusiasts think of a reef aquarium as a kind of Zen rock garden.  It’s not quite as lively as fish swimming to and fro, but the steady pace of growth among the rocks is just what makes a live rock reef aquarium appealing. 

Of course, many other aquarium enthusiasts combine live rock, coral and animal life, but lets for the moment concentrate on reef-only aquariums.  Live rock reef aquariums can be teeming with life, just not as obvious to the naked eye as a fish aquarium.  Those looking to combine a fish and reef aquarium have some work cut out for them because it can be difficult to maintain both reef life and fish life. 

The main reason is that coral reefs and live rock need a fair amount of care to thrive.  Live rock is much easier to maintain than coral, but it still needs a good environment to foster algae growth and other small inverts that may be lurking within the rock.  A reef online aquarium may need a different type of water movement and salinity than some fish.  Those who set up reef-only aquariums try to create as natural an environment as possible.

Unfortunately this is not always the case with some amateur aquascapers.  People are unsurprisingly drawn to the brightest colored fish—angelfish, clown fish—and more exotic animals like eels, and they throw them all together regardless if they are at all related or come from the same region.  Reef enthusiasts try to create a natural environment as close to the ocean as possible in a tank habitat. 

By all means, it is possible to combine coral with fish life, but it is a very delicate balance that needs to be approached with great care.  Instead of worrying about jeopardizing the life span of fish, hobbyists instead work on reef only aquariums.  After all, coral is a living thing.  Many find coral and live rock as lively and awe-inspiring as brightly colored fish.