Aquariums offer the possibility of natural beauty indoors and a tankful of pets! If you haven’t considered an aquarium before, new technologies and varieties of fish, plants, and coral make keeping a gorgeous aquarium great at home or work idea.
People in high stress jobs with a love of natural beauty may not have time to go outside and smell the roses. Others with companion animal allergies or housing restrictions may want a pet, but thoughts of allergy medicine or angry landlords prevent them from bringing Fluffy home.
While keeping fish in an aquarium isn’t exactly like keeping a pet, think hypoallergenic and “Here fishy, fishy” to get started now! Here’s everything you need to know about aquariums:
History of the Aquarium
Humans have been keeping fishes in aquariums for about as long as they’ve eaten fish. The oldest known aquariums/fish farms are from China (2000 BCE); people cultivated carp for their eating pleasure.
Of course, the technology and methods of keeping fish have changed a lot over the years. Think of the single goldfish (a kind of carp) in a glass bowl with a few pebbles thrown in and a few fish flakes sprinkled on top.
That’s still an option, but fish and owner aren’t likely to enjoy a long-lived friendship this way. Fish require properly aerated water and clean surroundings to stay alive!
Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Aquariums
The first idea of the balanced aquarium originated in mid-nineteenth century England. The aquarium was comprised of an air tank, plants (to add more oxygen to the water), and scavenger-type fish and plants to consume the waste products of the actual aquarium fish.
By early twentieth century, proper aeration and filters (charcoal and/or particulate types) were considered best aquarium practices. A long-forgotten company promoted the “Marco Hi-Da-Way” underwater gravel filter by mid-twentieth century. This was a great advance in aquarium science!
In the 1970s, science got cool. The first species of ornamental fish specifically bred for aquarium use were brought to market. “Aqualife Research” (1975) and “Instant Ocean Hatcheries” (1975) concurrently offered three different species of brightly colored clownfish. In a year, eight clownfish types were available. Today, more than fifteen different clownfish species are aquarium-appropriate. (No need to take a Caribbean snorkeling vacation!)
Soon thereafter, the wet-dry filter allowed aquarium enthusiasts to keep live coral and fish in the same tank. Polyped stony corals were the first commercially offered varieties. Soon, soft varieties were available for aquariums.
Today’s Aquarium
With the availability of so many fish and coral varieties, it’s possible to create a thrilling marine-type aquarium environment. (Salt-water fish and marine animals require the adjustment of more variables, so it’s often considered a greater challenge to keep them.) The magnificent colors and types of fish and coral make beautiful, restful aquarium scenery for home and office.
All Pond Solutions are an example of a one-stop shopping resource for aquariums and aquarium accessories. Purchase anything and everything needed to keep an aquarium spotlessly clean. The proper care and feeding of aquarium fish and animals add to its good health. The latest air pump technologies also promote desirable plant growth while ensuring healthy fish.
Photos: Rick, SimpleInsomnia, Leon-Rice Whetton
