About Aquariums

Aquariums are used around the world to view and care for water plants and animals. Aquariums can safely house fish, marine mammals, amphibians, plants and invertebrates. Families typically use small tanks for pet fish, while zoos, scientists and aquarists use larger tanks so that they can successfully study different aquatic life.

  1. History of

    • Romans during the first century used small marble tanks to keep sea barbell. They eventually started using glass panes for the aquarium's walls so they could study their fish up close. In fourteenth-century China, it was common for wealthy families to have porcelain tubs with goldfish. The first public aquarium was introduced into the London Zoo in 1853. The term aquarium was coined by British biologist Philip Henry Gosse. Aquariums quickly became popular around the world. Zoos began competing against each other to see who could develop the most sophisticated aquariums.

    Type

    • Many different types of aquariums exist, ranging from very small to incredibly large. Aquarists have made aquariums out of everything from old computers to toilets. Many biologists use what is called a kreisel tank. This is a circular tank that is great for delicate animals like jellyfish because it is a smooth tank with no corners. Some aquariums are designed specifically for certain species--like kelp, reef and sharks. Some of the larger tanks can hold over 6 million gallons of water. Additionally, aquariums are built for different levels of water salinity such as freshwater aquariums, marine (salt water) aquariums, cold water aquariums, brackish water aquariums and tropical aquariums. Many of these can be seen at public zoos.

    Features

    • The major components of an aquarium include the tank, filtrations system and lighting. The glass panes of aquariums use silicone and plastic for strength. Some tanks use laminated glass, fiberglass or concrete. An aquarium's filtration system is important because it converts the ammonia in the water into nitrate. It also helps remove phosphate and excess nitrogen. Lighting systems are popular in aquariums because they keep fish and water plants healthy. The different species living in the aquarium will determine what is necessary to have to have in the tank. For example, some water mammals and fish need the water to be a certain temperature.

    Benefits

    • Aquariums are used by many people as living decorations in their home. For example, instead of adding a painting on the wall, many designers are instead recommending aquariums. Many studies have also shown that aquariums can have therapeutic results for aquarium owners. Compared to other pets like dogs and cats, pets that live in aquariums are typically easier to care for due in large part to the limited size of the aquarium.

    The Facts

    • It is estimated that there are over 60 million aquarists around the world. While collecting stamps remains the leading hobby among Americans, owning and maintaining an aquarium is now the second leading hobby. In the United States, it is estimated that nearly 150 million fish are kept as pets in aquariums. Outside of the United States, aquarists are most likely to be found in Europe and Asia.