The aquarium principle was fully developed in 1850 by the chemistRobert Warington, who explained that plants added to water in a container would give off enoughoxygen to support animals, so long as the numbers of animals did not grow too large.[2] The aquarium craze was launched in earlyVictorian England by Gosse, who created and stocked the firstpublic aquarium at theLondon Zoo in 1853, and published the first manual,The Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea in 1854.[2] Small aquariums are kept in the home byhobbyists. There are large public aquariums in many cities. Public aquariums keep fish and otheraquatic animals in large tanks. A large aquarium may haveotters,[3]dolphins,[4]sharks,[5]penguins,[6][7]seals,[8] andwhales.[9] Many aquarium tanks also have plants.
An aquarist owns fish or maintains an aquarium, typically constructed of glass or high-strengthacrylic. Aquaria with flat walls are known asfish tanks or simply tanks, while those with rounded walls are known asfish bowls. Size can range from a small glass bowl, a few liters in volume, to immense public aquaria of thousands of liters. Specialized equipment maintains appropriate water quality and other characteristics suitable for the aquarium's residents.
In 1369, theHongwu Emperor of China established aporcelain company that produced large porcelain tubs for maintaininggoldfish; over time, people produced tubs that approached the shape of modern fish bowls.[10]Leonhard Baldner, who wroteVogel-, Fisch- und Tierbuch (Bird, Fish, and Animal Book) in 1666, maintainedweather loaches andnewts.[11] It is sometimes held that the aquarium was invented by the Romans, who are said to have keptsea barbels in marble-and-glass tanks, but scholars doubt the veracity of this.[12]
In 1832,Jeanne Villepreux-Power, a pioneering French marine biologist, became the first person to create aquaria for experimenting with aquatic organisms.[13] This experimentation lead to several discoveries, including the first direct evidence thatargonauts, a marine cephalopod, create their own shells.[14] In 1836, soon after his invention of theWardian case, Dr.Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward proposed to use his tanks for tropical animals. In 1841 he did so, though only with aquatic plants and toy fish. However, he soon housed real animals. In 1838,Félix Dujardin noted owning asaltwater aquarium, though he did not use the term.[15] In 1846,Anne Thynne maintainedstony corals andseaweed for almost three years, and was credited as the creator of the first balanced marine aquarium in London.[16][17] English chemistRobert Warington experimented with a 13-gallon container, which contained goldfish,eelgrass, andsnails, creating one of the first stable aquaria. The aquarium principle was fully developed by Warington, explaining that plants added to water in a container would give off enough oxygen to support animals, so long as their numbers do not grow too large.[2] He published his findings in 1850 in theChemical Society'sjournal.[18]
TheJardin zoologique at theBois de Boulogne included an aquarium that housed both fresh and saltwater animals, 1860 in Paris.
The keeping of fish in an aquarium became a popularhobby and spread quickly. In the United Kingdom, it became popular after ornate aquaria in cast-iron frames were featured at theGreat Exhibition of 1851. In 1853, the aquarium craze was launched in England, spreading from there to Germany, the United States and France as the result of the publications and activity ofPhilip Henry Gosse, the marine zoologist known as the "Father of the Aquarium".[19] He created and stocked the first public aquarium at theLondon Zoo in Regent's Park, which came to be known as the Fish House.[20] The Regent's Park aquarium, initially indiscriminately referred to as the "Fish House," "Vivarium," "Aquavivarium" or "Marine vivarium", soon yielded to the word "aquarium", a term coined by Gosse[21] used as the title of his 1854 bookThe Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Water.[2] In this book, Gosse primarily discussed saltwater aquaria.[22] The high-water mark of the popular aquarium movement in Britain lasted from 1853-1860.[23]Tank designs and techniques for maintaining water quality were developed by Warington, later cooperating with Gosse until his critical review of the tank water composition.Edward Edwards developed these glass-fronted aquaria in his 1858 patent for a "dark-water-chamber slope-back tank", with water slowly circulating to a reservoir beneath.[24]
"What an Aquarium Should Be" – a humorous 1876 British engraving, apparently showingThomas Huxley dreaming about sea creatures
Influenced by Gosse, the GermanEmil Adolf Rossmässler promoted the value of the aquarium movement in the educational field. Rossmässler wrote of its use in an 1855 article inDie Gartenlaube (The Gazebo) and in his 1857 bookDas Susswasser-Aquarium (The Freshwater Aquarium),[25] the freshwater aquarium being much easier to maintain in landlocked areas.[26] In 1862William Alford Lloyd, then bankrupt because of the craze in England being over, moved to Grindel Dammthor, Hamburg, to supervise the installation of the circulating system and tanks at theHamburg Aquarium.[citation needed] During the 1870s, some of the firstaquarist societies were appearing in Germany.[27] The United States soon followed. Published in 1858, Henry D. Butler'sThe Family Aquarium was one of the first books written in the United States solely about the aquarium.[28] According to the July issue ofThe North American Review of the same year, William Stimson may have owned some of the first functional aquaria, and had as many as seven or eight.[29] The first aquarist society in the United States was founded inNew York City in 1893, followed by others.[27] TheNew York Aquarium Journal, first published in October 1876, is considered to be the world's first aquarium magazine.[30]
In theVictorian era in the United Kingdom, a common design for the home aquarium was a glass front with the other sides made of wood (made watertight with apitch coating). The bottom would be made ofslate and heated from below.[32] More advanced systems soon began to be introduced, along with tanks of glass in metal frames.[32] During the latter half of the 19th century, a variety of aquarium designs were explored, such as hanging the aquarium on a wall, mounting it as part of awindow, or even combining it with abirdcage.[33]
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2019)
Around 1908, the first mechanical aquarium air pump was invented, powered by running water, instead of electricity.[34] The introduction of the air pump into the hobby is considered by several historians of the hobby to be a pivotal moment in its development.[35]
Aquaria became more widely popular as houses had an electricity supply afterWorld War I.Electricity allowed artificial lighting, as well asaeration,filtration, and heating of the water.[36] Initially, amateur aquarists kept native fish (with the exception of goldfish); the availability of exotic species from overseas further increased the popularity of the aquarium.[37] Jugs made from a variety of materials were used to import fish from overseas, with abicycle foot pump for aeration.[38] Plastic shipping bags were introduced in the 1950s, making it easier to ship fish.[39] The eventual availability of air freight allowed fish to be successfully imported from distant regions.[11] Popular publications started byHerbert R. Axelrod influenced many more hobbyists to start keeping fish.[40] In the 1960s, metal frames mademarine aquaria almost impossible due to corrosion, but the development oftar andsilicone sealant allowed the first all-glass aquaria made by Martin Horowitz in Los Angeles, CA. The frames remained, however, though purely for aesthetic reasons.[32]
Japan played an increasingly important role in shaping aquarium design in the latter part of the twentieth century, with theaquascaping designs ofTakashi Amano influencing fishkeepers to treat home aquariums as aesthetically pleasing compositions, rather than simply as a way of displaying fish specimens.[41]
In the United States, as of 1996,aquarium keeping is the second-most popular hobby afterstamp collecting.[42] In 1999, an estimated 9.6 million US households owned an aquarium.[43] Figures from the 2005/2006 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey report that Americans own approximately 139 million freshwater fish and 9.6 million saltwater fish.[44] Estimates of the numbers of fish kept in aquaria in Germany suggest at least 36 million.[42] The hobby has the strongest following in Europe, Asia, and North America. In the United States, 40% of aquarists maintain two or more tanks.[45]
Over time, there has been an increasing appreciation of the usefulness of access to an aquarium to provide potentialstress reduction and improvement ofmood in people observing aquatic life.[46][47] According to the research of having an aquarium is many health benefits like reduce stress,blood pressure andheart rate improvement, better qualitysleep, reduceanxiety andpain, therapy of excited children,Alzheimer's therapy and improveproductivity.
The first modern aquarium made of glass was developed in the 19th century by Robert Warrington.[48] During theVictorian age, glass aquariums commonly had slate orsteel bottoms, which allowed them to be heated underneath by an open-flame heat source. These aquariums had the glass panels attached with metal frames and sealed with putty. Metal-framed aquariums were still available until the mid-1960s, when the modern, silicone-sealed style replaced them.Acrylic aquariums first became available to the public in the 1970s.Laminated glass is sometimes used, which combines the advantages of both glass and acrylic.[49]Today, most aquaria consist ofglass panes bonded together by 100%silicone sealant,[50] with plastic frames attached to the upper and lower edges for decoration. The glass aquarium is standard for sizes up to about 1,000 litres (260 US gal; 220 imp gal). However, glass is brittle and has very little give before fracturing, though generally the sealant fails first.[49] Aquaria are made in a variety of shapes, such ascuboid,hexagonal, angled to fit in a corner (L-shaped), and bow-front (the front side curves outwards).[51] Fish bowls are generally either made of plastic or glass, and are either spherical or some other round configuration in shape.[citation needed]
Glass aquaria have been a popular choice for many home and hobbyist aquarists for many years. Once silicone sealant became strong enough to ensure a long-term water-tight seal, it eliminated the need for a structural frame. In addition to lower cost, glass aquaria are more scratch resistant than acrylic. Although the price is one of the main considerations for aquarists when deciding which of these two types of aquaria to purchase, for very large tanks, the price difference tends to disappear.[citation needed]
Acrylic aquaria are now the primary competitor with glass. Prior to the invention ofUV stabilization, early acrylic aquaria discolored over time with exposure to light; this is no longer the case. Acrylic is generally stronger than glass, weighs less, and provides a certain amount of temperature insulation. In colder climates or environments, it is easier to achieve and maintain a tropical temperature and requires less capacity from an aquarium heater.[52] Acrylic-soluble cements are used to directly fuse acrylic together.[49] Acrylic allows for the formation of unusual shapes, such as the hexagonal tank.[32] Acrylics are easier to scratch than glass, but unlike glass, scratches in acrylic can be polished out.[49]
Large aquaria might instead use stronger materials such asfiberglass-reinforcedplastics. However, this material is not transparent.[49] Reinforcedconcrete is used for aquaria where weight and space are not factors. Concrete must be coated with a waterproof layer to prevent the water from breaking down the concrete, as well as preventing contamination of the water by the concrete.[49]
Plywood can also be used when building aquaria. The benefits of using plywood include: lower construction costs, less weight, and better insulation. A popular positioning choice for plywood aquaria is keeping them in a wall. Here the use of plywood is hidden by sinking the aquarium inside the wall. Putting insulation between the two helps with the insulation of a heated tank.[53]
Objects used for aquariums include: coffee tables, sinks, and even toilets.[54] Another such example is theMacQuarium, an aquarium made from the shell of anApple Macintoshcomputer.[55] In recent years, elaborate custom-designed home aquariums costing hundreds of thousands of dollars have become status symbols—according toThe New York Times, "among people of means, a dazzling aquarium is one of the last surefire ways to impress their peers."[54]
A typical kreisel tank housing several moon jellyfish
A kreisel tank (kreisel being German for "spinning top" or "gyroscope") is an aquarium shaped like a horizontal cylinder that is designed to hold delicate animals such asjellyfish and newborn seahorses. These aquariums provide slow, circular water flow with a bare minimum of interior hardware to prevent the inhabitants from becoming injured by pumps or the tank itself.[56] The tank has no sharp angles around its sides and keeps the housed animals away from plumbing. Water moving into the tank gives a gentle flow that keeps the inhabitants suspended. Water leaves the tank through a screen which prevents animals from being drawn into the pump intake or overflow line.[citation needed]
There are several types of kreisel tanks. In a true kreisel, a circular tank has a circular, submerged lid.Pseudokreisels are "U" or semicircle shaped, usually without a lid.[57]Stretch kreisels are a "double gyre" kreisel design, where the tank length is at least twice the height. Using two downwelling inlets on both sides of the tank lets gravity create two gyres in the tank. A single downwelling inlet may be used in the middle as well. The top of a stretch kreisel may be open or closed with a lid. There may also be screens about midway down the sides of the tank, or at the top on the sides.[58] It is possible to combine these designs; a circular shaped tank is used without a lid or cover, and the surface of the water acts as the continuation of circular flow.
Another popular setup is thebiotope aquarium. A biotope aquarium is a recreation of a specific natural environment. Some of the most popular biotopes are the freshwater habitats of theAmazon River, theRio Negro River, the Africanrift lake environments ofLake Malawi andLake Tanganyika, and saltwatercoral reefs ofAustralia, theRed Sea, and theCaribbean Sea. The fish, plants, substrate, rocks, wood, coral, and any other component of the display should completely match that of the local natural environment. It can be a challenge to recreate such environments, and most "true" biotopes will only have a few (if not only one) species of fish and invertebrates.[citation needed]
A 1,200,000-litre (320,000 US gal; 260,000 imp gal) aquarium atMonterey Bay Aquarium in California, displaying akelp forest ecosystem
An aquarium can range from a small glass bowl containing less than 1 litre (2.1 US pt) of water to immense public aquaria that house entire ecosystems such askelp forests. Relatively large home aquaria resist rapid fluctuations of temperature andpH, allowing for greater system stability.[51] Beginner aquarists are advised to consider larger tanks to begin with, as controlling water parameters in smaller tanks can prove difficult.[60]
Small, unfiltered bowl-shaped aquaria are now widely regarded as unsuitable for most fish. In order to keep water conditions at suitable levels, aquariums should contain at least two forms offiltration: biological and mechanical. Chemical filtration should also be considered under some circumstances for optimum water quality. Chemical filtration is frequently achieved viaactivated carbon, to filter medications,tannins, and/or other known impurities from the water.[citation needed]
Reef aquaria under 100 litres (26 US gal; 22 imp gal) have a special place in the aquarium hobby; these aquaria, termednano reefs (when used in reefkeeping), have a small water volume, under 40 litres (11 US gal; 9 imp gal).[61]
Practical limitations, most notably theweight of water (1 kilogram per litre (8.345 lb/U.S. gal; 10.022 lb/imp gal)) and internalwater pressure (requiring thick glass siding) of a large aquarium, restrict most home aquaria to a maximum of around 1 cubic metre in volume (1000 L, weighing1,000 kg or2,200 lb).[51] Some aquarists, however, have constructed aquaria of many thousands of litres.[62]
Public aquariums andoceanariums designed for exhibition of large species or environments can be dramatically larger than any home aquarium. TheGeorgia Aquarium, for example, features an individual aquarium of 6,300,000 US gallons (24,000,000 L).[63]
A new trend is to have very small aquariums, termed mini aquariums (less than 150 litres or 40 gallons) or nano aquariums (less than 75 litres or 20 gallons). These can be either freshwater or saltwater, and are intended to display a tiny but self-contained ecosystem.[64][65][66]
Filtration system in a typical aquarium: (1) intake, (2) mechanical filtration, (3) chemical filtration, (4) biological filtration medium, (5) outflow to tank
The typical hobbyist aquarium includes a filtration system, an artificial lighting system, an air diffuser and pump, and a heater or chiller depending on the aquarium's inhabitants. Many aquaria incorporate a hood, containing the lights, to decrease evaporation and prevent fish from leaving the aquarium (and anything else from entering the aquarium).[51]
Combined biological and mechanical aquariumfiltration systems are common. These either convert ammonia to nitrate (removing nitrogen at the expense of aquatic plants), or to sometimes removephosphate. Filter media can housemicrobes that mediatenitrification. Filtration systems are sometimes the most complex component of home aquaria.[67]
Aquarium heaters combine a heating element with athermostat, allowing the aquarist to regulate water temperature at a level above that of the surrounding air, whereas coolers and chillers (refrigeration devices) are for use anywhere, such as cold water aquaria, where the ambient room temperature is above the desired tank temperature.[51]Thermometers used include glass alcohol thermometers, adhesive externalplastic strip thermometers, and battery-powered LCD thermometers.[51] In addition, some aquarists use air pumps attached toairstones or water pumps to increase water circulation and supply adequate gas exchange at the water surface. Wave-making devices have also been constructed to provide wave action.[49]
Fishes, multicolored pebbles and artificial plants within a home aquarium.
An aquarium's physical characteristics form another aspect of aquarium design. Size, lighting conditions, density of floating and rooted plants, placement ofbog-wood, creation of caves or overhangs, type ofsubstrate, and other factors (including an aquarium's positioning within a room) can all affect the behavior and survival of tank inhabitants.[citation needed]
An aquarium can be placed on an aquarium stand. Because of the weight of the aquarium, a stand must be strong as well as level. A tank that is not level may distort, leak, or crack.[51] These are often built with cabinets to allow storage, available in many styles to match roomdecor. Simple metal tank stands are also available.[51] Most aquaria should be placed onpolystyrene to cushion any irregularities on the underlying surface or the bottom of the tank itself that may cause cracks.[51] However, some tanks have an underframe making this unnecessary.[citation needed]
Another important consideration for aquariums is their electrical usage. Water is expensive to keep heated,[68] along with the lights that many aquariums, especially those with live plants have. New aquarists should also pay close attention to their electrical setup for their aquarium, taking care to set up power connections with drip loops to prevent water from getting to outlets.[69]
Large volumes of water enable more stability in a tank by diluting effects from death or contamination events that push an aquarium away from equilibrium. The bigger the tank, the easier such asystemic shock is to absorb, because the effects of that event are diluted. For example, the death of the only fish in an 11-litre (3 US gal; 2 imp gal) tank causes dramatic changes in the system, while the death of that same fish in a 400-litre (110 US gal; 88 imp gal) tank with many other fish in it represents only a minor change. For this reason, hobbyists often favor larger tanks, as they require less attention.
Severalnutrient cycles are important in the aquarium. Dissolved oxygen enters the system at the surface water-air interface. Similarly, carbon dioxide escapes the system into the air. The phosphate cycle is an important, although often overlooked, nutrient cycle. Sulfur, iron, and micronutrients also cycle through the system, entering as food and exiting as waste. Appropriate handling of thenitrogen cycle, along with supplying an adequately balanced food supply and considered biological loading, is enough to keep these other nutrient cycles in approximate equilibrium.
An aquarium must be maintained regularly to ensure that the fish are kept healthy. Daily maintenance consists of checking the fish for signs of stress anddisease.[70] Also, aquarists must make sure that the water has a good quality and it is not cloudy orfoamy and thetemperature of the water is appropriate for the particular species of fish that live in the aquarium.
Typical weekly maintenance includes changing around 10–30% or more of the water while cleaning thegravel, or other substrate if the aquarium has one; however some manage to avoid this entirely by keeping it somewhat self-sufficient. A good habit is to remove the water being replaced by "vacuuming" the gravel with suitable implements, as this will eliminate uneaten foods and other residues that settle on thesubstrate.[71] In many areastap water is not considered to be safe for fish to live in because it contains chemicals that harm the fish.[72] Tap water from those areas must be treated with a suitable water conditioner, such as a product which removes chlorine andchloramine and neutralizes any heavy metals present. The water conditions must be checked both in the tank and in the replacement water, to make sure they are suitable for the species.
Thesolute content of water is perhaps the most important aspect of water conditions, astotal dissolved solids and other constituents dramatically impact basic water chemistry, and therefore how organisms interact with their environment. Salt content, orsalinity, is the most basic measure of water conditions. An aquarium may havefreshwater (salinity below 500 parts per million), simulating a lake or river environment;brackish water (a salt level of 500 to 30,000 PPM), simulating environments lying between fresh and salt, such asestuaries; and salt water orseawater (a salt level of 30,000 to 40,000 PPM), simulating an ocean environment. Rarely, higher salt concentrations are maintained in specialized tanks for raising brine organisms.
Saltwater is usually alkaline, while thepH (alkalinity oracidity) of fresh water varies more. Hardness measures overall dissolved mineral content;hard or soft water may be preferred. Hard water is usually alkaline, while soft water is usually neutral to acidic.[73]Dissolved organic content and dissolved gases content are also important factors.
Home aquarists typically use tap water supplied through their localwater supply network to fill their tanks. Straight tap water cannot be used in localities that pipe chlorinated water. In the past, it was possible to "condition" the water by simply letting the water stand for a day or two, which allows thechlorine time to dissipate.[73] However,chloramine is now used more often and does not leave the water as readily.Water conditioners formulated to remove chlorine or chloramine are often all that is needed to make the water ready for aquarium use. Brackish or saltwater aquaria require the addition of a commercially availablemixture of salts and other minerals.
This aquarium features a heated tank and a glass-enclosed top for warmth during winter.
Some aquarists modify water's alkalinity, hardness, or dissolved content of organics and gases, before adding it to their aquaria. This can be accomplished by additives, such as sodium bicarbonate, to raise pH.[73] Some aquaristsfilter or purify their water throughdeionization orreverse osmosis prior to using it. In contrast, public aquaria with large water needs often locate themselves near a natural water source (such as a river, lake, or ocean) to reduce the level of treatment. Some hobbyists use analgae scrubber to filter the water naturally.[citation needed]
Watertemperature determines the two most basic aquarium classifications:tropical versuscold water. Most fish and plant species tolerate only a limited temperature range; tropical aquaria, with an average temperature of about 25 °C (77 °F), are much more common. Temperate or coldwater aquaria are for fish that are better suited to a cooler environment. Temperature consistency is more important than range. Most organisms are not accustomed to sudden changes in temperatures, which can cause shock and lead to disease.[73] Water temperature can be regulated with athermostat and heater (or cooler).
Water movement can also be important in simulating a natural ecosystem. Aquarists may prefer anything from still water up to swiftcurrents, depending on the aquarium's inhabitants. Water movement can be controlled via aeration from air pumps, powerheads, and careful design of internal water flow (such as location of filtration system points of inflow and outflow).
Of primary concern to the aquarist is management of thewaste produced by an aquarium's inhabitants. Fish, invertebrates,fungi, and some bacteria excretenitrogen waste in the form ofammonia (which converts toammonium, in water) and must then either pass through thenitrogen cycle or be removed by passing throughzeolite.[74] Ammonia is also produced through thedecomposition of plant and animal matter, includingfecal matter and otherdetritus. Nitrogen waste products become toxic to fish and other aquarium inhabitants at high concentrations.[73][page needed] In the wild, the vast amount of water surrounding the fish dilutes ammonia and other waste materials. When fish are put into an aquarium, waste can quickly reach toxic concentrations in the enclosed environment unless the tank is cycled to remove waste.[73][page needed][75]
A well-balanced tank contains organisms that are able tometabolize the waste products of other aquarium residents, recreating a portion of thenitrogen cycle.Bacteria known asnitrifiers (genusNitrosomonas) metabolize nitrogen waste. Nitrifying bacteria capture ammonia from the water and metabolize it to producenitrite.[citation needed] Nitrite is toxic to fish in high concentrations. Another type of bacteria (genusNitrospira) convertsnitrite intonitrate, a less toxic substance. (Nitrobacter bacteria were previously believed to fill this role. While biologically they could theoretically fill the same niche asNitrospira, it has recently been found thatNitrobacter are not present in detectable levels in established aquaria, whileNitrospira are plentiful.)[citation needed] However, commercial products sold as kits to "jump start" the nitrogen cycle often still containNitrobacter.[citation needed]
Aquatic plants also eliminate nitrogen waste by metabolizing ammonia and nitrate. When plants metabolize nitrogen compounds, they remove nitrogen from the water by using it to buildbiomass that decays more slowly than ammonia-drivenplankton already dissolved in the water. Some hobbyists also use "anoxic filtration," which relies on bacteria that live in low-oxygen environments.[76]
Live plants in an aquarium utilize the final product in thenitrogen cycle ofnitrate as fertilizer, helping the nitrate levels stay minimal. This 60-litre (13 imp gal; 16 US gal) aquarium containsAnubias barteri andEchinodorus bleheri. Aheater and smallfilter are in the background.
The nitrogen cycle in an aquarium is only a portion of the complete cycle: nitrogen must be added to the system (usually through food provided to the tank inhabitants), and nitrates accumulate in the water at the end of the process, or become bound in the biomass of plants. The aquarium keeper must remove water once nitrate concentrations grow, or remove plants which have grown from the nitrates.
Hobbyist aquaria often do not have sufficient bacteria populations to adequately denitrify waste. This problem is most often addressed through twofiltration solutions:Activated carbon filters absorb nitrogen compounds and othertoxins, while biological filters provide a medium designed to enhancebacterial colonization. Activated carbon and other substances, such as ammonia absorbing resins, stop working when their pores fill, so these components have to be replaced regularly.
New aquaria often have problems associated with the nitrogen cycle due to insufficient beneficial bacteria.[77] Therefore, fresh water has to be matured before stocking them with fish. There are three basic approaches to this: the "fishless cycle", the "silent cycle" and "slow growth".
In afishless cycle, small amounts of ammonia are added to an unpopulated tank to feed the bacteria. During this process,ammonia,nitrite, andnitrate levels are tested to monitor progress. The "silent" cycle is basically nothing more than densely stocking the aquarium with fast-growing aquaticplants and relying on them to consume thenitrogen, allowing the necessary bacterial populations time to develop. According to anecdotal reports, the plants can consume nitrogenous waste so efficiently that ammonia and nitrite level spikes seen in more traditional cycling methods are greatly reduced or disappear. "Slow growth" entails slowly increasing the population of fish over a period of 6 to 8 weeks, giving bacteria colonies time to grow and stabilize with the increase in fish waste. This method is usually done with a small starter population of hardier fish which can survive the ammonia and nitrite spikes, whether they are intended to be permanent residents or to be traded out later for the desired occupants.
The largest bacterial populations are found in the filter, where there is high water flow and plentiful surface available for their growth, so effective and efficient filtration is vital. Sometimes, a vigorous cleaning of the filter is enough to seriously disturb the biological balance of an aquarium. Therefore, it is recommended to rinse mechanical filters in an outside bucket of aquarium water to dislodge organic materials that contribute to nitrate problems, while preserving bacteria populations. Another safe practice consists of cleaning only half of the filter media during each service, or using two filters, only one of which is cleaned at a time.
The biological load, or bioload is a measure of the burden placed on the aquarium ecosystem by its inhabitants. High biological loading presents a more complicated tank ecology, which in turn means that equilibrium is easier to upset. Several fundamental constraints on biological loading depend on aquarium size. The water'ssurface area limitsoxygen intake. The bacteria population depends on the physical space they have available to colonize. Physically, only a limited size and number of plants and animals can fit into an aquarium while still providing room for movement. Biologically, biological loading refers to the rate of biological decay in proportion to tank volume. Adding plants to an aquarium will sometimes help greatly with taking up fish waste as plant nutrients. Although an aquarium can be overloaded with fish, an excess of plants is unlikely to cause harm. Decaying plant material, such as decaying plant leaves, can add these nutrients back into the aquarium if not promptly removed. The bioload is processed by the aquarium'sbiofilter filtration system.
Limiting factors include the oxygen availability and filtration processing. Aquarists haverules of thumb toestimate the number of fish that can be kept in an aquarium. The examples below are for small freshwater fish; larger freshwater fishes and most marine fishes need much more generous allowances.
3 cm ofadult fish length per 4 litres of water (i.e., a 6 cm-long fish would need about 8 litres of water).[78]
1 cm ofadult fish length per 30 square centimetres of surface area.[79]
1 inch ofadult fish length per US gallon of water.[78]
1 inch ofadult fish length per 12 square inches of surface area.[79]
Experienced aquarists warn against applying these rules too strictly because they do not consider other important issues such as growth rate, activity level, social behaviour, filtration capacity, total biomass of plant life, and so on.[80] It is better to apply the overall mass and size of a fish per gallon of water, than simply the length. This is because fish of different sizes produce quite differing amounts of waste. Establishing maximum capacity is often a matter of slowly adding fish and monitoring water quality over time, following atrial and error approach.
An academic aquarium at a university, using a variety of tank sizes and styles to care for different fish.
One variable is differences between fish. Smaller fish consume more oxygen per gram of body weight than larger fish.Labyrinth fish can breathe atmospheric oxygen and do not need as much surface area (however, some of these fish are territorial, and do not appreciate crowding).Barbs also require more surface area thantetras of comparable size.[73]
Oxygen exchange at the surface is an important constraint, and thus the surface area of the aquarium matters. Some aquarists claim that a deeper aquarium holds no more fish than a shallower aquarium with the same surface area. The capacity can be improved by surface movement and water circulation such as throughaeration, which not only improves oxygen exchange, but also waste decomposition rates.[73]
Waste density is another variable. Decomposition in solution consumes oxygen. Oxygen dissolves less readily in warmer water; this is a double-edged sword since warmer temperatures make fish more active, so they consume more oxygen.[73]
In addition to bioload/chemical considerations, aquarists also consider the mutual compatibility of the fish. For instance, predatory fish are usually not kept with small, passive species, and territorial fish are often unsuitable tankmates for shoaling species. Furthermore, fish tend to fare better if given tanks conducive to their size. That is, large fish need large tanks and small fish can do well in smaller tanks. Lastly, the tank can become overcrowded without being overstocked. In other words, the aquarium can be suitable with regard to filtration capacity, oxygen load, and water, yet still be so crowded that the inhabitants are uncomfortable.[citation needed]
For planted freshwater aquariums, it is also important to maintain a balance between the duration and quality of light, the amount of plants, CO2 levels and nutrients. The amount of fish on the tank can also affect the nutrients levels. For a given amount of light, if there is insufficient number of plants or insufficient CO2 to support the growth of those plants, so as to consume all the nutrients in the tank, the result would be algae growth. While there are fishes and invertebrates that could be introduced in the tank to clean up this algae, the ideal solution would be to find the optimal balance between the above-mentioned factors. Supplemental CO2 can be provided,[81] whose quantity has to be carefully regulated, as too much CO2 may harm the fishes.[original research?]
From the outdoor ponds and glass jars of antiquity, modern aquaria have evolved into a wide range of specialized systems. Individual aquaria can vary in size from a small bowl large enough for only a single small fish, to the huge public aquaria that can simulate entire marineecosystems.[citation needed]
One way to classify aquaria is by salinity.Freshwater aquaria are the most popular due to their lower cost.[82] More expensive and complex equipment is required to set up and maintainmarine aquaria. Marine aquaria frequently feature a diverse range ofinvertebrates in addition to species of fish.[67][82]Brackish water aquaria combine elements of both marine and freshwater fishkeeping.[82] Fish kept in brackish water aquaria generally come from habitats with varying salinity, such asmangrove swamps andestuaries. Subtypes exist within these types, such as thereef aquarium, a typically smaller marine aquarium that housescoral.[82]
Another classification is bytemperature range. Many aquarists choose atropical aquarium because tropical fish tend to be more colorful.[82] However, thecoldwater aquarium is also popular, which includes fish from temperate areas worldwide.[82]
Aquaria may be grouped by their species selection. In acommunity tank, several non-aggressive species live peacefully. In these aquaria, the fish,invertebrates, andplants probably do not originate from the same geographic region, but tolerate similar water conditions and each other. Aggressive tanks, by contrast, house a limited number of species that can be aggressive toward other fish, or are able to withstand aggression well. Most aquarists maintaining marine tanks and tanks housingcichlids have to take species aggressiveness into account when stocking. Specimen tanks usually only house one fish species, along with plants—sometimes those found in the fish species' natural environment—and decorations simulating a natural ecosystem. This type is useful for fish that cannot coexist with other fish, such as theelectric eel, as an extreme example. Some tanks of this sort are used simply to house adults for breeding.[citation needed]
Biotope aquaria is another type based on species selection. In it, an aquarist attempts to simulate a specific natural ecosystem, assembling fish, invertebrate species, plants, decorations and water conditions all found in that ecosystem. Public aquaria often use this approach. Biotope aquaria simulates the experience of observing in the wild. It typically serves as the healthiest possible artificial environment for the tank's occupants.[citation needed]
Mostpublic aquarium facilities feature a number of smaller aquaria, as well those too large for home aquarists. The largest tanks hold millions of gallons of water and can house large species, includingsharks orbeluga whales, which typically could not be housed properly in the home aquarium.Dolphinaria are specifically fordolphins. Aquatic and semiaquatic animals, includingotters andpenguins, may also be kept by public aquaria. Public aquaria may also be included in larger establishments such as amarine mammal park or amarine park. These are very popular around the world, especially with a new emergence in theMiddle East.
A virtual aquarium is acomputer program which uses3D graphics to reproduce an aquarium on apersonal computer. The swimming fish arerendered inreal time, while the background of the tank is usually static. Objects on the floor of the tank may be mapped in simpleplanes so that the fish may appear to swim both in front and behind them, but a relatively simple 3D map of the general shape of such objects may be used to allow the light and ripples on the surface of the water to cast realisticshadows.[83] Bubbles and water noises are common for virtual aquariums, which are often used asscreensavers.
The number of each type of fish can usually be selected, often including other animals likestarfish,jellyfish,seahorses, and evensea turtles. Most companies that produce virtual aquarium software also offer other types of fish for sale via Internetdownload. Other objects found in an aquarium can also be added and rearranged on some software, liketreasure chests and giantclams that open and close with air bubbles, or a bobbingdiver. There are also usually features that allow the user to tap on the glass or put food in the top, both of which the fish will react to. Some also have the ability to allow the user to edit fish and other objects to create new varieties.
^Wertheimer, Douglas (2024).Philip Henry Gosse: A Biography. Brethren Archivists and Historians Network, pp.191-5, gives an overview of the various individuals claimed to be "the" inventor of the aquarium.ISBN978-1739128326.
^Scales, Helen (2015).Spirals in time: the secret life and curious afterlife of seashells. Bloomsbury Sigma. London: Bloomsbury Sigma.ISBN978-1-4729-1136-0.
^Fromson, Daniel (31 December 2017). "Herbert R. Axelrod, a Hustler who Built a Fortune on a Fish Tale".The New York Times Magazine. pp. 43–44.
^Axelrod, Herbert R., Warren E. Burgess, Neal Pronek, Glen S. Axelrod and David E. Boruchowitz (1998),Aquarium Fishes of the World, Neptune City, N.J.: T.F.H. Publications, p. 718,ISBN0-7938-0493-0.
^abRiehl, Rüdiger; Baensch, Hans A. (1996).Aquarium Atlas (5th ed.). Germany: Tetra Press.ISBN3-88244-050-3.
