Published August 18, 2005

Perhaps it began with those computer screen savers, you know the ones where cute little virtual fish would glub and glide in an endless loop, and fronds of cyber seaweed would wave across the face of your laptop.

Maybe it was the influence of popular movies like “A Shark’s Tale” and “Finding Nemo,” which starred an animated clownfish, and caused a worldwide run on clownfish as kids clamored for their own personal “Nemo” after seeing the film.

Or it could be the simple soothing lure of water. A home aquarium has the same relaxing effect as a desk-top fountain or in-door waterfall — without the intrusive noise level.

Whatever the reason, people are increasingly installing softly gurgling fish habitats as part of their home decor. Home tanks, both freshwater and saltwater, can become the focal point of a room, showcasing an enchanted world of soothing aquascapes.
“People find aquariums really relaxing, that’s why you often find them in doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms,” says Nate Singer, manager of North Bay Aquatics, a Cotati-based store specializing in home aquariums.

“They also have an aesthetic benefit; it’s like having a moving piece of furniture in an entrance or corner of a room,” Singer adds. Aquarium cabinets and stands now come in a variety of materials to complement home furnishings. “If people want to match their aquarium to their cherry wood or stainless steel furniture, they can.”
A love of scuba diving in exotic locales drew fish keeper Tracy Goldsmith to set up an impressive aquarium in her living room.

“I love it,” says Goldsmith. “It’s like having a little part of the ocean here at home.”
She says she routinely comes home from work and winds down just gazing at the fish.
“It’s like taking a mini-vacation,” she muses.

Goldsmith isn’t alone. Singer says the purchase of home aquariums has been growing steadily for some time, as equipment has improved and maintenance has become more streamlined.
“It’s a lot easier to keep fish now than it was 10 years ago,” he says. “Still, there are people who make it sound like it’s rocket science, but it’s hardly that.”
He says maintenance takes about 45 minutes per week, with extra work once a month for chores such as changing the water and cleaning the filter. For newbies or those pressed for time, several local aquarium maintenance companies will make house calls and do the job for you.

“We come in and basically tune up the aquarium and make sure everything is kept in balance so it can sustain life,” explains Angie McGraw, owner of Aqua Life Aquarium Maintenance, a Santa Rosa-based company that makes house calls throughout Sonoma and Marin counties.

Challenges include keeping fish healthy, water clear, and filtration systems functioning.
The biggest problem, McGraw says, is overfeeding.
“People get really excited when they see the fish eating, so they just keep pouring in more food, and the water can’t sustain it.”

According to Singer, anyone wishing to install a home aquarium should do research beforehand.

“It’s very important to have a plan instead of just going into a store and buying whatever looks cool,” he says. “Some people will buy a small cute fish and not understand that it’ll get huge.”

He also recommends that people understand that different types of fish have different personalities. Some are peaceable and live compatibly with different fish, while others are so aggressive it’s impossible to keep other species in the same tank.
According to Singer, the least investment for a first-time aquarium would be to purchase a small freshwater model, rather than a saltwater one, begin with a couple of inexpensive fish (with peaceable dispositions!), and build the aquarium around those fish.
Most pet stores stock a variety of fish ranging from less than $2 to more than $100 for each one. Some specialist stores stock rare exotic varieties costing up to $4,000 per fish - very daunting if you fear accidentally killing off your pricey pet.
However, experts say it’s hard to accidentally kill off aquarium fish as long as you’re aware of what you’re doing and don’t, for example, use a kitchen sponge that might have soap residue in it to scrub inside a tank, as that would be deadly to the fish.
Tanks run the gamut in size and cost. The least expensive is about $30, the most expensive will set you back about $40,000. The average size of between 20 and 60 gallons costs under $1,000.

Most people purchase freshwater tanks but there’s a growing trend in saltwater aquariums as people are beginning to keep exotic corals, anemones and marine fish.
Home aquariums are a great alternative for people who want pets but don’t have time for their daily upkeep, or for those living in apartments in which dogs and cats are forbidden.
In addition, an aquarium is a great educational tool for children to encourage interest in science and nature.

“Children love it when a fish can learn to recognize its owner and beg for food” Singer says. “Fish are smarter than most people give them credit.”