| The history of the freshwater aquarium and aquariums | | | | from slate). They were coated in pitch to make them |
| in general are varied depending on who you speak to. | | | | watertight. |
| What is important today is how aquariums evolved | | | | Tank Basics |
| and what they have evolved into. Also, the fact that | | | | Soon, these construction problems were overcome |
| aquariums do have a history, and it is rather interesting. | | | | little by little. There was a real breakthrough with the |
| From ancient Mesopotamia to modern day Miami, | | | | development of silicon sealants. |
| aquariums have been apart of human life and have | | | | It became possible now to manufacture an all-glass |
| been written about by countless people who for one | | | | aquarium in all sizes and shapes. Bulky steel frames |
| thing, liked their entertainment appeal as well as the | | | | became obsolete and tanks can now be moved |
| reported soothing effects on the king and queen of | | | | without the danger of breaking the seal. |
| ancient times. | | | | Understanding Technology |
| The many ancient drawings, carvings and pictures of | | | | At around this time, better understanding on the needs |
| aquariums from places in antiquity like Eqypt and | | | | of the tank's fish inhabitants led to the invention of the |
| Sumeria show us that these past peoples knew the | | | | heater and the thermostat, as postulated by a Mr. |
| beauty of the tanks and they also desired to maintain | | | | Humphreys. In maintaining fish, this person would be the |
| that beauty and pass on the secrets of these | | | | one to mention the significance of the tanks chemistry |
| creatures. The ancient Romans were also known to | | | | toward the safety of the fish. |
| have traded live fish as commodities in their agoras | | | | With a deeper understanding on water chemistry and |
| (markets). | | | | other related matters, filtration and lighting were soon |
| Goldfish and Koifish | | | | recognized as additional important elements to the total |
| In another part of the world, the art of selective | | | | upkeep of the fish in the aquarium. |
| breeding began in China around 2,000 years ago. They | | | | The Modern Aquarium |
| had been known to produce the now-famous goldfish | | | | Today's modern aquariums are made mostly of glass. |
| developed from the regular carp. By the 18th century, | | | | Nowadays, more tanks are being made from acrylic |
| goldfish as an ornamental fish was common in Europe | | | | instead of glass because it doesn't break as easily. |
| and later became popular in America. | | | | This is because acrylic is pliable and can be used to |
| Cultured live koi - that familiar fish with the red, white | | | | manufacture unusual shapes. (Acrylic aquariums are |
| and black colorations, was already a commercial item | | | | mostly used in big showrooms in business and office |
| in the old trade routes that spanned China, Japan and | | | | buildings today.) |
| Europe around the 16th century. Later, its reputation | | | | Nowadays, aquaria made of acrylics are regarded as |
| also grew and became very popular. Much later, it | | | | the lightweight alternatives to those made of glass. |
| was also exported to Europe and America. | | | | This is especially true now that manufacturers had |
| Crude Beginnings | | | | produced harder and scratch-resistant plastics. |
| In the early 19th century, aquarium-keeping began. | | | | Perhaps, they would replace the unwieldy glass in the |
| England, Germany and France all vied to top | | | | future. |
| themselves in mounting exhibits of public aquariums. It | | | | Improved Technology |
| did not get a good reception as many were appalled | | | | Also, there had been such long strides made in the |
| by it. | | | | improvement of the accompanying technology related |
| At that time, there was very poor understanding yet | | | | to aquarium keeping: heating, lighting, filtration, and |
| on the various roles of water chemistry, the nitrogen | | | | aeration among others. |
| cycle, filtration and aeration. The size of the tanks was | | | | Apart from the technology, there is now a better |
| also limited by the holding power of the construction | | | | understanding of marine life and ecology that pushed |
| materials then. | | | | the hobby into what it is today. Taking together both |
| The First Aquarium | | | | marine and freshwater aquarium varieties, the simple |
| In 1850, a Mr. Harrington declared through a paper he | | | | hobby of keeping a living fish in a bowl had become |
| wrote for the Chemical Society of London that he had | | | | the world's 2nd most popular hobby. (Gardening is |
| successfully maintained a stable aquarium. Fish-keeping | | | | number one.) |
| suddenly became a popular hobby. | | | | The Future Of The Aquarium |
| Three years after, many Zoo's and farms began to | | | | There is now a growing number of fish varieties |
| open the first public aquariums one after another when | | | | available for keeping in aquariums and the size and |
| they noticed a good turnout. Soon, public aquaria were | | | | shape of aquarium tanks have evolved, too. |
| all over the major European cities patronized by eager | | | | However, according to experts, the future of the |
| but intrigued visitors. | | | | hobby is still focused on the next advances in water |
| Household Items | | | | purification, nutrition, lighting and other related matters. |
| It was not long after when the aquarium became a | | | | Fish breeding is a old and popular practice that has |
| fashionable household item in Victorian England. | | | | become quite popular around the world with good |
| Curiously, there were no tanks for sale then, although | | | | breeds being created constantly. (Genetic manipulation |
| there were various books and other how-to manuals | | | | is still frowned upon.) |
| already available for constructing aquariums. | | | | Whatever direction the hobby is moving into, today's |
| The first constructed tanks leaned more to the | | | | hobbyists are reminded that they are part of a |
| ornamental side rather than being functional at best. | | | | thousand-year-old freshwater aquarium history as they |
| Most early designs featured a glass front and three | | | | tinker their aquariums and feed their aquatic pets. |
| wooden sides (They were sometimes constructed | | | | |