Image: glass-fish-tanks.com

Not everybody wants a 200 gallon fish tank that takes up tons and space and costs more than your cable bill to maintain every month. Sometimes, good things come in small packages, and tiny aquariums can add the perfect touch to a home or office space. Small aquariums may not require a huge amount of thought and effort, but I can still offer a few simple tips and tricks to make sure that your tiny aquarium is a big success.

1. Location, location, location

It’s just as true for aquariums as it is for real estate. You don’t really have to think too much about where you plop your humongoid aquarium, because once it’s set up it’s pretty much not going to move, ever. Small aquariums, however, require a bit more thought about where they’re set up. First of all, aquariums can be deceptively heavy, so if you put even a small fish bowl on a book shelf there’s a good chance that the impressive weight and the constant humidity could damage the bookshelf or other objects on the shelf.

Image: apartmenttherapy

The other thing that you really gotta watch out for is how likely it is that somebody could knock it over. Putting a fishbowl on your desk at work or home might seem like a good idea at the time, but accidentally tipping it over will utterly destroy your desk and the floor. Check out the above picture. That bowl looks nice and all, but it’s on the very corner on the desk and there’s a room beyond. That probably means people will be walking past that corner of the desk all time. That’s a disaster waiting to happen — the bowl would probably be better suited closer to the center of the desk.

2. Less is More

When you have a small aquarium you really need to resist the urge to overdecorate or overpopulate the tank. You might be tempted to fill it bursting with plants and fish, sort of like how larger aquariums are set up, but that just isn’t feasible when you’re talking about fish tanks in the 8-15 gallon range. Get only a few small fish and try to pick plants that won’t outgrow the fishbowl.

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3. Nip Problems in the Bud

Let me ask you this. Suppose that you started a fire on one end of a Wal-Mart, and then started another fire on one end of a tool shed. Which building would be completely engulfed in flames sooner? The answer is pretty obviously the tool shed, and the same principles apply to aquariums. A problem in a small fish tank can reach dangerous levels at a much faster rate than it would in a large aquarium. You absolutely can’t afford to get lazy with maintenance. If you notice nitrate levels getting high, you’d better act fast or you’ll poison all of your pint-sized buddies within a day or two.

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4. Plan Ahead

Maintaining an aquarium isn’t like mixing a cocktail. You can’t just add a bunch of an ingredients, shake well, and give it a sip to see how it all turned out. If you don’t know what you’re doing then you’re just going to end up throwing away your money. Do research on an appropriate theme for your fish tank. Make sure that all of your fish and plant species get along, and provide the necessary shelters to keep your fish happy.

Image: freshwater-aquarium-passion.blogspot.com

5. Out with the Old

Perform frequent partial water changes and switch out the filters to ensure that the water is nice and clean. This goes back to tip #3 because water in small fish tanks can quickly reach poisonous levels. Performing regular checks on the water will ensure that your swimmers will stay healthy.

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Image: news.discovery.com

Mankind has always had a love affair with the ocean. We tend to gravitate towards waterways and we mastered sea travel thousands of years before we ever inventing the first car. Even considering all that, historians were shocked to discover that there may have been fish tanks as far back as the year 150.

And I don’t mean that a couple of Romans made a jar, filled it with water, and threw a few fish into it. No, I mean an actual oxygenated fish tank that would keep fish alive indefinitely.

Image: ancienthistory.about.com

This discovery came when archaeologists uncovered a shipwreck of an ancient Roman vessel off the coast of Italy. The boat carried approximately 600 amphora (Roman pots) filled with fish like sardines and mackerel, leading archaeologists to believe that it was a trading or fishing vessel. The weirdest thing about it, though, is that there was a hollow lead pipe (shown below) that protruded out of the bottom of the boat.

Image: news.discovery.com

Now, for those of you who never took Boating 101, having a hole in the hull of your boat is generally a bad idea. This left archaeologists befuddled as to why on Earth the Romans would ever intentionally include a hollow pipe in the design. Based on all the fish-filled amphora, they figured that it was part of a pump system that the Romans used to maintain an onboard fish tank. Based on the size of the ship, engineers estimate that they could have kept a tank large enough to fill 250 cubic feet with 440 pounds of live fish.

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You know, it’s all kind of funny, because for centuries historians have been thinking that an ancient Roman scientists by the name of Pliny the Elder was a complete liar. He claimed that he was able to transport live Patrolfish from the Black Sea to the coast of Naples. Modern day historians thought that this would have been an impossible task for the Romans, as they had not demonstrated a mastery of an oxygenated aquarium. The evidence isn’t bulletproof, but some of these historians may find themselves eating crow after the discovery of what could be planet Earth’s oldest aquarium.

Image: practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

Those of you who are fans of the nerdy sitcom The Big Bang Theory might remember an episode entitled “The Luminous Fish Effect.” In it, a bored genius scientist decides that he’s going geneticaly alter the DNA of goldfish to create glow-in-dark luminescent fish nightlights. It might sound like a ludicrous idea, but hold onto your pants because scientists have actually already done it.

Image: practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

Taiwanese researchers, who evidently had nothing better to do than play God and fiddle with fish DNA, created a new breed of bioluminescent cichlids. The whole process really wasn’t as high-tech as you might think. The scientists didn’t create these glowing fish with laser beams, exposure to nuclear energy, and the Large Hadron Collider — they did it the old-fashioned way: fish sex. The Council of Agriculture in Taiwan bred together Convict cichlids and angelfish over seven years, tampering with DNA along the way.

Image: 3news.co.nz

It was a long and grueling process. Scientists had to literally sit next to fish tank and wait for the fish to lay their eggs. Once the mama-fish squirted out the eggs, they had an extremely short window to inject gene fragments into the fish eggs while covering the eggs in an electric field (OK, that part is pretty high-tech). The result was a generation of fish babies that gave of an eerie green glow.

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Hearing about fish like this is bound to provoke one of two reactions: “That’s terrible” or ”Holy-moly I want one.” Those of you who are in boat number two are in luck, because these fish are scheduled to hit the market. The scientists just need to run some basic experiments to make sure that these fish don’t randomly transform into miniature Godzillas and go on a rampage through local ecosystems.

So, to sum it all up, yes: you can own your own fishy nightlight. Eat your heart out Sheldon Cooper.

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Let me be upfront with you: I’m a guy. I’ve never really been big on the whole fashion thing. When a 70 lb super models strut down the runway wearing feathers and glitter or whatever, I find myself struggling to understand what in the world is going on. So, when I talk about clothing and accessories, you have to understand that this is coming from a guy who doesn’t know the first thing about fashion. I’m not even all that sure what the word “chic” means.

Image: flickr.com

Nonetheless, I can say with a completely straight face that this portable fish bowl is both awesome and ludicrous. What? It can be both. The two definitely aren’t mutually exclusive.

This portable fish bowl will let you go out on the town with your favorite fish buddy by your side. Maybe you want to bring your fish out for some fresh air (even though sucking in too much fresh air would kill him), or maybe you’re trying to make an ironic fashion statement. Either way, you’re bound to catch the attention of passers-by whom you will leave wondering, “Was that person carrying a fish?”

Image: flickr.com

Really, I think it’s about time that we saw something like this. You ever see TV footage of some blonde California gal carrying around her pampered pooch in a $2,000 handbag? Well, if that is socially acceptable, then I don’t see any reason why this can’t become normal also.

The one thing I worry about with this fishbowl design is how the fish feels. Are fish like Disney’s Nemo, who would love the rare opportunity to view the world of terra firma through his fishbowl? Or would walking a fish be an utterly terrifying event tantamount to a nonstop earthquake? I’m not sure if fish can have heart attacks, but if anything could cause fishy cardiac arrest this would be it.

Image: flickr.com

This fish bowl was created by Israeli designer Michal Shabtiali. He invented the fishbowl to help kids with divorced parents. Yeah, I know it’s weird. But who knows? Maybe a fish purse is exactly what Israeli kids need to help them cope with family issues.

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Okeanos Group got a chance to speak with a Dave Sigworth, the publicist for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. I can tell you — as an actual Norwalk resident, it was exciting to talk about this beautiful aquarium, which is only a short walk from the Atlantic coast.

What makes Connecticut’s Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk stand out?

The Maritime Aquarium is somewhat unique among public aquariums in that we focus primarily on just one body of water: in our case, Long Island Sound, the Congressionally designated “Estuary of National Significance” just outside our doors.  With only a few exceptions, all the animals exhibited in the Aquarium are native to the Sound and its watershed.

Our hope is that in seeing & appreciating these creatures, visitors will be inspired to be better stewards of the animals’ environment when they’re back home. (Because all of Connecticut is within the Long Island Sound watershed, the majority of our visitors have a daily role in the Sound’s well-being.)

One of the other nice features of The Maritime Aquarium is that it was designed to be “intimate,” so that visitors can get really close to the exhibited creatures.

Image: The Maritime Aquarium

Do visitors seem to have a favorite exhibit or animal?

The harbor seals, the sharks (two species: sand tiger and lemon), the river otters and the green sea turtles are probably the visitors’ favorites.  Also very popular are the Intertidal Zone Touch Tank and our new “Sharks & Rays Touch Pool.”

Wait, wait — You let kids touch sharks? Do children typically leave the aquarium with all 10 fingers?

They do. The species of sharks in the “Shark & Ray Touch Pool” are comparatively docile. We don’t, however, let anyone touch the bigger sharks in our “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit.  But you should know that divers do go into the big exhibit three times a week and even talk to visitors while they’re in there about our misconceptions about sharks.

Image: The Maritime Aquarium

From the caretakers’ side of things, what exhibit or animal is the most demanding to care for?

Probably the jellyfish. It may be surprising that a simple animal with no brain, heart, lungs, gills – none of the organs you think an animal needs to survive – requires the most care.

Jellyfish are actually a type of zooplankton, which is defined as organisms that cannot swim against a current or tide.  In a normal aquarium exhibit, jellyfish would be sucked into the filtration systems. Also, bubbles – typically added to fish tanks to put dissolved oxygen into the water – can damage the jellies’ bodies. So jellyfish require special display tanks made just for them.

Also, because jellies are seasonal in the Sound, we can’t go out and collect them for display year-round. Instead, we have to “culture” them to always have them on display.

All the effort is worth it, though. Jellies are fascinating to watch. They’re like living lava lamps.

How does the aquarium decide what organisms belong in the same tank? Is it difficult getting so many creatures to coexist? 

Many of our exhibits re-create the different bottom habitats in the Sound – sandy bottom, muddy bottom, pilings, etc.  The animals displayed in these exhibits are the creatures that are adapted to live in these different habitats. So that’s the first step: who lives together, naturally, in the wild?

But we wouldn’t stock an exhibit with predator and prey. Through trial and error, and 24 years of experience now, our animal husbandry staff has a pretty good idea of what animals can coexist in an exhibit.  But they do still surprise us sometimes.

Image: The Maritime Aquarium

Do you have any interesting stories or fun facts about the aquarium?

Our best recent story happened last August. First a little background: the Aquarium sits right on the Norwalk River, and our seal exhibit is an indoor-outdoor habitat. Well, on this particular nice August afternoon, a deer swam across the Norwalk River and came up onto our courtyard. (Deer are good swimmers.) The deer apparently saw a low wall and decided to jump it, not knowing that it was leaping into our seal exhibit! To make it even better, the deer jumped in while one of our public seal feedings was going on inside. The visitors alerted the aquarist, who got the whole animal-husbandry department involved.

We knew the deer would stay outside because, while deer are good swimmers, they don’t dive and it would have to dive to get into the indoor portion of the exhibit. So we kept the seals inside to prevent them from getting nicked by a hoof.  It took about a half-hour but we finally managed to help the deer get its footing on a hastily added ramp and then our assistant curator of animals pulled it by the scruff of its neck the rest of the way out.  The deer quickly ran back to the river and swam away.

We kept the visitors inside too, to lessen the stress on the deer and to give our staff room to work. But the visitors watched intently through the windows and even shot some video.

We understand the aquarium went through a “refurb-fish-ment.” Can you tell us a bit about it?

Sure. In April, we completed our $4.5 million “FINtastic RefurbFISHment,” which features a transformation of the permanent galleries and the addition of a new Sharks & Rays gallery with a large “Shark & Ray Touch Pool” as its centerpiece. It’s the largest transformation of the Aquarium since 2001.

Highlights include:

• The Aquarium’s colorfully redesigned main hall has been renamed Newman’s Own Hall in celebration of a $1.2 million grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, a longtime Aquarium supporter. Newman’s Own Hall features an interactive introduction to the Sound dominated by a 36-by-12-foot map – an image about the size of a school bus. Visitors can use digital kiosks to play “Found in the Sound,” a game about the Sound’s marine animals and habitats. Answers light up on the giant map.

•  The new Sharks & Rays gallery, with the “Shark & Ray Touch Pool.”  Visitors can gently run their fingers down the backs of several species of these prowling predators. Other displays let you see sharks before and after they’re born, and explore why sharks are so fascinating.

•  Dynamic new presentations of the exhibits in the aquarium galleries.

•  And an all-new seal show that has the seals being rewarded for some entertaining natural behaviors.

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Does the Aquarium have any special summer plans?

We do!  We’ll be displaying one of the rarest animals in the world: an albino alligator. Of the estimated 5 million ’gators in the U.S., fewer than 100 are white and we’ll have one of them on exhibit from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Also, it’s important to note that the Aquarium has the largest IMAX movie theater in Connecticut, with a screen that’s six stories high. We have a great new film for the summer, called “To the Arctic,” which follows a mother polar bear as she tries to raise her twin cubs in a harsh environment that is melting out from under them.

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Yeah, they suck. I mean that in the literal sense (they suck algae) and not in the figurative sense (they’re lame). Actually, the fact that they suck algae makes them the opposite of sucky — they’re great! Having these fish around will keep the glass and water of your aquarium nice and clean.

Appearance

The Siamese algae eater is a yellow fish that has a black stripe extending from its head to its tail. They have quite a bit of sheen to them, which helps them stick out from the plants they love to munch around. They may not be the prettiest fish you’ll ever see, but they more than make up for it with their diligent work ethic. You should be careful, though: Siamaese algae eaters are often mistaken for the flying fox fish, which also eats algae.

Image: aquariumfish.net

Species

With the scientific name Crossocheilus oblongus, the Siamese algae eater is a bott0m-dwelling fresh water fish. Where does it come from? I’ll let you figure out the answer to that riddle all on your own. It likes to hang out in small schools with other fish of its kind, and this generally amiable fish will not show much aggression towards other fish. It might, however, get into a few bar brawls with other fish of its species.

Image: aquariumfish.net

Caring for the Siamese algae eater

One of the reasons why the Siamese algae eater is so incredibly popular is that it’s one of the hardiest fish out there. Not only is it long lived with a decade-long lifespan, but it is also fairly resilient. Your Siamese algae eaters will keep on kicking while other fish in the aquarium have long since gone belly-up.

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diet

The diet is the most important thing with a Siamese algae eater, and simultaneously the thing you have to worry about the least. These fish will dutifully clean your tank of green and red algae, and it will gleefully chomp down thread and brush algae, which are typically ignored by other fish. They’ll even eat flatforms when given the chance, so they promote the healthy growth of the entire aquarium ecosystem. They fit best in aquariums that have a heavy mix of plants and bright lights, as these aquariums tend to produce a lot of algae. You will, however, want to keep a tight lid on the aquarium, as these fish are known to take a leap of faith into the great unknown.

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Ah, you’ve finally placed the final frilly plant in your aquarium and, after a bit of aquascaping, you’ve got everything right where you want it. Your aquarium looks like an underwater version of a zen garden — but wait! An ugly cord stretches along the back of your aquarium, ruining the view. What can you do?

It’s quite simple: paint it. By painting the back layer of your aquarium with a dark color, you can hide the unwanted sight of whatever is behind your tank and keep the attention focused on the beautiful scenery of your aquarium. The obvious colors are black and blue, but there’s nothing saying you have to pick one of those colors. You also don’t have to be a professional artist to pull it off, but by following a few basic tricks you’ll have a cheap and customized alternative to those plastic backgrounds.

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Before we get started, I should point out that you should do this with an empty tank. You definitely don’t want to get paint particles in the water, and you should only paint the outside of the tank, never the inside.

First off, pick a spray paint of the appropriate color. I recommend something dark. After all, the attention is supposed to be on the fish, not on the brightly-colored glass. Then, tape the bottom and top trim of your paint, pretty much the same way that you would tape the door frames if you were painting your house.

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Clean the glass with a cleaner like rubbing alcohol or Windex, and then wipe down the glass thoroughly until it’s nice and dry. Start by covering the back of your tank in a light coat and then let it dry for about a minute. Rinse and repeat for a few more coats until it’s dark enough to block out light from the other side. And by “rinse and repeat,” I mean that in the colloquial sense. Actually rinsing the paint with anything while it’s trying to dry is a terrible, terrible idea.

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Alternatively, if you’re feeling a bit more artistically inclined, there’s nothing saying that you couldn’t get a few paintbrushes, some paint, and try to paint a scene on the back of your aquarium. Just remember that when you look at the painting from the other side the image will be reversed! Truly talented artists can create a beautiful, stylish scene that will make your fish feel like they’re swimming down the red carpet. Acrylic paints will get the job done, or you could go with Pebeo Vitrea 160 paint if you want to maintain the glass-like translucent effect.

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Though, if you’re like me and wouldn’t trust yourself to paint well anymore than you’d trust an octopus with a handgun, you can always just go with a plastic laminated background cover. These designs are all great for small, cheap, do-it-yourself projects at home. Once you’re ready to take the plunge and get an aquarium that is true artwork, there’s better option than Okeanos Aquascaping.

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Dogs may be man’s best friend, but some people love their tiny, water-breathing companions most of all. Flushing fish down the toilet is the conventional and rather inglorious method of pet fish burial, but just because you see that as a common joke on TV doesn’t mean that your fish have to meet the same end. If any of your fish have recently passed away, then allow me to offer a few tips to you that might help you move on. You have my condolences.

Give  your Fish a Proper Burial

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Grab a shovel, head to the backyard, and give your fish a proper burial. If you’re the religious type, feel free to say a few words to help your beloved pet reach whatever fishy afterlife awaits. You may want to place a rock (or maybe even a lava rock) over the burial spot to remember the fallen. These steps might help you come to grips with the loss of your pet.

Call Homicide (Fishicide?)

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Unfortunately, most police departments don’t have detectives that specialize in the causes of fish death, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to get lazy. You’ll have to adopt the role of private investigator and figure out why your fish went belly up. Was it the pH? Not enough food? Parasites? The cat? Fish murder? Yes, fish murder actually happens. Whatever the case may be, you should remedy the problem before heading to the pet store to pick up a replacement. If you don’t, you may as well be flushing your money down the toilet, because more fish deaths are likely to follow.

Prevent A Suicide Cult from Forming

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Sometimes, creatures take the easy way out and decide to end their lives early. Humans do it on bridges, jumping from land into water. Fish do it from aquariums, jumping from water onto land. It’s a tragedy whenever something like this happens, but you should learn from your mistake. Get an aquarium cover in case other fish, depressed by the loss of their loved one, decide to jump also.

Erect a Monument

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You might find that it’s a good idea to place a monument remembering your fallen buddy in the fish tank. Choose another one of his favorite plants, or a plant that shares the same coloration. That way, you’ll always be reminded of your pal whenever you look at your aquarium.

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Paper or plastic? Half empty or half full? Fresh or salt water aquarium? That is one of the classic questions, a dilemma that has plagued mankind ever since a guy first put a fish into a big clear bowl. Not only is this the first question that a prospective aquarium owner will have to make, but it is also the most important. One thing that you’ll soon learn is that salt water tanks aren’t for everyone, and vice-versa.

For Beginners

Before we get too far into it, let me just start off by telling you that if you have never owned an aquarium before, you should probably start with fresh water. However, if you’re the type of person who really likes to commit to a hobby and spend a bunch of time and money on your passion, then salt water tanks might be right up your alley.

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Cost

Just about 90% of the difference between salt and fresh water boils down to the cost. Salt water tanks will be dramatically more expensive to maintain than their fresh water counterparts. If you’re getting a salt water tank, you can expect more expensive gear, pricier fish, and a higher maintenance cost. If you just happen to be a millionaire, though, and you want to install an elegant and stylish grand aquarium into your mansion, then salt water is the way to go.

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Maintenance

Salt water tanks will require quite a bit more time and patience to regulate than fresh water tanks. Salt water tanks are affected very easily by pH imbalances, so it is crucial that you carefully monitor your salt water tank regularly. On top of that, the ecosystems of salt water tanks have a really tough time recovering from these imbalances. A fresh water tank can swing right back if you make a mistake, but a mistake on your salt water tank might have you hitting up the fish store to buy some replacements, so buyer beware.

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All the Pretty Colors

So, salt water tanks are super expensive. Why bother with them at all? One very simple reason: they look better. That’s all a matter of subjective taste, of course, but by and large most people prefer to look at salt water tanks rather than fresh water ones. The fish are brighter and more colorful, and there is a much wider variety of organisms. Coral, crabs, shrimp, snails, and frilly fish will add vibrant splashes of color to your tank. Don’t get me wrong — fresh water fish are still pretty, just not as pretty.

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Adding it All Up

If you want to have a tank that just sits there and looks pretty, a bit like having a painting on your wall, then you should go with a fresh water aquarium. If you’re the type of person who would prefer to paint a picture from scratch, or work on a car engine, then salt water aquariums would probably be a good match. It’s like pretty much any hobby out there: the more money and time you spend on a craft, the better it will look in the end.

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Image: tropicalfishkeeping.com

Do you ever look in the mirror and think that you might be developing a bit of a belly? Well, how do you think the hatchetfish feels?

Aquarium owners tend to be attracted to the hatchet fish’s weird shape, but that’s not actually the neatest thing about these tiny Amazonian fish. Believe it or not, they’re one of the few species of fish that can actually achieve flight. And I don’t just mean that they jump up out of the water like dolphins, I mean that they actually fly. They flap their tiny little pectoral fins and can hit heights of several meters.

Appearance

Like all hatchetfish, the Marbled Hatchetfish is a ray-finned fish that has a peculiar hatchet shape. Their coloration tends to be a pattern of gray and black that resembles, well, marble. It’s pretty much all right there in the name, isn’t it?

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The Species

For the more scientifically inclined aquarium hobbyists out there, the official name of this speckled species is Carnegiella Strigata. It hails from the Amazon River, so it feels most at home in soft, acidic water. It might also feel a bit more at home if you only spoke Spanish to it, but it’s not really necessary.

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Caring for the Marbled Hatchetfish

The single most important thing with Marbled Hatchetfish is to keep a tight, secured lid on your aquarium. They will attempt to fly away when startled, so you might come home from work to find that your fish have committed mass suicide by leaping to your living room floor. As you might expect, flying fish like to dwell near the top of the tank, so don’t fill your aquarium with a bunch of surface-level swimmers. Give them some tall, leafy plants to hide in with three or four of their buddies, and they’ll be happier than pigs in mud. Well, maybe not that happy. Hatchetfish are known to be difficult to breed.

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Diet

As omnivores, Marbled Hatchetfish eat just about anything. You could give them live or frozen food, and either vegetables or meat. One thing that is absolutely critical to remember, though, is that Hatchetfish will only feed on food at the top of the tank. If your fish food sinks, they’d rather starve then make the trip to the gravel (I guess they’re just stuck up that way). Be sure to get plenty of floating grub for these high-flying fish. Also, don’t be terribly surprised if they avoid the food when you first put it into the tank. Despite their somewhat intimidating name, hey can be fairly cautious in new environments.