Whether you like them or not, you can still say that you feel a sense awe or relaxation when you look into an aquarium of any size. Granted, some aquariums get a bit carried away in my opinion, such as the harboring of large marine mammals like killer whales or the housing of whale sharks that migrate vast distances in the wild. However, on the smaller scale, aquariums can be quite magical whether it be a saltwater reef tank, a simple goldfish tank, or a planted freshwater tank.
So when did looking at fish through a small pane of glass become popular and where did they originate. The answer for the later is not so clear. It seems that the first widespread phenomenon of fishkeeping occurred in the 14th Century AD in China. These were not glass containers, but rather vats made to keep goldfish, likely koi’s. The region is still home to some of the most beautiful and priciest koi fish in the world today. Further advancements were made during this time which were the more modern day fish bowls, still made out of pottery, to likely house what we think of as goldfish. Now, it is unclear if Europeans saw this and decided it would be a good hobby to get into or if they evolved separately of one another.
The main scientific finding that made aquariums a widespread hobby was done in 1850 by the English Chemist Robert Warington. He realized that keeping plants in aquariums provided enough oxygen in the water to sustain the fish for long periods without special equipment. He came to this conclusion after experimenting with an aquarium housing plants, goldfish and snails. This seems horrific to todays aquarists who actively look to keep finding ways to increase oxygen in tanks through air stones and powerheads to increase water surface agitation, which is how the water releases carbon and absorbs oxygen. Nonetheless, this was a prominent finding at the time.
The hobby moved through England quickly, as the first public aquarium, known as the fish room, was established in 1853 by Philip Goose at the London Aquarium. Germany followed and began to setup aquarium societies by the mid 1870s. New methods of water circulation were being discussed at this time as well as methods for keeping the water balanced. In the United States, aquarium societies were being founded by the 1890s, the first in New York in 1893. The most important advancement for the hobby was done in 1908 when the first automated air filtration system was introduced for aquariums. A few other major developments that helped moved the hobby along was plastic bags to ship fish in 1950s and the use of cargo planes which ensured that fish would arrive quicker. The use of silicone also helped to progress the saltwater aquarium hobby as it protected the metal frames from corrosion.
If you are interested in the aquarium hobby but do not know where to start, please reach out to me. There are some excellent online forums with members willing to help, or as someone who enjoys the aquarium hobby myself, might be able to help you directly!
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