Fishing for attention

Aquariums are gradually taking centrestage in corporate and domestic interiors. MALATHI RANGARAJAN writes about the new craze.

IT IS a hobby which could become a passion and even transcend to the level of being an indispensable part of one's life. But whether you are an avid fish lover or someone who is absolutely indifferent to it, one indisputable point is that no one watching these colourful creatures can be immune to them.

There was a time when having aquariums at home was confined to those for whom it was a hobby. So having different kinds of fish at home in tanks was purely a matter of interest. But today the scenario is very different. People who wish to give a facelift to their drawing rooms and add colour to their ambience go in for aquariums. And Chennaiites who are becoming increasingly interested in maintaining neat living rooms which they can be proud of, resort to having aquariums in their homes.

Of course affordability is also important. But this is one hobby that need not be costly at all.

Ramanujam who has been having aquariums from his school days, recollects the time around three decades ago when he and his friends had to trek all the way to the Old Moore Market near the Central Station to buy fish, tanks and other materials needed for a home aquarium. Till this day, he continues his hobby and wherever he lives, he cannot bear to think of a home without a fish tank and at least a few fish.

Today, aquariums are definitely an in thing. Hence from school boys to office goers, from middle class homes to the elitist and from hospitals to corporate offices, everywhere the interest evinced in aquariums is on the rise.

Therapeutically too, watching fish move around relaxes the mind and even regulates heart beat, it is said. Abdul Qayoom of Gem Aquarist India Private Limited, also upholds the view. "Of course...that is why in the West setting up aquariums in hospitals and clinics is highly recommended and implemented too." Thus if it is going to help medically, calm the mind and give you peace, aquariums are really worthwhile.

Naturally where there is demand there is a boom in business. And so you have a whole of lot aquarists in the market today.

It is here that the buyer has to be wary. If you happen to buy fish that has developed fungus and keep it along with other fish, the disease could spread and harm the healthy ones too. It is always better to go in for fish sold in standard shops where they would oversee things at the different stages before they market the fish, suggests Ramanujam.

Fish have to get acclimatised to the water used. So depending on the kind of fish, the dealer first quarantines them.

"The next step is to medicate and cure them of any disease they could have", explains Salim, for whom fish have been a passion for more than 35 years now.

The life span of fish cannot be guaranteed, but roughly it can be said that the longevity depends on the size of the fish. The smaller it is, the shorter the span.

"There are annuals that live just for a year and there are varieties of carps that live for 70 years," says Abdul Qayoom.

Many fish varieties are imported and there are local ones too. Some imported varieties are also bred in the country.

Boys who begin this as a hobby are first advised to buy small kinds such as the black and gold molly, says Pramila, an expert in marine water fish. Then you have the guppy, the gold fish and several others.

Again, maintaining marine water aquariums is a recent trend. Earlier people could only have fresh water fish at home. These cannot survive in saline water. But now you have a choice. Star fish, sea annemones, clown fish, shark like fish and tiny turtles can all he had at home. "They are adorable, aren't they?", exclaims Pramila as she points out to the small, green turtles in the tank. Gone are the days when people thought that turtles bring ill luck to the home. Many see these as a things of beauty today, she feels.

Then there are the brackish water fish, like the dolphin, that can exist both in salt and fresh water.

Aquarists, these days, maintain your aquariums too. Or if you wish they would do the implementation and designing of the aquarium and give guidelines for the maintenance. "This could be worked out according to one's budget and space availability," assures Salim.

"Selling fish per se is a very small part of it", says Abdul Qayoom.

Filters, aerators, back-up equipment for use in times of power failure, cleaning equipment, toys to be placed in tanks, artificial and real plants, medicines and everything else needed for an aquarium is supplied by the aquarist. "We even have vegetarian and non-vegetarian fish to suit the household", laughs Abdul. "And this is a hobby which can be as costly as you want it to be," he contends. One can go in for the minimum equipment and still have a good aquarium, he says. And compared to other hobbies, it is the least time consuming.

The aquarist also provides the rest of the paraphernalia such as posters, curios to suit the aquarium and even artificial fish that are battery-operated. On a larger scale indoor or outdoor ponds and fountains can also be created for those with the penchant and the purse.

If you will be away from home for sometime, don't worry about the fish, there are automatic feeders that would release the food from time to time, as overfeeding the fish could be dangerous to the creatures. Also wrong kind of temperature and erroneous methods of filtration could prove hazardous.

Amateur breeders, unwittingly do a lot of service to certain kinds of fish that are becoming extinct, says Abdul. The depletion of the water table has resulted in some of the varieties becoming absolutely rare. But such varieties are bred by amateurs in homes in their own small way. Thus they help to keep the species alive.

Whether it is a community tank that houses a variety of fish or one that has many fish of a particular kind, watching them move in shoals, sometimes slow and at other times swift, offers a soothing visual treat in the confines of your own home that is probably unmatchable.

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Points to remember

The fish tank should not be placed near the door.

Noise affects some fish. So do not locate your aquarium near a TV or a stereo system.

Air conditioners and heaters should preferably be away from the tanks.

Electrical outlets are essential.

Direct sunlight could harm the fish and hence has to be avoided.

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Constraints are few

Glass or acrylic bottles made for fish, can be used as an aquarium, on a study table or office table. These containers do not have perforations and are easy to maintain.

Furniture aquariums are again a popular concept, wherein architects design the aquariums in such a way that they merge with the rest of the furniture in the room.

Centre table aquariums are small, handy ones that accentuate the beauty of the place and at the same time occupy very little space.

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Cost factor

Quote your budget and the aquarist does the rest. Things can be added or subtracted to suit your purse. And to begin with, the minimum cost could be around Rs. 750. Peripherals could be added on later, as and when possible. And all leading aquarists stock everything needed to set up an aquarium, from the redundant to the essential. So once you decide to have an aquarium, call the aquarist and relax.

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