Home aquariums get popular amid pandemic - C&G Newspapers

Home aquariums get popular amid pandemic - C&G Newspapers

Home aquariums get popular amid pandemic - C&G Newspapers

Posted: 23 Feb 2021 12:52 PM PST

Joe Derek has kept aquariums for 68 years and currently owns 23 freshwater tanks with various species of fish. Pictured here are angelfish.

Derek is a proponent of joining aquarium clubs, which can help beginners gain solid information on how to get into the hobby. This photo shows a killifish, and one of the local clubs that Derek recommends is the Michigan Killifish Association.

Derek is a proponent of joining aquarium clubs, which can help beginners gain solid information on how to get into the hobby. This photo shows a killifish, and one of the local clubs that Derek recommends is the Michigan Killifish Association.

Photo provided by Joe Derek

METRO DETROIT — As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and people are confined to the comfort of their own homes, many are looking for new hobbies and things to do.

With much of the public looking for what best suits them, many have turned to home aquariums to keep themselves busy and entertained during this dull time.

Jeff Nagarah is the owner of three Premier Pet Supply locations, and he's noticed a considerable spike in the number of people coming in to get information about home aquariums.

"It was nice to see that people were finally getting back into it, just because it had fallen off for so long," Nagarah said. "Now, I feel like we're getting customers in on a daily basis again looking at fish and being inquisitive and asking the right questions."

Joe Derek, a local naturalist-outdoor educator, has had aquariums for 68 years and currently owns 23 freshwater tanks with various species of fish.

He noted that, unlike many hobbies where you can come and go as you please, owning an aquarium will take some effort. Fish are living creatures that deserve a good level of time and respect.

When first starting in the hobby, it's a good idea to seek advice from experts, but there are a few general tips to get started.

Fish should be fed at least a couple of times a day. Owners need to clean the filter a couple of times a month, make sure the water is clean and a suitable temperature, and avoid housing fish in dangerous areas.

Derek said many people just put their tank wherever they have space, but it's important to find the fish a relaxing home. For example, it is not wise to have a home aquarium in a kids' play room or on a windowsill that gets a lot of sunlight.

He added that fish prefer longer tanks as compared to taller tanks, and the temperature will depend on the type of fish. Some need tanks at 74 degrees, and others could need 82 degrees.

"Most fish swim back and forth, not so much up and down, so you want to give them as much room as you can," Derek said. "You want to provide a lot of surface area for the water to absorb oxygen when the filter is running. A longer tank will absorb more oxygen and help the fish stay healthy."

With any pet or hobby, price will play a key role in many decisions. Nagarah and Derek advise those looking to invest in a tank to buy what they can afford and what they have space for in the house.

For those starting out with one aquarium and a few fish, an expected price point can be around $150-$200. Depending on the additions of things such as plants and rocks, prices can vary.

However, whether it's for a hobby or as a household pet, Nagarah and Derek believe having a home aquarium can be a great way to find some relief and relaxation.

"It's just relaxing to watch the fish swim and do their thing," Nagarah said. "There's a calmness about them when you're just sitting there. It's very tranquil. In this day and age where there's so much going on and there's so much headache, it's nice to just sit back and watch them be fish."

For those interested in learning more about home aquariums, there are multiple options. The quickest of the bunch would be to head online and do some research. Nagarah and Derek do warn people to seek out trusted sources when getting information online.

Outside of that, Nagarah encourages people to head into a store to get more direct information about owning a home aquarium. Being able to look at specific items and fish can help people understand what it takes to own one.

Derek is a proponent of joining local aquatic clubs, as they provide an outlet for people to find like-minded individuals and get help. Many of these clubs have members with years of experience and can provide useful information for those just starting out.

A few local clubs he mentioned were the Michigan Cichlid Association, Greater Detroit Aquarium Society, Motor City Aquarium Society and the Michigan Killifish Association.

"The easiest thing to do, where you can start out with a lot of help, is to join a local aquarium club," Derek said. "We have auctions, we have flea markets. Many times, many members have aquariums that they don't have any use for or they're going larger or smaller or they're moving, and you can get really good deals on really good equipment."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post

This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post This fish is worth $300,000 - New York Post Posted: 05 Jun 2016 12:00 AM PDT With exacting precision, the surgeon inserted the scalpel above the eyeball and cut out a snotty deposit of fatty tissue. The routine eye-lift was nearly complete when suddenly the patient awoke, suffocating, and began to flop about on the table. The audience gasped. Knowing time was of the essence, the surgeon scooped up the patient in his arms, raced across the stage, and dropped her into a tank of water. She revived. Because she was a fish. Yes, fish eye-lifts exist. As do fin jobs and tail tucks. The operating theater was a mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, where a pet expo was under way. As for the patient, she survived, her formerly droopy eyes now bright and perky. A good thing, too, as this was no ordinary goldfish but rather an Asian arowana, the world's most expensive aquarium denizen, rumored to sell for as mu
Read more

NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire

Image
NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire NilocG Launches New Website for the Only All-in-One Thrive Fertilization Solution for Planted Aquariums - PRNewswire Posted: 11 Mar 2021 02:00 AM PST ALBANY, Ore. , March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NilocG launches a new website for planted tank enthusiasts to gather and make THRIVE, a plant fertilizer that assures planted tank aquascapes flourish while eliminating the need for multiple products more readily available online. The company also takes it a step further in the industry, making its flagship product easy to dose, super-concentrated, and an all-in-one solution based on an effective EL dosing method with all essential micro and macronutrients. Continue Reading Thrive fertilizer: North America's most trusted aquarium plant fertilizer Colin Grice , CEO, a self-described planted tank lover, re
Read more

Catching Dory: selling aquarium fish supports coastal livelihoods in Indonesia | npj Ocean Sustainability - Nature.com

Image
Abstract The global marine aquarium trade has created new local markets across the planet, including in Indonesia, now the second-largest exporting country of marine aquarium fish in the world. Participating in the global aquarium trade has been touted as a potentially sustainable addition to fisher livelihoods, but scant data exist showing the numbers of fish coming off the reef and how those fish contribute to income. To determine how participants in the trade incorporate aquarium species in their livelihoods, we examine source-level aquarium fish collecting and trading data in the Banggai Archipelago, a region in Central Sulawesi that has become a significant source for popular aquarium, also known as ornamental, fish species. Using a sustainable livelihoods lens, we examine this data to understand how participants in the aquarium trade both contribute to as well as benefit from the trade and consider how their participation relates to emerging Blue Justice principles. From one year
Read more