Keeping fish in captive enclosures or man-made ponds goes way back in history. As a matter of fact, the practice has been reportedly discovered some 2,500 years ago right in the cradle of civilization in Sumer, Mesopotamia. Since it straddled near the legendary rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates, it might be safe to claim that freshwater aquarium history started right there.

No one is sure, however, what these live fish were for. Scientists forwarded their opinion that these fish might have been used as food reserves prepared for emergencies.

Other historians are not so sure. They pointed out that Egyptians have included the likenesses of fish in their paintings and carvings. This is taken as a form of art and that the artists were expressing their admiration for the beauty of these aquatic creatures even in those early times.

In a roundabout way, the historians argued, those ancient fish ponds might probably be kept not just for food but also for entertainment purposes.

The ancient paintings and carvings of fishes among other animals in ancient Egypt seemed to imply that our ancestors also knew how to appreciate the fragile beauty and the exotic colors and forms of these aquatic creatures. The ancient Romans were also known to have traded live fish as commodities in their agoras (markets).

Goldfish and Koifish

In another part of the world, the art of selective breeding began in China around 2,000 years ago. They had been known to produce the now-famous goldfish developed from the regular carp. By the 18th century, goldfish as an ornamental fish was common in Europe and later became popular in America.

Cultured live koi — That fish with similar markings and colors as well as eating and breedig habits was already a commercial item in the old trade routes that spanned China, Japan and Europe around the 16th century. Later, its reputation also grew and became very popular. Much later, it was also exported to Europe and America.

Crude Beginnings

In the early 19th century, aquarium-keeping began. England, Germany and France all vied to top themselves in mounting exhibits of public aquariums. It did not get a good reception as many were appaulled by it.

At that time, there was very poor understanding yet on the various roles of water chemistry, the nitrogen cycle, filtration and aeration. The size of the tanks was also limited by the holding power of the construction materials then.

The First Aquarium

In 1850, a Mr. Harrington declared through a paper he wrote for the Chemical Society of London that he had successfully maintained a stable aquarium. Fish-keeping suddenly became a popular hobby.

Three years after, the London Zoological Society had built and opened the first public aquarium, followed by another. Soon, public aquaria were all over the major European cities patronized by eager but intrigued visitors.

Household Items

It was not long after when the aquarium became a fashionable household item in Victorian England. Curiously, there were no tanks for sale then, although there were various books and other how-to manuals already available for constructing aquariums.

The first constructed tanks leaned more to the ornamental side rather than being functional at best. Most early designs featured a glass front and three wooden sides (They were sometimes constructed from slate). They were coated in pitch to make them watertight.

Tank Basics

Soon, these construction problems were overcome little by little. There was a real breakthrough with the development of silicon sealants.

It became possible now to manufacture an all-glass aquarium in all sizes and shapes. Bulky steel frames became obsolete and tanks can now be moved without the danger of breaking the seal.

Understanding Technology

At around this time, better understanding on the needs of the tank's fish inhabitants led to the invention of the heater and the thermostat, as postulated by a Mr. Humphreys. He would also be the first to acknowledge the importance of water chemistry in keeping the fish.

With a deeper understanding on water chemistry and other related matters, filtration and lighting were soon recognized as additional important elements to the total upkeep of the fish in the aquarium.

The Modern Aquarium

Today's modern aquariums are made mostly of glass. Nowadays, more tanks are being made from acrylic instead of glass because it doesn't break as easily. This is because acrylic is pliable and can be used to manufacture unusual shapes. (Acrylic aquariums are mostly used in big showrooms in business and office buildings today.)

Nowadays, aquaria made of acrylics are regarded as the lightweight alternatives to those made of glass. This is especially true now that manufacturers had produced harder and scratch-resistant plastics. Perhaps, they would replace the unwieldy glass in the future.

Improved Technology

Also, there had been such long strides made in the improvement of the accompanying technology related to aquarium keeping: heating, lighting, filtration, and aeration among others.

Apart from the technology, there is now a better understanding of marine life and ecology that pushed the hobby into what it is today. Taking together both marine and freshwater aquarium varieties, the simple hobby of keeping a living fish in a bowl had become the world's 2nd most popular hobby. (Gardening is number one.)

The Future Of The Aquarium

There is now a growing number of fish varieties available for keeping in aquariums and the size and shape of aquarium tanks have evolved, too.

However, according to experts, the future of the hobby is still focused on the next advances in water purification, nutrition, lighting and other related matters. Fish breeding is a old and popular practice that has become quite popular around the world with good breeds being created constantly. (Genetic manipulation is still frowned upon.)

Whatever direction the hobby is moving into, today's hobbyists are reminded that they are part of a thousand-year-old freshwater aquarium history as they tinker their aquariums and feed their aquatic pets.