Aquariums have always had a special place in the minds of a sizable percentage of the population for decades.
Ever since the first pioneers of the hobby figured out how to keep aquatic creatures (mainly fish) in glass containers for decent lengths of time, it seems we have never really got our fill of it.
The audience this hobby enjoys stretches across all barriers be they age, race and gender.
There is just something about keeping little fish in an aquarium that appeals to a broad mass of people worldwide.
The reasons are many.
A Christmas present to a young child, a deep love of ornamental fish, a broad appreciation of all things aquatic in nature, the list is endless.
And for the most part, the reasons do not really matter.
What matters is the fact that there is a large and thriving group of individuals worldwide that are devoted to the art of rearing fish in both marine and freshwater aquarium systems.
Although it must be said the freshwater aquarium industry far surpasses that of the their marine counterparts.
The reasons for this are simple.
Hassle, cost and information.
Most basic freshwater setups are easily cheaper than their marine aquariums size for size.
There is no need for salt or any other associated equipment that is related to marine aquariums such as hydrometers, protein skimmers and expensive lighting systems for the rearing of difficult coral species.
However, there are some water parameters that hold equal importance across the board.
These include PH, temperature and nutrient levels.
With greater interest comes a greater attention to detail on the topic.
Most hobbyists are happy with the most basic of aquariums.
Which is a freshwater aquarium with some decor and a few brightly colored fish.
This is not necessarily a bad thing as most of us that have made our bones in the hobby had to start somewhere.