Why Should I Get A Fish Tank? 4 Overlooked Aquarium Benefits

We may be a bit biased here, but we think an aquarium, whether freshwater or saltwater, is the perfect addition to any home. Everyone should have one at some point in their life! There are many reasons to keep fish, including some benefits of an aquarium you may not have thought of.

Below, let us explain why so many bring tiny slices of rivers, lakes, lagoons, and reefs into their home—and why you should as well.

Aquarium benefit 1: Stress relief

Aquariums have actually been proven to relieve stress in humans in more ways than one. For starters, scientific studies suggest that just the action of watching fish swim in a tank can help relax our brains and reduce anxiety. There’s a reason dentists often have aquariums in their offices, and it’s not just because they like fish!

Then, there’s the nature aspect. It’s well-known that when people are in spaces that contain houseplants, they’re generally less stressed and feel more focused. This is one of the reason offices often have plenty of plants. But did you know the same applies to aquariums?

Bringing a slice of nature indoors just seems to be beneficial for the human brain in general. Not surprising considering many of us spend most of our time inside the home or office!

Did you know? When scientists placed an aquarium in a dementia unit, residents’ behavior improved significantly. And not just that, the staff reported higher satisfaction scores as well!

Influence of Aquariums on Resident Behavior and Staff Satisfaction in Dementia Units

Aquarium benefit 2: Educational value

There’s a reason so many classrooms have fish and other aquatic creatures as class pets. Although getting children to take care of any type of animal provides a valuable learning experience and improves their sense of responsibility and commitment, fishkeeping comes with the added bonus of teaching one a lot about chemistry, not to mention biology and environmental responsibility.

And we’re not just talking about kids here either, mind you. No one’s ever too old to learn new things! Maintaining a fish tank can increase your knowledge of:

• Water chemistry and the nitrogen cycle, which powers much of our planet
• The effect of light and nutrients on plant or coral growth (did you know corals are actually animals?)
• Animal behavior and the way different species interact with each other
• How to manage a balanced small-scale ecosystem in the long run
• What actually goes on underwater, which can help people to become more involved in environmental conservation and teach respect for wildlife

And much more!

Aquarium benefit 3: Aesthetic appeal

Gone are the days of a sad fishbowl with a dying goldfish and a few marbles at the bottom. For years now, the trend in fishkeeping has veered towards the natural, with lushly planted freshwater tanks or saltwater set-ups full of dazzlingly colorful corals and macroalgae (seaweed).

An aquarium is often the first thing in a room that draws your eye. We’d go so far as to say it’s the ultimate statement piece for a home or office! The soft glow of the lights, the natural colors, the constant bustle of fish… it’s home decor at its finest, especially because fish tanks are hugely flexible in terms of appearance.

Sure, adding live plants or coral to your tank means you have to put more work into maintenance. But when maintenance itself is such a relaxing activity, who really minds?

Aquarium benefit 4: Community

There are a lot of people out there trying to figure out the best ways to care for their fish and maintain their tanks. It may come as a surprise given that this is kind of a “niche” hobby, but there’s a big community of aquarists to be found both in real life (aquarium clubs, expos) and online (forums, social media groups).

Although it’s not the primary reason to get into fishkeeping for most folks, the passionate community is a big bonus. You’ll always have people to talk to about your hobby, to teach you, and even to trade equipment and livestock with!

Did you know? Some people have ethical concerns about keeping animals in captivity. Here at FantaSEA, certainly, we are proponents of tank-bred rather than wild-caught fish. But did you know you can also just keep a plant-only, coral-only, or macroalgae-only aquarium? Still just as beautiful, and less work to maintain.

Conclusion

There are a lot of benefits to keeping an aquarium, some of which tend to surprise people. Even if you’re on a budget, there’s a lot that can be done with second-hand or even donated equipment—it’s worth it for your mental health, the educational benefits, the aesthetic benefits, and the great community behind the aquarium hobby!

Dreaming of your own fish tank, but feel you lack the knowledge or time to set up and maintain it yourself? That’s what the team at FantaSEA Aquariums is for. Contact us so we can take care of everything, meaning all you have to do is enjoy your tank.

PS: Can’t have a real-life aquarium due to factors like frequent travel or limitations in rental homes? No worries. You have a plethora of relaxing aquarium simulators to choose from, allowing you to build and stock fish tanks on your computer. We like one called Fish Game!