Underwater adventures

Alex and Marcus Covington, ages 8 and 6, are hypnotized each day for moments at a time by Swimmer and Scales. The boys gaze dreamily as their fish bob and dive in their 10 gallon aquarium at home in Spokane.

Kaleen Covington said her two young sons seem to drift off and “get caught up watching the fish swish their tails and nibble their food.”

Spokane chiropractor Dr. Tim Day knows the feeling. He was similarly captivated when a salt water aquarium was installed in his office waiting room.

“When we first got it, I used to come down to the office by myself at night just to watch,” said Day.

Day and the Covingtons aren’t alone.

Fish aquariums are growing in popularity, said Nichelle, manager of Evergreen Pet Shop. “It’s a pretty easy hobby to maintain, and lots of fun,” she added – and also simple to get started.

Kaleen agrees. When Alex was given his first fish, Braveheart, at school, she went straight to the pet store to set up her boys’ aquarium.

“I bought an all-in-one kit, a backdrop, a castle, and two bags of blue rock,” she said. “When I got home I hooked it all up. The boys loved it.”

When a customer is a beginner, Nichelle wants to know about budget first. “Then I ask about the tank size a customer wants.”

Next she helps customers determine whether they should buy a salt water tank or a fresh water tank.

“Salt water fish are much brighter,” she said. “There are some very pretty fresh water fish, but they aren’t as intensely colored. But salt water tanks are a little more difficult to set up, require more maintenance and cost a little more money. For a complete beginner I’d recommend a fresh water tank.”

When starting with a new tank, Nichelle advises adding the less expensive fish first.

“You need to establish a biological bed, and that takes about two weeks,” she said. “After that you can slowly add your mollies and tetras.” Mollies and tetras are great beginner fish.

For starter fresh water tanks, Corey Epley, manager of Northwest Seed and Pet, said expect to spend about $50 or $60.

“Beginner tanks have pretty much everything you need,” he said: “A filter thermometer, the tank, the top light, and the water conditioner. Stands are a separate commodity.”

Epley advises aquarium owners to consider placement carefully.

“You don’t want it in the full sun, or you’ll get too much algae growth,” he said. “A place near a power source is a necessity.”

The most common mistake made by new aquarium owners is overfeeding.

“If you put too much food in and the fish don’t eat it, the food pollutes the water,” Nichelle explained. “Another mistake people make is believing that the fish will grow only to the size of the tank. That’s just not true.”

Fish growth is dependant on species, not tank size.

When determining the number of fish for a tank, an aquarium owner should remember this rule of thumb: one inch of fish per gallon of water.

Epley and Nichelle agree that most people go for the natural look in aquariums.

Salt water tank specialist Kevin Pockell, owner of Aquatic Dreams in Spokane, is so serious about establishing a natural environment in fish aquariums that he began farming his own coral in 2002. Today he runs the largest coral-growing operation between Seattle and Chicago.

“I ship them all over,” he said. “The specific area of the globe I focus on is Fiji and the South Pacific.”

But salt water aquariums cost more money for the relaxing pleasure of owning an aquarium.

Day pointed out the sensitive nature of salt water tanks.

“You really have to test the water and make sure the chemicals are right. Out in the ocean things get broken down in part by the sun and the waves. In this contained environment you have to be sure things are stable.”

He believes the work is worth it, though.

“I think the aquarium is very calming and soothing to my patients,” he said. “Some will sit and stare and lose their worries while they wait”

“People are drawn to aquariums because of the motion, that gentle sway,” Pockell said.

In fact, the effect fish aquariums have on individuals is recognized by interior design firms. Coleen Monaghan, principal interior designer at OMS, Inc., of Spokane, believes that introducing nature into a built environment reduces anxiety levels.

“Fish tanks are proven to have a calming effect on people, especially those in medical waiting rooms,” she said. “These are people often under a great deal of stress.”

For businesses that want the pleasure and attractiveness of aquariums without the maintenance, Monaghan’s group also offers virtual fish tanks. A virtual “fish tank” is really a plasma TV screen that can display images of real ocean life. These images vary, said Monaghan.

“You can have some real fun with it,” she said. “One day you could even run a school of sharks.”