- published: 30 Sep 2015
- views: 139102
An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants. The term combines the Latin root aqua, meaning water, with the suffix -arium, meaning "a place for relating to".
An aquarist owns fish or maintains an aquarium, typically constructed of glass or high strength acrylic plastic. Cuboid aquaria are also known as fish tanks or simply tanks, while bowl-shaped aquaria are also known as fish bowls. Size can range from a small glass bowl to immense public aquaria. Specialized equipment maintains appropriate water quality and other characteristics suitable for the aquarium's residents.
In the Roman Empire, the first fish to be brought indoors was the sea barbel, which was kept under guest beds in small tanks made of marble. Introduction of glass panes around the year 50 allowed Romans to replace one wall of marble tanks, improving their view of the fish. In 1369, the Chinese Emperor, Hóngwǔ, established a porcelain company that produced large porcelain tubs for maintaining goldfish; over time, people produced tubs that approached the shape of modern fish bowls. Leonhard Baldner, who wrote Vogel-, Fisch- und Tierbuch (Bird, Fish, and Animal Book) in 1666, maintained weather loaches and newts.
Just another day sitting by the river
As February fades.
I was fishing for my dinner
When something caught my eye
In my peripheral vision.
Have I lost my mind
If I believe in what I'm seeing?
Eyes from around the world
Stare through the glass
Of my aquarium.
Line up to see the girl,
Blessed by the curse
Of the aquarius.
Freak of nature, pay to see her
Eyes surround her like a fever.
Free me master, see me shiver,
Put me back into the river.
I won't tell a soul,
But I could make a fortune,
All those empty years of staring into my reflection.
I could bide my time, but I can't keep a secret:
She's the great discovery of the 22nd century.
Eyes from around the world
Stare through the glass
Of my aquarium.
Line up to see the girl,
Blessed by the curse
Of the aquarius.
Fortune and fame,
She's the freak of the day.
Only you made a name for yourself,
Then fell in love.
After all that he's done
To her plan that is destined to fail.
Oooh, they hit it right off.
(She freaked you out)
Eyes from around the world
Stare through the glass
Of my aquarium.
I've seen the girl
Blessed by the curse
Of the aquarius.
Freak of nature, pay to see her
Eyes surround her like a fever.
Free me master, see me shiver,
Put me back into the river.
Eyes surround me like a prison,
Heart is beating, you have listened.
Free me master, see me shiver,