Aquariums Have BecomeFocalPoint Of The Home Once Relegated To The Basement, Aquariums Are Now “Front And Center”In Stylish Residences (NAPSA)}—Haveyou ever thought of decor as quality entertainment? Instead of adding anothertrinketto dust, why not breathe somelife into a room by adding an aquarium full of colorful fish? Today’s stylish aquar- ium stands, cabinets and canopy sets make it easy to move aquariums from the basementto a focal point of the home. Forget about the quirky-looking wrought iron and pine furni- ture aquarium stands of the past. Today's aquarium furniture incor- porates both function and design to complement any taste from contemporary to traditional. For The No. 1 reason Americans own fish is for entertainment. aquarium furniture line from Cen- EasyBalance is another Tetra product that provides an invaluable safety net for the time-challenged hobbyist. It utilizes natural bacte- example, Aqueon Products, the tral Aquatics, and Marineland, from United Pet Group’s aquatic division, offer beautiful aquarium stands, cabinets and canopies in a variety of colors and materials to match any decor—from rich wood grains to sleek metal finishes. “Many baby boomers have fond memories of aquariums from their childhoods and so they want their new fish aquarium to be a beauti- ful enhancement to their primary living space, not hidden in the game room,” explained Ken Goff, vice president for Central Aquatics. The other part of the equation driving the resurgence in fish ownership among baby boomersis ease of maintenance. Let’s face it —no matter how beautiful the aquarium is, busy families today don’t have the time or inclination for heavy maintenance. Tetra, for instance, has intro- duced an innovative way to clean the aquarium—the StayClean™ System—which utilizes a unique scraper plus wipes that delay algae regrowth for up to one month. ria to keep water biologically healthy, eliminating the need for water changesfor up to six months. “Aquarium ownership has in- creased 31 percent between 1996 and 2006. We expect the growth to continue as people discover how easy it is to maintain aquariums and blend them aesthetically with their home decor,” said Linda Sta- ley, senior manager of consumer marketing for United Pet Group, which ownsthe Tetra brand. According to industry surveys, nearly 14.2 million households in the United States currently own home aquariums. The No. 1 reason Americans own fish is for entertainment. Appearance and stress relief follow closely in second and third places, respectively. New technologies and beautiful furniture makeit easier than ever to reap these rewards while putting aquariums front and center in the home.
