| From traditional glass jars and the outdoor ponds of | | | | although temperate aquariums (5-25 0C), which may |
| antiquity, modern aquaria have since evolved into a | | | | include fish such as goldfish, are also popular. |
| wide range of specialised systems, ranging from a | | | | Classification by Salinity |
| small glass bowl large enough for a single small fish, to | | | | Another classification is by salinity: freshwater aquaria |
| the huge public aquaria that can simulate entire | | | | are the most popular kind of aquarium due to their |
| marine ecosystems. | | | | ease of maintenance and lower cost. Marine aquaria |
| Any aquarium is a wide collection of elements, | | | | generally require more complex equipment to set up |
| consisting of fish, plants, rocks, soil, water, which are | | | | and maintain than freshwater aquaria. Brackish water |
| all compatible with each other. Some aquarists | | | | aquaria (which houses fish from habitats with varying |
| concentrate on a single group of fish (for example, | | | | salinity, such as mangroves and estuaries) combine |
| livebearers, Cichlids, or marine fish), whilst others aim | | | | elements of both marine and freshwater fishkeeping. |
| to reconstruct the biotope of a specific geographical | | | | Certain subtypes of aquaria also exist within these |
| region (for example, the Amazon, Asia or Africa). | | | | types, such as the reef aquarium, a type of marine |
| Classification by Temperature | | | | aquarium that also houses coral. |
| One of the easiest ways to classify aquaria is by | | | | More information on temperate aquariums, tropical |
| temperature range; many aquarists maintain a tropical | | | | aquariums and reef aquariums is available at |
| aquarium as these fish tend to be more colourful, | | | | InterAquariums.co. |