naturalpet
Eco-Friendly
Aquariums
Not all aquariums are created equal when it comes to
sustainability. Energy used to run filters and lights is a
major concern. Where the fish originate is another, as
well as where they go at the end of the relationship.
by Nina Shen Rastogi
T
he ideal eco-aquarium, bal- large tank. animal rights issue, it’s also an eco-
anced and self-contained, is a Since the Berkeley Laboratory logical concern, because the fewer
cherished concept of hobbyists. report came out a dozen years ago, animals that survive the process, the
But research shows that energy usage there have been a few advances in the more intensive the harvesting be-
for a typical home aquarium can vary efficiencies of aquarium equipment. comes.
widely, depending on the setup. Using LED lights can shave off a few So when buying wild-caught fish,
According to a 1997 report from kilowatt-hours and newer, energy- look for those that have been captured
the Lawrence Berkeley National Labo- saving pumps and ballasts have come with hand nets, rather than chemicals.
ratory, a small freshwater aquarium— onto the market. One equipment Always avoid threatened and endan-
say, 10 gallons in size—might use as salesperson estimated that the gered species among both freshwater
little as 90 to 120 kilowatt-hours a amount of electricity and saltwater fish.
year to run its lights, filters used by aquariums The silvery, black-striped, Bang-
and aerators. That’s about as today could be gai cardinalfish, only found in a few
much as a typical coffee- about 25 percent pockets off the coast of Indonesia, for
maker uses in a year— lower than in 1997 example, has been labeled an en-
hardly a major energy with up-to-date dangered species by the International
suck in the grand scheme equipment. Union for the Conservation of Nature,
of things. Aquariums largely due to overzealous harvesting
With increasing size, can also have hid- for the aquarium trade. The United
electricity costs naturally rise. den environmental costs Nations’ environmental office noted in
A big, 55-gallon freshwater tank upstream. In some parts of 2003 that less than 10 percent of ma-
might use between 280 and 400 Southeast Asia, where the vast major- rine ornamental species were capable
kilowatt-hours annually. Adding plants ity of the world’s saltwater “ornamen- of being farm-cultured.
further ups an aquarium’s energy tal” organisms come from, fish are Fortunately, sustainable
appetite, as it requires heavier-duty caught using squirt bottles filled with collection is less
lighting to keep the plants alive. cyanide, which stuns the animals of an issue
Generally speaking, saltwater and makes them easier to extract with freshwater
tanks use more energy than freshwater from coral reefs. But the chemical aquarium spe-
ones, due to the increased need for can also damage the coral, as well as cies, because 90
pumps and power heads to create other organisms living in the reefs— percent are farm-raised.
water currents. Marine aquariums can not to mention weakening the fish so Captive breeding helps reduce pres-
pull 230 kilowatt-hours a year for a that fewer of them survive transport. sure on wild animal populations;
small tank, and up to about 800 for a Keeping fish healthy is more than an although many conservationists argue
14 Phoenix
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