LIVING WITH A FISHBOWL: AQUARIUMS REMAIN POPULAR AIDS TO RELAXATION

It's the gurgle of bubbling water and the soothing sight of colorful fish swimming in tanks that attract many aquarium owners to the hobby.

Watching fish swim around a large tank or aquarium is relaxing, enthusiasts say.

That's why aquariums, especially small, vaselike containers complete with plant and fish, are so popular.

"People get them as much for the backgrounds as the do for the fish they put in," said Dewey Adams, who runs A&S Tropical Fish on Broadway.

The store sells everything needed to set up a fish aquarium, from chemicals to treat the water to plants, backgrounds and all varieties of fish.

Aquariums come in nearly every size -- from small 2 and 3 gallon tanks to 300 gallons and larger -- and for every skill level, from children to adults looking for new hobby.

Before buying, Adams urges customers to consider how large a tank they want before selecting any fish. Sometimes certain fish can't live in harmony with another type that might be more territorial or aggressive.

What fish to select for an aquarium depends on the size tank, what filtration system it has and whether or not there are bottom feeders in the tank, he said.

"Some people can go about a year without changing their water if they've got good filtration," he said.

But feeding fish too much, or putting too many goldfish into one tank, can spell trouble. Goldfish, while popular as starter fish for new aquarium owners, spit about half their food out as waste, which makes the water dirty pretty fast.

The rule of thumb is to have one fish per gallon of water, Adams said. "Otherwise you'll do a lot of water changes if you overcrowd."

Marcia Williamson, a Cape Girardeau hairstylist, says fish aquariums aren't the hassle most people think they are.

Once you get a system set up properly, it's nearly a maintenance-free pet. And she's found a way to add a plant to the setup.

Williamson has been making the plant-aquarium combinations for friends, family and clients since May and has finished 30 so far, for less than $20 per aquarium.

She began making them after her mother died, as a way of using all the plants sent to the family. Williamson first saw the aquariums at a friend's and decided to try her own.

Her friend named that fish Maybe -- as in "maybe it'll live, maybe it won't," Williamson said. But she's had good luck with hers so far.

The vases and colored rocks or beads can be purchased at hobby stores, along with ribbon. She buys the fish at a pet store and finishes off the project.

The fish thrive on the white roots of the plants, most often peace lilies, and one plant can be split for use in two aquariums.

"The hardest part is getting all the dirt off," she said. The fish also need food at least once a week.

And the plant seems to flourish off the fish waste. "It's some of the best fertilizer you can have," she said. "If your water gets a little dirty that's OK."

Larry Wagoner now has two of the fish aquariums Williamson made and it's been a successful venture.

The first was a red Beta and the second is blue.

"They've been easy to take care of," he said, and it's the first thing anyone sees when they enter the rooms of his home.

Williamson agreed that fish are good for a home.

"They're peaceful and good for your blood pressure," she said. The problems of a stressful work day can disappear as she watches her guppies and mollies swim.