Can an Aquarium Add Value to Your Home?

I was recently watching a Gordon Ramsey restaurant makeover wherein Ramsey’s decorative streak introduced a series of different-sized aquariums inside a fish restaurant ranging from wall-hanging water bowls to a full-sized box at the door. It all seemed like a neat and attractive idea, fitting for a fish eatery. 

Delving deeper into the topic, however, I realised that he was probably drawing on an ancient technique from the Chinese practice of Feng Shui, which claims that keeping an aquarium attracts wealth and abundance. Perhaps Ramsey was trying to steer in some money towards this down-and-out restaurant, but the idea got me thinking about aquariums in a home and just how significant it would be to have live fish in homes on an island, like ours – tangibly bringing the sea in our lives, goldfish and all.

Even if you disregard the idea of using an aquarium to attract money towards your bank account, actually keeping an aquarium could bring you more benefits than you imagine.

Benefits of an aquarium in the living room

If you’re trying to sell your home in Malta or Gozo or are trying to maximize the price of your property, having a well-kept aquarium with healthy fish inside creates a perfect ambience and will be likened to prospective buyers. In fact, some Malta real estate stagers have been known to actually introduce an aquarium inside communal home spaces in order to add to the benefits of a home. Your Malta real estate agent will be able to guide you more regarding adding value you’re your property in Malta.

Here are some basic hints on making an aquarium work for you and increase the value when selling your property. 

Freshwater aquariums

Freshwater aquariums are easier to maintain than seawater ones. So, if you are inexperienced, it’s best to start with the freshwater variety. It happens that most people stick to freshwater aquariums because of easy maintenance.

Washing your aquarium

Whether you buy a small or large aquarium, make sure you wash it without soap to ensure no soap particles remain to contaminate the water you will put in it. This no-soap method should also be adopted to clean any aquarium accessories you decide to introduce in the water in the form of fake foliage, gravel, etc.

Aquarium’s location in your home

Choose the aquarium’s location carefully. It has to be out of direct sunshine because fish in bowls set on window sills in full sunshine have been known to ‘boil’ the fish to death. Aquariums are actually good excuses to light up dark poky corners such as the far end of narrow corridors, or that seemingly useless space under the staircase. Then again you may decide to use an aquarium to ‘divide’ a living area or to add colour to an otherwise minimalist room.

Setting up the aquarium

Set up the aquarium, apparatus, accessories and all, and fill up with chlorine-free water. Don’t even think of putting fish in it just yet. The water is too clean and the water system must start creating its own nitrogen cycle to build up necessary and ‘healthy’ bacteria. This bacteria will then de-fuse the danger of fish excrement in the water from contaminating the fish themselves and leading them to a slow and painful demise. Check with your aquarium supplier for advice on how long the cycle will take as this depends on the size of your aquarium.

Introduce fish to the aquarium

Once the cycle is done, you can introduce fish to the aquarium. Do this slowly, allowing each one to acquaint itself with the tank before introducing another fish. Remember the fish will be living in a community so ask advice on which fish varieties live best together.

Placing an aquarium in your home 

You will find plenty of valid advice on some professional online aquarium sites and forums. However, your best bet to placing an aquarium in an attempt to sell your property and increase its value is to visit your local pet shop owner. This is because they can recommend the right aquarium professional to guide you through your own personal process of becoming a good aquarium owner. Read more about 5 things that add value to your property.