 Scanning virtually every interior mag at the moment, it seems that design conscious Brits are going crazy for all things fishy. And we're not talking haddock and chips from the corner take away . We're talking hi-spec glamorous aquarium installation with a contemporary design twist that can be tailored to suit any environment. Whether mini minnow marvels measuring only a few inches square or massive tanks the length of a whole room, there's a startling choice available. Taking pride of place in our apartment is a wonderful Bi Orb spherical aquarium. It's about 20 inches wide and deep and darting around inside is a trio of fascinating fellows that keep Felix, our cat, occupied for hours. Given to us after a BBC1 Trading Up make-over the Bi Orb (pictured above) (made by Reef-One in Norwich, www.reef-one.com, and available from various North-East outlets, including Peter Barratt Garden Centre at Gosforth Park and Berwick Garden Centre) is an under water world that fascinates and grips anyone who stops by. Imagine a standard goldfish bowl, magnify its size by 10, add gravel, a pump and an air filter and there you have it. The perfect home for Bit (an overgrown fan-tailed goldfish so elaborately finned you'd swear he was wearing a ball gown) and his two aquatic compatriots, a pair of Black Moors called Cumulus and Nimbus. After a frantic day in front of the camera it's just so de-stressing to watch their tiny world bubble with life. Why, after all, do you think dentists or doctors often have a tank positioned centre stage in their waiting rooms? Precisely. While the Bio Orb has proved the perfect aquatic set up for us there are lots of other ways to introduce fish into the domestic interior and we'll come back to those in a moment. First thing to remember, however, is that while you might think keeping fish would be easy, it's actually fairly involved and takes time to get right. Fish after all, are living creatures and need to be well looked after to get the best for everyone involved - fish included. If you want to give it a go, read as much as you can and get as clued up as possible. Treat your new underwater friends with respect and they'll stay with you for years. A great starting guide is The Complete Guide to Aquarium Fish Keeping by Mary Bailey and Gina Sandford. Reading it will make your life - and theirs - that little bit easier. Anyway. Where were we? Oh yes, new ways to make aquariums part of your interior scheme. These days the choices are magnificent. Tanks no longer have to be uninspiring oblong glass boxes with a clutch of decrepit guppies limping aimlessly from corner to corner.
 There are literally hundreds of stunning fish types whose colours and shapes will add sparkle to any environment. Championing good aquarium design is
www.theblueroomonline.com who make an amazing coffee table fish tank (pictured above) and Aquarium Masters (0208 593-3305) who have an interesting product range that will send you grabbing for your purse. Aquariums can now be designed so that they start in one room and actually penetrate the wall to re appear in the room next door. We've even come across set ups that are built into double walled glass toilet cisterns; one flush and a deluge of water takes care of everything while leaving the fish entirely unfazed. These days, there is so much choice that making the best decision is becoming increasingly difficult. Most good pet stores and high street fish suppliers (check your Yellow Pages for your nearest retailer) will be only too happy to help advise on the type of set up to best suit your needs so, before making that all important purchase, have a really good chat with a sales advisor. Remember that working in a pet environment is generally a vocational choice and as such he or she will probably have a serious interest in matters aquatic. Personally speaking, the very first time we were stopped dead in our aquatic tracks was when we saw Baz Luhrman's stunning epic, Romeo and Juliet. In one scene, as the tragic couple stood in separate rooms, they gazed, transfixed, at two separate sides of an aquarium that was built into the wall between them. They eventually espied each other through the glass and so began the most famous love story of them all. We remember that tank as having the most beautifully arranged corals and some of the most stunning fish we have ever seen. As beautiful as it was, its design would be within the reaches of anyone who is prepared to take the time to plan what they are getting into.. In love with aquariums, many modern designers, architects, and specifiers - together with a growing number of the general public - are now going fish tank crazy. Everywhere we go we see them popping up in interesting interior application. If you want to be really impressed pop into John Lewis in Newcastle and call by the beauty department. Tucked discreetly between make-up concessions you'll see an amazing crystal clear tank (pictured below) as part of the shop fit by Creme de la Mer.
 It's huge and perhaps the most beautiful we've ever seen. Stocked with Pussy Coral, Royal Gramma and Clownfish it stops people dead in their tracks as they pass by. It's gorgeous. If you decide to take the aquatic plunge you'll be in good company - Missy Elliot has an amazing double sided aquarium in her home (rather like the one in Romeo and Juliet) as does Mariah Carey who freely admits to being besotted by her underwater world. On this side of the pond a forward thinking company called Aquatic Design have created exciting water worlds for Joely Richardson, Noel Gallagher and Richard Branson. Even fashion designer Katherine Hamnett has an amazing set up in her home that contains all manner of sealife such as lobsters and king prawns. An interesting variation, perhaps, on a more familiar theme, but as long as the relevant work goes into the correct maintenance then there is no reason why it shouldn't work. Remember, of course, that aquariums, first and foremost, are contained micro environments and should be treated with as much respect as their living inhabitants deserve. You can't expect to install a tank and have it look after itself - it'll need care and maintenance. Fresh water goldfish are probably the easiest way to start but, with a little research, warm water tropical fish can be easy enough to maintain. More problematic, but undoubtedly the most beautiful are marine aquatic set ups. The breeds and colours of fish available are staggering and as part of a striking modern interior their inclusion can be the icing on the design cake. Costs to install and maintain these denizens of the salt water deep can be prohibitive, so beware. While a mid-priced tropical tank, and all it's inclusions, together with a modest selection of fish might amount to a couple of hundred pounds, if you add an extra zero you'll be at the starting price of your marine exhibition. Hmm - perhaps something to aspire to. Whatever you opt for, and how ever much you decide to invest, remember that in the same way as puppies are not just for Christmas, neither should fish be seen as a passing fancy. On the down side they're not, perhaps, the most interactive of pets, but on the serious up side they make a beautiful addition to any home that will provide endless enjoyment as their wonderful water world bubbles quietly away. Enjoy. | 
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