The Hindu : Kerala News : Designs for the future

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Designs for the future

NEW DESIGN: A plasma aquarium on display. - Photo: Mahesh Harilal

The new-age interior space designs demand minimalism in accessories too. So it was quite in tune with the contemporary times that a city-based aquarium dealer is coming up with a new design.

Called plasma, after the flat-screen plasma television, the aquarium is meant to be hung on the wall. For those who cannot set apart much space in their office or apartments, this new design will come handy, says K.M. Hamza of Marvel Aqua Systems.

Just one month after launching the design, people have started coming for it, he says. The limitation of the plasma aquarium could be that the water volume will be less and hence only smaller species of fish could be displayed.

The preferred varieties are guppies and tetras in fresh water systems and likes of clowns and blue damsels in marine aquariums. The fish for marine aquariums are all hatchery-bred, which makes them highly adoptive to variations in atmosphere, Mr. Hamza says.

He plans to bring out "plasma aquariums" of sizes ranging between two-feet-long and six-feet-long. The smallest one will have a water volume of 18 litres, while the high-end version can carry about 54 litres of water.

Maintaining this aquarium is easy provided you have sucker catfish and algae eaters to clean up the inside of the glass, Mr. Hamza will tell you. Most of the fish lovers who have been on the lookout for new designs opt for this.

Just like the corner-stands, which are among the fast-moving variety among aquariums being sold by Mr. Hamza, this design is also expected to have many takers. Just as you finish listening to the ease in handling the "plasma", Mr. Hamza will add that the outer frame made of plywood could be custom-made to suit the colour of the wall.

ANAND HARIDAS

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