photo Trevor Tondro for The New York Times

Ever wondered what $100,000 and  more could buy you at the local aquarium store?

Well, these are not fish tanks from your local pet shop, but high-end interior decorations for the fabulously well-to-do.

Check out the photos and interactive slide show for the New York Times to see some amazing home aquariums.

Koi Fishare some of the most beautiful and colorful pond fish but, keeping them requires at least a basic knowledge of fish and outdoor ponds and a few essential supplies.

Part of giving your yard a tranquil feeling is placing a fountain in your pond.  This not only drowns out unwanted noise, it stirs the water and is the easiest way to put oxygen back into the water which is important for the health of your fish.

Owners will also need to install a filter in their pond that is designed to maintain the quality of the water.  A filter removes unwanted pollutants which will decrease the chance that the Koi will have health issues.  Because the only way a filtration system can process the water is if the water is moving, you will also need to install a pump.  A pump is also extremely important for the health of the pond.  Having a fountain or waterfall in the pond aids in the water’s movement but, they should not replace a pump entirely.  Unfortunately, they are not strong enough to help with the filtration of the pond on their own.

Some supplies are not used on a daily basis but should still be kept on hand.  Dechlorinator is used when replenishing the water level of your pond with tap water.  It is essential to eliminating harmful chemicals from the tap water.  The pH level and the Nitrate level of the water should be checked on a weekly basis.  Pond owners do this by using test kits that are available in any pet supply store.  Pond salt or baking soda should also be kept on hand on a regular basis.  They can be added to the pond water to regulate the pH and Nitrate levels of the water when tests show the chemical levels are off.

Because Koi come in such brilliant colors, they are susceptible to fall victim to outdoor predators like Herons, kingfishers, foxes, cats, raccoons and badgers.  Owners can keep their fish safe through the design of their ponds.  Owners can keep water deep enough to prevent Herons from wading in it.  They can also create overhangs on the side of their ponds high enough to prevent predators from reaching the water.  Plus, if the pond is set under the shade of a tree, it will block the view of the pond from the air.  Pond owners can also purchase a net that can be placed over the entire pond ensuring the safety of the Koi.  A net will also prevent debris like leaves from falling into the water and messing up the pond.

Food is the most important supply.  Koi eat a variety of foods but it is important to keep a basic food source on hand.  Koi have been known to eat out of their owner’s hands and therefore snacks and treats can be offered to your fish.

When setting up your outdoor pond and considering the kind of supplies you will need, remember that although Koi take a little bit of effort on the part of their owners, they are mesmerizing, gorgeous fish that are well worth the effort.

 Good freshwater aquarium maintenance habits are important not only for your own enjoyment but also for the life and health of your fish.

Now that you have your home freshwater aquarium up and running and populated with fish you want to make sure to protect the lives of your fish and keep them healthy and stress-free.

Proper maintenance of your home freshwater aquarium means doing regular water changes, maintaining a steady and proper tempature level, monitoring the water’s PH levels and keeping the water clean and debris-free.

CHANGING THE WATER
You should siphon out approximately 20-20% of the water in your tank about twice a week and refill it with clean water. Make sure you do a partial water change at least once a month if you can’t do it every two weeks, but two weeks is optimal.

You also want to make sure you don’t change the water too frequently, as the friendly bacteria that builds up is actually required to keep the tank balanced and the fish healthy.

MAINTAIN A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE
Maintaining a constant temperature between 72 and 75 degrees is optimal for most community tanks. Some fish like it a little warmer while others can tolerate it cooler, but this range will suit most home aquarium fish breeds.

KEEP A STEADY PH LEVELThe PH level of your fish tank is basically how alkaline or acidic your water is, the PH scale ranges from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly acidic). 7.0 is considered neutral and for most community fish this is what you should try for and maintain.

Maintaining a proper PH level in the tank is key and can sldo be dependent on the PH level of the water coming out of your tap. Unusually hard or softwater will need to be pre-treated before you can use it.

TIP: take a sample to your local pet store where you buy your fish and have them test it. You can buy various chemicals to adjust the PH of your tank depending on the levels.

KEEP THE WATER CLEAN
Probably the biggest reason for dirty water is overfeeding. It’s a simple truth that the more food your fish ingest the more waste comes out the other end.

Now, we’re not suggesting you starve your fish for the sake of a clean tank but a pinch of food goes a long, long way.

A good rule of thumb is to put a pinch of food into the tank and see if it all gets eaten within a minute or so. If it does, add a second pinch, and that’s it.

Granted, it totally depends on the size of your tank and how many fish since 30 fish will simply eat more than 13 fish, but watch to see how many flakes are just rolling along the bottom of the tank after 5 minutes. If after 5 minutes you still see flakes floating or rolling around, yoo’re feeding them too much. Cut back a bit next time.

KEEP OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
A little sunlight on the tank each day won’t harm the tank or the fish and is actually a good thing.

But you want to avoid sustained amounts of direct sunlight since this can contribute to algae.

Algae can take over your tank and make it hard to clean and see the fish and sometimes makes the water smell bad, too.

A healthy, balanced, well-aerated home freshwater aquarium will hardly smell at all and should not have a fishy smell or any strong odors.

Odors are usually a sign of decay, either from rotting food or a dead fish. So doing a smell check as part of your routine freshwater aquarium maintenance duties is a good tool to use. The nose knows!

KEEP IT AERATED
Keeping the water aerated with a separate air pump and airstone will help your home freshwater aquarium maintain good circulation and oxygen levels which the fish need to maintain good health.

By having a properly aerated home freshwater aquarium with the correct temperature and PH that you don’t overfeed, will increase your chances of having a healthy and happy fish tank for years to come.

 Are you a Freshwater Aquarium enthusiast?  If so, you’ll want to check out the new Aquarium-keepers.com website which contains lots of great information for choosing fish for your aquarium, choosing live plants for your fresh water aquarium and tips for keeping your freshwater aquarium clean and your freshwater aquarium fish healthy.

Created by Samson Media, the site also offers a free 10 day mini-course to help you set up and maintain a balanced and long-lasting freshwater aquarium community.