Chattanoogans are Taking to Personal Aquariums like Fish to Water

By Mason Edwards, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Staff photo by Abby White / Freshwater fish swim in their tank at Fish Mania on Ringgold Road.

At feeding time, Dale -- a freshwater Mbu puffer, one of the largest puffer fish species -- flaps his fins like oversized wings and glides toward his ta nk corner. He's also the unofficial mascot of Fish Mania in East Ridge, a local aquarium supply store.

"He sees you coming and starts doing circles, like, 'Feed me, feed me!'" says Ethan Dickinson, the 25-year-old owner of Fish Mania. "He's awesome."

Dale draws a crowd, but he's also part of a much larger wave. Across Chattanooga, aquariums are surging in popularity -- appearing in homes, doctors' offices, vet clinics, restaurants and anywhere that benefits from peace and pretty fish.

COVID-19 gave the industry a shot in the arm. "It was probably the busiest time for the fish industry as a whole," Dickinson says. "And it never really dropped off."

Dickinson, a Chattanooga native, caught the aquarium bug early. He grew up in Ooltewah and remembers a massive saltwater tank in his elementary school library. At nine or 10, he convinced his parents to let him set up his first tank: a Walmart starter kit of incompatible fish. "I started with a tank full of dead fish," he says, laughing. "But it made me want to do better."

He started breeding guppies, selling extras on Craigslist and to local shops. At 14, he landed a job at Fish Mania. At 16, he became manager. At 21, he bought the store outright, following four years of negotiation with its original owner, Keirl King. "I wanted to be a teacher before this," he says. "Now I get to teach what I love every day."

Open since 1978 and in its current East Ridge location since 1983, Fish Mania is Chattanooga's oldest fish store still in operation. Dickinson is now expanding it, adding 800 to 900 square feet by knocking through the wall to the next-door unit and extending the dry goods section to make room for more aquatic displays.

Their most popular tanks? "Planted freshwater tanks and reef tanks," he says. "Those used to be really difficult, but in the last five to 10 years, a lot of technology has progressed. You've got cheaper lights, better filtration and even CO2 systems for plants."

Jennifer Lewis, a surgical technologist, is part of that wave. She started with a 10-gallon tank for her granddaughter three years ago while grieving for her son. "It was so peaceful just hearing the water flow," she says. "I needed a hobby -- and it was perfect for me."

Now she maintains three tanks -- down from her all-time high of seven -- including a 125-gallon centerpiece filled with angelfish and keyhole cichlids. "They have their own little personalities," she says. "Some of my fish will eat out of my hands. You're creating life -- it's not just fish; it's an ecosystem."

Fish Mania is her go-to store. Dickinson tests her water, answers late-night questions and even purchases baby fish from her if her fish breed. "Ethan walked me through every single step," she says. "His knowledge base is infinite."

Dickinson's attention to care is key to the store's growing reputation, so much so that customers drive in from out of state. Veterinarian Nia Grandille and veterinary assistant Stormy Barton come from Rome, Georgia, where they help maintain a 200-gallon saltwater tank in their clinic.

"There's no local store that sells saltwater," Barton says. "We come here."

The tank, first installed in 2009, was overhauled two months ago and has since become a magnet for clients. "People have always liked it a lot," Grandille says. "We definitely have more interest recently ... we go for stuff that's really pretty, bright and interesting." They plan to keep expanding the tank, adding more coral to enhance the reef aesthetic.

"Hospitals and doctor's offices use them for the same reason," says Jason Ha, an aquarium maintenance expert with 30 years of experience. "They're attention-getters, and they're calming. You can just sit and watch a fish nibble on a rock. It's mindless in the best way."

Aquarium maintenance has also gotten easier. UV sterilizers help control algae and bacteria. LED lights run cooler and more efficiently than older bulbs. Filter systems now come with beneficial bacteria to help cycle tanks faster. And for saltwater enthusiasts, pre-mixed five-gallon jugs of seawater make water changes much faster.

"The industry has exploded, especially on the saltwater side," Ha says.

Starting a tank doesn't have to break the bank, but Ha encourages beginners to think beyond the smallest kits. Larger tanks offer more room for error, especially for new hobbyists balancing water chemistry and fish compatibility. "You can start with a 10-gallon tank and all the equipment for under $100," he says. "But honestly, the bigger you go, the easier it is to keep stable."

Dickinson agrees.

He adds that many legacy stores failed to evolve beyond old-school sales tactics -- what he calls the "you don't know anything" attitude. "Now, people will talk to you all day, then go home and check everything on YouTube," he says. "You have to know your stuff."

Internet research culture sparked interest in biotope tanks -- mini-ecosystems modeled after specific rivers or regions -- and in microscapes, which are lower-maintenance aquariums designed to mimic natural habitats.

He adds that Chattanooga -- part of the most biodiverse aquatic region in the country and home to fish mosaics along the Riverwalk and the Tennessee Aquarium -- is the perfect place to dive into the hobby.

Then he glances back at Dale, who is spinning lazy circles in front of the glass.

Dickinson adds, "I always say, there's a fish for every person, and a person for every fish."

To learn more, go to fishmaniachatt.com.