For hobbyists like myself, there is something magical about public aquariums. We are those who find joy elbow-deep in silicone. We sketch out custom backgrounds or nurse fry in a corner tank. They’re a grand-scale realization of our intimate hobby. Nowhere is this better showcased than in The Aquarium. Animal Planet produces this docuseries. It offers viewers an insider’s look at the Georgia Aquarium. It is one of the largest and most sophisticated aquariums in the world.
As a DIY aquarium builder, breeder, and aquascaping enthusiast, I approached this series with both excitement and skepticism. Would it romanticize the job? Will it offer meaningful insight into husbandry, design, or aquatic systems? Would there be actual takeaways for those who spend weekends modifying canister filters? What about designing mangrove root replicas in our garages?
In short: The Aquarium delivers. And then some.
First Impressions — A Professionally Filmed Deep Dive
From the moment the first episode opens, it’s clear that The Aquarium is not your average nature doc. The cinematography is stunning, and the production quality is on par with top-tier wildlife programming. But it isn’t just pretty shots of whale sharks and beluga whales. It’s a narrative-driven exploration of the care, engineering, and passion that go into running a truly world-class aquarium.
The series details the daily operations at the Georgia Aquarium. It houses over 11 million gallons of water and holds thousands of species. It weaves in animal profiles, behind-the-scenes tours, and intimate stories about the staff and animals. For DIY enthusiasts, the show’s greatest strength is its ability to connect the massive scale of public aquaria. It bridges the gap between public aquaria and the home hobbyist. This makes it aspirational. It is relatable as well.
Engineering Dreams — Filtration, Life Support, and Inspiration
I have spent countless hours building sump systems out of storage bins and PVC piping. This is why I found the segments on life support systems to be among the most compelling. The Georgia Aquarium is essentially a living machine. It doesn’t shy away from showing the sheer complexity of its operations.
One episode focuses on the filtration and water quality team. Their job is to keep optimal conditions for a dizzying variety of aquatic environments. These range from tropical reefs to cold-water kelp forests. The custom-built mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration systems are scaled up versions of what we DIYers build at home. Watching these professionals dial in nitrate levels, troubleshoot pump failures, and preserve pH stability was oddly validating.
For me, this part of the series underscored the importance of consistency, redundancy, and proactive maintenance—core principles of DIY aquaria. I found myself taking notes, pausing episodes to sketch out improved plumbing layouts for my own setups. There’s an almost spiritual satisfaction in seeing your home-grown problem-solving reflected at a monumental scale.
Animal Care and Husbandry — A Masterclass in Best Practices
What truly sets The Aquarium apart is its focus on animal welfare and husbandry. I breed livebearers and create species-specific habitats. I appreciated how the show delved into behavioral enrichment. It also covered dietary management and veterinary care. These aren’t flashy, headline-making moments. But, they’re essential for keeping aquatic animals healthy and happy. This is true whether in a 10-gallon nano tank or a 6-million-gallon ocean tank.
One particularly memorable story features a rescued sea turtle receiving hydrotherapy to regain its mobility. Another shows the painstaking process of conditioning a new school of fish for introduction into a reef tank. Each story highlights that fishkeeping is about empathy and observation. It is also about aesthetics and gear.
This philosophy resonated deeply with me. It reminded me why I got into DIY aquaria in the first place. I wanted not just to build beautiful tanks, but to create meaningful, healthy environments for the creatures in my care. You have obsessively tweaked your feeding schedule. You adjusted lighting spectrums for plant growth. Or you have added a school of dither fish to ease aggression. If so, you’ll find yourself nodding in agreement throughout the series.
Design Elements — Big-Tank Inspiration for the Home Hobbyist
Let’s talk aquascaping.
The show doesn’t offer step-by-step guides for designing your next aquascape. Nor should it. But, it does serve up heaping helpings of inspiration. From artificial coral structures, hand-painted to mimic the Great Barrier Reef, comes a new art form. Additionally, there are riverine habitats with precise flow simulations. The Aquarium showcases what’s possible when biology and artistry meet.
For a DIY aquascaper, these glimpses are gold. The color palettes, flow patterns, and substrate choices are all rooted in real ecosystems. They can translate beautifully to smaller, home-based aquaria. I’ve already experimented with creating a scaled-down version of their Amazonian blackwater showcase. It is finished with leaf litter, tannins, and root structures. I used only materials from my local garden center and some epoxy tricks.
There’s also an educational takeaway here: the importance of understanding biotope-specific design. Too often, hobbyists toss together incompatible species or mismatched decorations. Watching professionals build entire ecosystems with a singular vision reminded me to do the same. I need to act thoughtfully and purposefully. The animal’s well-being should always be at the forefront.
Staff Stories — Passion Projects and Personal Touches
Another unexpected highlight of The Aquarium is its focus on the staff. They are not just caretakers but passionate individuals. Their personal experiences often mirror our own DIY journeys.
There’s the jellyfish specialist. They fell in love with aquaria as a child after seeing moon jellies at a science museum. Or the aquarist who breeds seahorses in his garage on weekends. These human stories give the show depth and relatability. They remind us that behind every grand exhibit is someone who started small. They have once glued a tank divider with too much silicone. Or maybe they stayed up all night researching cichlid aggression.
Education and Outreach — A Mirror for DIY Ethos
The Georgia Aquarium’s outreach programs are often highlighted by The Aquarium. They parallel what many of us do in our own communities. This includes educating kids, giving tank setup advice to newcomers, or donating fish to school science projects.
There’s an entire episode dedicated to their mobile classroom, which brings marine life education to underserved schools. For a teacher like myself, this was particularly powerful. It reminded me that aquaria—public or private—are gateways to science, conservation, and wonder.
If you’ve ever explained nitrogen cycling to a confused parent in a pet store aisle, you’ll get it. You’ll understand why this part of the show matters.
Limitations and Opportunities
As glowing as my review has been, The Aquarium isn’t without its missed opportunities—at least from a DIYer’s standpoint.
The show rarely dives deep into the technical schematics of its systems. This is understandable from a general audience perspective. Still, I would have loved an occasional side segment. It details how a specific filtration manifold was built or how custom coral inserts are molded and painted. An online supplement or behind-the-scenes special would serve this niche.
Additionally, the focus is naturally Georgia Aquarium–centric. That’s the show’s premise, of course. Nonetheless, one can’t help but wonder about similar operations at other major facilities. How are these operations handled at the Monterey Bay Aquarium? The same curiosity extends to the Shedd Aquarium. A comparative episode or spinoff series would be a treasure trove for serious hobbyists.
Final Verdict — Why The Aquarium is Essential Viewing for DIYers
Despite these small gaps, The Aquarium is a must-watch for anyone serious about aquaria. Whether you’re maintaining a single Betta bowl or handling a fish room, the series offers a thoughtful view. It respects your commitment. The show provides a visually stunning insight into the passion and science of aquatic life.
It honors the complexity of our hobby. And validates our meticulous attention to detail. It rekindles the sense of awe that probably sparked our interest in the first place.
More than just entertainment, The Aquarium is a reminder that aquaria—big or small—are windows into another world. And as DIYers, we’re lucky enough to help build those windows, one tank at a time.
| Season/Episode | Air Date | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| S01-E01 | May 18, 2019 | Slimy is the New Fuzzy |
| S01-E02 | May 26, 2019 | Seal the Deal |
| S01-E03 | June 2, 2019 | Ready for the Jelly |
| S01-E04 | June 9, 2019 | Otter Tale |
| S01-E05 | June 19, 2019 | Ophelia the Octopus |
| S01-E06 | June 23, 2019 | Penguins in Love |
| S01-E07 | June 30, 2019 | Toddler Sea Lion Scarlett |
| S01-E08 | July 6, 2019 | Baby Otter Rescue |
| S01-E09 | June 13, 2019 | Dolphin Doctor |
| S02-E01 | February 9, 2020 | Big is Beautiful |
| S02-E02 | February 16, 2020 | Sea Otter Summer Camp |
| S02-E03 | February 23, 2020 | Bacon and Tomato's Big Adventure |
| S02-E04 | March 1, 2020 | Coral Super Bowl |
| S02-E05 | March 8, 2020 | Big Momma's Surprise |
| S02-E06 | March 15, 2020 | Four Chicks and Counting |
| S02-E07 | March 19, 2020 | Maggie the Magnificent |
| S02-E08 | March 29, 2020 | Ghost Gators |
| S02-E09 | April 5, 2020 | Expedition Whale Shark |
| S02-E101 | March 30, 2020 | Whisper Gives Birth |