Wow! Things really seem to have changed over the years. I too had the aquariums with the fish and lights and plants in my younger days. Seems like I would set out old milk jugs full of water and let the water sit for a week to get the water 'aquarium friendly'. Makes me wonder if we are putting 'newer/better' things into our water.
I do love aquariums and have wanted to put one in the house for a number of years - I don't have any room in this house. The next house will have more room!