Rapidly warming oceans have led to an explosion of jellyfish numbers in seas around the world – allow that fact to float around your brain for a bit as you stare at translucent invertebrates illuminated within your very own desktop jellyfish aquarium. Would owning such a thing offer comfort and entertainment, or just be a sad reminder that humans have really mucked things up on our home planet? Now’s your chance to find out.

The JellyTank is a compact 5-gallon aquarium with a modern design and color-changing, remote-controlled LED lights. This ‘flow bar design’ with laminar pump-driven water creates an environment similar to what jellyfish would experience in the wild, and there’s a built-in mechanical and biological filtration system. The tank is made of high-grade aquarium acrylic, and its housing is available in black or white.

The creators came up with the idea after purchasing a $400 jellyfish tank for their office, and finding that the grates kept sucking up the jellyfish and killing them. They wanted to create a ‘sustainable’ tank that comes pre-assembled for the least amount of fuss. Everything you need to set it up is included, except for the moon jellyfish, which are purchased separately through the JellyTank website.

“JellyTank is currently working on developing an aquaculture facility to grow Jellyfish for our customers,” reads their Kickstarter. “We are speaking with industry experts and marine biologists from across the nation to develop the best protocols and standards of practice to ensure we deliver the healthiest sustainable source of jellyfish available in the world today. our proposed aquaculture program will be overseen, staffed and managed by leading jellyfish aquaculture specialists.”

This living reminder of the ravages of human-induced climate change can be yours with a pledge of $175 or more at the JellyTank Kickstarter. The creators aren’t allowed to include live jellyfish with their rewards, so they have to be claimed separately when the kits are ready to ship. People are clearly excited about the project, having raised almost twice the fundraiser’s goal with 16 days to go. It remains to be seen whether flushing dead jellyfish down the toilet is as depressing as doing so for your late pet goldfish.

Recreating the sea on land is no easy task, especially when a stable and viable marine ecosystem is the crux of the plan. When things go wrong, however, the life leaves and what’s left looks especially out of place – a fish out of water as it were. These 8 amazing abandoned aquariums illustrate what happens when the artificial environments of yesterday go apocalypse now.

Coral World – Nassau, The Bahamas

(image via: Williams Family)

Coral World Bahamas is a combination aquarium and beach resort that opened in 1987. Its signature lighthouse-like tower observatory was built on an artificial island and is linked to the mainland of Nassau via an elevated causeway.

(images via: Worldnews.com and Ambertq)

Coral World suffered severe damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and although the UFO-esque tower remains as an easily recognizable landmark, the cessation of any maintenance by owners Coral World International is allowing rust and weathering to inexorably take their toll.

Sea-Arama Marineworld – Galveston, Texas, USA

(images via: SixFlagsHouston Forums and Artificial Owl)

Sea-Arama Marineworld opened in 1965 and was Galveston’s most popular attraction for decades. Times change, however, and when Sea World Park opened in San Antonio the more modern facility began scooping too many of Sea-Arama Marineworld‘s potential visitors for the aging facility to remain profitable – it closed its doors for good in 1990.

(images via: Abandoned But Not Forgotten (ABNF))

Sea-Arama Marineworld was completely demolished in 2006 but thanks to the efforts of photojournalists both amateur and professional, we can appreciate the sad beauty of the former 25-acre complex as it silently molders away.

Lal Bagh Botanical Garden – Bangalore, India

(image via: Mohammed Absar)

Captured in the midst of ongoing decay in mid-June of 2010, the abandoned aquarium at the otherwise open-for-business Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore, southern India puts on a brave front against the irresistible force of passing time. Though the garden as a whole dates back to 1760, the aquarium building is of much more recent vintage.

Saikaibashi Public Aquarium – Sasebo, Japan

(images via: Tee-Photo and Abandoned Kansai)

The Saikaibashi Public Aquarium opened sometime in the mid-1960s and operated for about 30 years. Its remains can be found in the city of Sasebo, near Nagasaki in western Japan.

(images via: Forbidden Kyushu)

The two-story aquarium was anything but grandiose – passage between the two levels was via stairs, not an elevator or escalator – but it did boast a four times daily dolphin show.

(image via: Forbidden Kyushu)

The aquarium’s decaying remnants are surprisingly free from graffiti though most of the building’s windows have been broken. Considering the area’s humid summer climate and frequent summer storms it’s probable the Saikaibashi Public Aquarium will be taken over by mold and mildew unless a demolition crew doesn’t demolish it first.

Old Cleveland Aquarium – Cleveland, Ohio, USA

(images via: Realbruts! and What My Eyes Have Seen)

Overshadowed by the Greater Cleveland Aquarium that’s housed in a fully renovated abandoned power plant, the old Cleveland Aquarium was a modest structure free of bells and whistles.

(images via: Kingtycoon and Mobius Faith Imaging)

The elderly brickwork building was used for police K9 training for a time after the aquarium closed but both cops and dogs have hightailed it outta there as well.

Dolphin Island – Okinawa, Japan

(images via: 28DaysLater)

Dolphin Island, or “Hiikuu Island” in half-Japanese is located a stone’s throw off the coast of Okinawa. When the surprisingly large restaurant/aquarium was built several decades ago a causeway was constructed to provide easy access. Nowadays any intrepid explorers must wade across at low tide – stay too long and you’ll be spending the night alone with only spiders and fire ants for company!

(image via: Gakuran)

The remnants of Dolphin Island‘s small aquarium can be found within the forlorn building; all of the tanks (and their occupants) are long gone however.

It’s not known why the place’s owners saw the need for an above-ground aquarium when the surrounding waters are a scuba-diver’s paradise but maybe that’s one reason the island is deserted today.

Abandoned Water Park – Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan

(image via: Foto8)

The frequency of tourism to Israel’s border regions may be described as boom or bust… the former typically leading to the latter. It’s not certain why the colorful water park complex above gave up the ghost in 2010 but lets just say the life preserver at the bottom of the pool had no takers.

Atlantis Marine Park – Two Rocks, Australia

(images via: Tumblr, Crafted By Ben and Escobar.ID.AU)

Japan’s Tokyu Corporation had high hopes when they opened the Atlantis Marine Park in December of 1981. Located in the small town of Two Rocks a few miles north of Perth, the park encompassed 14 hectares (more than half of them artificial lakes) and boasted an Oceanarium, a Seal Pool, a Dolphin Pool and a Children’s Adventure Park. Six dolphins were caught nearby and three more were born at the park in 1988.

(image via: Tumblr)

Thought the dolphins liked Atlantis Marine Park enough to start settling down and producing offspring, the Australian government had a few issues – mainly, the park’s dolphin tank was now too small and would have to be expanded or a larger one built.

(images via: WAtoday and Tumblr)

Faced with an expensive renovation bill and mindful of declining profits, Tokyu Corporation decided to cut their losses, release their dolphins and close the park. Old King Neptune was/is not amused though appearances may indicate otherwise.

(image via: EnglishRussia)

Several sources state the Russian building above is an abandoned children’s summer camp building, not an abandoned aquarium. You’ve gotta love the design, whatever it is, even in its currently decrepit state. When Great C’thulhu and his minions finally awake and reclaim their old stomping grounds, this is what it’s gonna look like.

True aquarium aficionados know a beautifully designed fish tank can be like a work of living art. Now it’s time to spread the word, starting with 24 of the wildest aquarium set ups to ever grace a living room (or garage, for that matter).

(Images via treatfish, thecoolgadgets, gadgether)

Don’t toss the old computer away yet, as there’s still some use it can be put to. Seal it up tightly enough, and there’s a ready-made fish tank perfect for a goldfish or two.

(Images via random-good-stuff, klingpost, techeblog, supertightstuff, pics-site)

Not all fish tanks have to be a boring cube. Some of the most interesting aquariums share a unique shape or overall design that defies expectations.

(Images via ideasforhouses, aquariumlore, ecofriend)

No fish were harmed in the making of these bathrooms… we hope. One must admit there’s something wonderfully modern about incorporating a little bit of nature into the restroom experience. It certainly would not make keeping it clean any easier, though.

(Images via home-designing, suehenshawpottery)

One of the best ways to recycle an old television is to start a new show starring your favorite fish. Large, old fashioned, televisions are perfect for this, as they have are roomy and have the structural strength to hold a decently sized tank.

(Images via amanotakashi, geekologie, adana-usa, completeaquarium)

Takashi Amano is a well-known aquarium artist who is able to make otherworldly scenes underwater. With even more precision and care than the most obsessive landscape artist, Takashi sculpts his aquariums into living pieces of art that look like microcosms of a much larger space.

(Images via weedguru, amazingpets, borubudur, sclick)

If the idea of having a giant tank shoved up against the wall of the living room isn’t an appealing one, don’t give up yet! There are plenty of companies that make gorgeous aquariums that can be incorporated directly into a home’s furnishings. Replace the worn coffee table with something a whole lot cooler!

(Images via bogaboo, izismile, supertightstuff)

Aquaman would love to have this car in his driveway, though it’s difficult to imagine anyone else getting much use out of it. This car makes one think differently about sitting in traffic behind all that glass, doesn’t it?

(Images via pixmag, sweetandlowshow)

This custom bed aquarium is surely something to behold. There are few things that would be as relaxing as staring up into a gently lit aquarium while drifting off to sleep.

(Images via crystalkiss)

Some aquarium artists expend a lot of effort making every detail seem natural, like a landscape seen from far away. If fish weren’t swimming amongst the plants, it would be difficult to distinguish these fish tanks from an image of a tropical paradise.