OTTUMWA — You might say that Dr. Kurt Anderson’s hobby is a real catch.

On one side of the entry door to his medical office in Ottumwa is a 900-gallon aquarium, filled with 26 different exotic salt water fish, 40 species of coral and several varieties of shrimp and crabs.

Anderson’s hobby began when he was 15 when he acquired his first 10-gallon aquarium.

Over the years, his hobby has grown; he said he has invested thousands of dollars, if not more, into his “calming live art.”

Anderson said having the large marine reef aquarium as a centerpiece in his office lobby seems to help some of his patients.

“Studies show that looking at fish is soothing and I would rather have that in the lobby than a TV — that has all bad news on it and puts the patients in a stressful mood,” he said.

Anderson has always been interested in aquariums and marine life and has expanded his collection over time.

At one point he had 10 aquariums at his house.

“I have two at home now and this one at the office,” he said.

The floor-to-ceiling tank spans over half the width of the lobby and is equipped with a variety of cleaning, feeding and watering devices to maintain the sealife.

While upstairs, patients can see the beauty the tank offers, the downstairs portion in Anderson’s office is full of water circulating tanks, salt distributors and other large equipment.

Anderson’s former office held a 150-gallon aquarium with about 10 of the fish he has now. The new office aquarium is roughly five times larger and currently holds at least double that amount.

He said he has always enjoyed having an aquarium and just like any piece of art, finds a sense of calm.

Most of the sealife Anderson purchases comes from the Pacific and Indian oceans via the Internet or from fish shores in larger cities like Des Moines.

“It draws kids’ attention as soon as they walk through the door and quite a few adults really like it, too,” he said.