> What exactly have we learned that’s valuable from this news?
A lot. It depends on your personal preferences.
If you, as me, are interested in building aquariums and, as me, has watched with disbelief a couple of thick glass panes becoming arches by just 50cm of water, the system built and the planning put on it should be awesome enough. This tank worked for 20 years than is more than most hardware.
If you (as many people here) are interested in space and Mars colonization, you need seriously consider learning the art of keeping fishes in huge tanks. Aquaculture skills will be vital to keep a colony out of the earth.
To start, is one of the better methods known to produce quality food fast to keep your people feed. Some fishes are particularly well suited for space travel, and can even travel safely dehydrated in a paper envelope.
Even more important, tanks with aquatic organisms will be basic to recycle the residues in your small city. Water will be precious stuff and higher tanks allow a much better evaporation control.
You don't want one million litters flood happening in your spatial base so there is a big lesson here for us to learn