Tank curator is inspired by a couple of pints (8)
I believe the answer is:
aquarist
'tank curator' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'is inspired by a couple of pints' is the wordplay.
'inspired by' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters breathed in or 'inspired' by others).
'couple of pints' becomes 'quart' (a quart is equal to two pints).
'a'+'quart'='aquart'
'is' inserted within 'aquart' is 'AQUARIST'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for aquarist that I've seen is " one keeping fish".)