Freshwater Aquarium Decorating Ideas
Most of us can recall seeing a decorated fish tank at one time or another that was so strikingly beautiful with live plants and colorful fish. Each aquarium usually becomes the focal point of a room and clever decorating ideas used well in a freshwater aquarium can make all the difference. Learn the proper techniques for decorating aquariums and the benefits for you and your fish.
Freshwater aquariums look their best when decorated. Each fish tank can be an object of beauty all its own. Attractive decorating ideas enhance the appearance of the fish and highlight their colors. When gazing into an aquarium you see a community of fish, plant life, lights, texture and colors.
Decorating a fish tank is also far more important than just the looks. To maintain the health of your fish it needs to be decorated. Consider the natural habitat from which fish come from. It is by no means a sterile empty environment.
Tropical fish swim in water filled with aquatic plants, algae, rocks, sand and logs. All of these are natural elements that provide places to hide, feed and bear young. The better an aquarium is decorated the happier the fish will be and they will feel less stress. Stressed fish are far more likely to get sick and die of diseases than those living in a happy, healthy tank.
When decorating an aquarium, you can try and duplicate the natural surroundings from where the fish originate. Basically, there are two distinct types of cover that fish may prefer. Hard cover typically consists of solid objects and logs and rocks, which are found in fast moving waters or deep open areas. Soft cover works well for fish acclimated to slow-moving rivers, lakes and ponds filled with plants and soft debris.
Aquarium shops offer numerous live plants, decorative rocks, plastic plants, ships and all kinds of fun items for decorating aquariums. Make sure that none of the items you choose for decorating are toxic or could become toxic as they break down in the water.
When you begin decorating, select the larger items and big plants to put them in the rear or sides. Place shorter objects towards the front. This gives the tank an open look for good viewing and yet provides great hiding places for fish.
Take advantage of plants to hide all the assorted equipment required to run an aquarium. Large plants strategically placed work well to cover up air line tubing, lift tubes, heaters and filtration systems. Purchase a piece of background and place it against the back of the aquarium to hide electric cords and miscellaneous equipment.
- Plants can be grouped in numbers of two and three to create a natural appearance. Select a couple of plants that have different colors and textures to give the tank variety. Large rocks placed behind plant displays make good hiding places and accentuate plant colors. Aquatic duckweed floating on the waters surface adds a different dimension to the tank and some fish love to nibble on it.