How to decorate an aquarium?

Design planning

Before you buy anything, draw and paint a plan for how you will decorate the aquarium. Think about what you want to see in the aquarium – fish, plants, decor. In accordance with the plan, choose the dimensions of the aquarium and technical equipment. Use reference materials to understand how realistic it is to implement your plan.

Decide in advance where to put the aquarium. Choose a dark, but well-visible place in the house. The aquarium will need to be cleaned, maintained – it should be possible to approach it from different sides.

Do not place the aquarium near a window or radiator. Light day in the aquarium to maintain the health of its inhabitants should last 8-12 hours. Too much light will encourage algae growth and your aquarium decoration efforts will be wasted. And the battery will be a constant source of additional heat, which can cause water overheating, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.

The more plants and fish you want to have, the larger their dwelling should be. Experts advise paying attention to aquariums with a volume of 50 to 120 liters – a sufficient volume for a variety of flora and fauna. Plants should be spacious in the water even when they grow a little. The decorations should not cover the plants from the light. Decorations are designed not only to please the eye, but also to be a shelter for the fish. The more you plan how to decorate your home aquarium, the less difficulties will arise in the future.

You also need to choose what type of aquarium you want – freshwater or saltwater. We decided to focus on tips for decorating a freshwater aquarium, as aquarists usually start with it. A freshwater aquarium will become a more budget-friendly option and will give you the necessary experience of regular aquarium maintenance.

Choosing a soil

The soil affects the general appearance of the aquarium, but it is not only decoration, but also the foundation of the dwelling of underwater flora and fauna. The soil covers and nourishes the roots of plants. Beneficial bacteria settle in it over time, which process the waste products of the inhabitants of your underwater world. Aquarists advise between pebbles and sand to make a choice in favor of sand, since under the pebbles, for example, uneaten fish food can get under the pebbles and start to rot. Painted soil is devoid of porosity, beneficial bacteria in it will not be enough. Marble chips increase the hardness of water. Consider the habits of future inhabitants of the aquarium. If the fish lives at the bottom and burrows into the ground, then it needs fine sand.

The choice of soil for plants depends on how large their roots are. The soil for aquarium flora should be light and sloping. Usually fine or medium grit is suitable. The soil before laying in the aquarium must be washed with water, without soap and any detergents.

Underwater castles and picturesque driftwood

Stones are great for decorating an aquarium, they become bright under water, their patterns are better visible. How can you decorate an aquarium with stones? Buy single stones or whole compositions, grottoes, castles. Such decor will not only add zest to the design, but will also serve as a shelter for the fish.

Granite, basalt, quartz, syenite, flint are suitable for an aquarium – they do not change the composition of the water.

We do not recommend decorating an aquadome with stones that you found on a river or in a lake, as well as pebbles, shells, etc. collected in the sea. You do not know their chemical composition and cannot guarantee that they will not impair the quality of the water in your aquarium. If you purchased a stone in a specialized store, you can simply wash it with water and a brush.

Choose a decor with neat, smooth edges so that the fish do not get hurt as they swim by.

No matter how attractive the option to make a decoration for an aquarium with your own hands may seem, give preference to branded decor from the store. Doecor, made according to the standards of safe materials, is a guarantee of quality and safety of a healthy aquarium ecosystem.

The snag will also become a spectacular decoration of a corner of nature, its appearance under water will resemble the shore of a reservoir. Pet stores have a wide selection of beautiful curled driftwood. Basically, for decorating aquariums, they sell mangrove driftwood and driftwood of the African (iron) tree-Mopani. They are made specifically for decorating aquariums, they are sold already processed, they practically do not color the water and do not affect the water parameters in the aquarium, they do not rot in water, they sink perfectly and are easy to use. Before use, they must be washed and checked for buoyancy in a basin or bath. Don’t put wood decor into the aquarium like a spacer. Glass walls can crack under the pressure of wood swollen with water. Fix the snag on the board, press down with stones, sprinkle with soil.

If you saw a beautiful tree root on a walk, do not rush to carry it home and place it in an aquarium. Wood absorbs substances from the environment. Is it worth risking the well-being of the inhabitants of the aquarium for the sake of driftwood from the street?

Smooth glass objects are suitable for aquarium decor, but choose those glasses that have already been produced in color, and not painted after. Otherwise, the paint will partially dissolve in the aquarium water.

An earthenware jug or cup will go well with the underwater scenery. But buy a new pottery. Clay is a naturally porous material, so detergents or fertilizer particles can remain in dishes and flower pots.

Shells look spectacular, but they increase the hardness of the water, they should be discarded. But you can look at jewelry made of rubber and plastic. They are often used to make artificial plants for the aquarium. They will not harm the environment of the aquadome, besides, they can easily be “transplanted” to another corner of the composition. If you have purchased plastic aquarium decorations approved for use by young children at the pet store, you can safely use them for your underwater scenery.

Don’t overdo the decor. Remember that underwater plants need somewhere to spread their leaves, and fish need to swim.

Live plants

Many are close to the point of view that an aquarium is precisely a corner of wildlife. I want to fill it with living plants, not plastic decorations. Live plants will certainly give your aquarium a natural look, but only if you take care of them properly and systematically. If the future owner does not have the time and opportunity to care for living plants, we recommend that you consider artificial plants. Now in pet stores there is a wide variety of them, and the appearance is often almost as good as live ones.

It is easy to find information about various types of plants, choose the one you like and clarify the requirements for caring for it. Among aquarists, cryptocorynes are popular – unpretentious bush plants. Java moss is also loved for its unpretentiousness and rapid growth. Java moss is enough to fix on the ground or driftwood.

As for plants with stems and leaves, they should be planted in the ground according to the natural growth of the roots. In some plants, they are arranged in a fan, in others they go vertically down. It is better to make a hole for planting a plant deeper first. If necessary, the plant can be slightly pulled up. The main thing is that the roots do not need to be crumple, they should be freely located in the ground.

Plants also need to be prepared for placement in the aquarium. Clean them from dried areas, rinse in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, dissolving a teaspoon of peroxide in a liter of water. Rinse with water and trim the roots.

Collecting all the pieces of the puzzle

Once you’ve decided how to decorate your home aquarium, it’s time to turn all the elements into a cohesive painting. All parts of the aquarium décor, from the décor itself to the tiny plants, need to be rinsed out before installation can begin. Lay the soil on the bottom in an even layer five to seven centimeters thick. Set decor elements. Partially fill the volume with prepared aquarium water.

Plant the plants. Start with the largest and most lush, decorate with them the area closer to the back wall of the aquarium. Continue planting the plants moving towards the foreground of the bottom of the aquarium. To plant the most delicate grassy sprouts in the foreground, you can use a special fork.

Add the rest of the water, install and turn on all the necessary equipment – filter, lighting, and so on. Aquarists advise waiting a month before populating an aquarium with fish. During this time, the soil, plants and other components of your new wildlife area will form a complete ecosystem in which the fish can easily adapt.

Passion for decorating aquariums can seriously capture you. Aquascaping, the art of creating beautiful landscapes in an aquarium, is now very popular. For enthusiasts of this direction there are thematic exhibitions and competitions. But the main thing is that the design of the underwater kingdom should be to your liking. We hope that the beautifully designed aquarium will delight you day after day.