Once you have purchased your tropical aquarium the next step is to decorate it. This can be fun and you can use a variety of different methods to make it look beautiful and individual! As well as making your aquarium look more beautiful decorations will provide some safe places for the inhabitants to hide.

The Gravel

The first thing to think about is the gravel for the base of the aquarium. Gravel comes in a variety of colours so you can have a single colour or a mixture. Green, blue and red are available or, for a natural look, white, off white or stone coloured gravel can be used. Gravel covers up the bottom of the aquarium but also has a function as it provides a place for the nitrifying bacteria to grow and, if you have an under-gravel filter, functions as the filter medium. Gravel with a diameter of around five millimeters is needed for use as a filter medium. I also like to place some shiny stones on the gravel.

Rocks

Rocks can give your aquarium a natural look. They are very useful to keep plants in place (which have a tendency to float to the top!). Suitable rocks can be purchased at the local pet shop or pick them up around the garden. Be careful if you find them locally that you clean them thoroughly and rinse with clean water before placing them in your tank.

Using Driftwood in You Aquarium

Driftwood makes a perfect decoration for your tank. Each piece will be one-of-a-kind. Natural driftwood can be bought from aquarium suppliers often called ’sinking driftwood’ that, once it absorbs water, sinks to the bottom of the tank. Place in a bucket of water for a short time before before you put it in your fish tank. Wood found around the environment is not suitable to place in your tank as it may contain parasites.

Plants

Choosing between artificial or live plants is the next decision to make. Using live plants can be a good idea as, they look beautiful and natural and they help to keep the aquarium healthy. On the other hand, for the novice fish keeper they can be a little difficult to grow as they need the right kind of lighting, for the correct length of time each day, and a suitable substrate. Silk plants are a good alternative and are almost as good to look at as real, live plants and come in a many different types and colours.

Other Decorative Items

For a more traditional approach you could also use a Greek ruin or sunken galleon. Although they are not to everyone’s taste these types of decorations continue to be popular.

In Conclusion

You can have some great fun decorating your aquarium but please ensure that anything you use is cleaned and rinsed properly first. Make sure you don’t put anything in your fish tank that you cannot guarantee doesn’t contain parasites or harmful chemicals or other things that could be harmful to your fish, the nitrifying bacteria or that could disturb the chemical balance of the water.

More fish keeping advice and great deals on fish tanks at Acrylic Aquariums for Sale or Fish Tanks for Sale

Read more at Pets from Healthy Family Blog

• Setting up a Wall Aquarium
• How to Set up a Tropical Fish Aquarium