How can you arrange an aquarium? Decorations and ideas

More than just adding water and fish to an aquarium can be done to make it look beautiful. It involves creating a lovely, well-balanced habitat that promotes the wellbeing of your aquatic life in addition to looking fantastic. The way you set up your aquarium can make a big difference, regardless of whether you’re new to the hobby or want to update your tank.

We’ll go over several decorating ideas and aquarium setup advice in this guide. We’ll go over everything you need to create an enthralling underwater world, from selecting the ideal substrate to adding organic elements like plants and rocks to selecting vibrant decorations.

Prepare to turn your tank into a peaceful and aesthetically pleasing haven. Your aquarium can become a stunning focal point for any space with a little imagination and careful planning.

What materials can be used?

You must decide on the approach and theme you will use before you can begin decorating your aquarium. The next step is to create a design and choose your materials based on it. The most important thing to remember is that the aquarium’s occupants’ living conditions come first, and their needs are always taken into consideration when designing.

The following are the primary materials used to decorate aquariums:

  • metals;
  • glass;
  • snags and other organic matter;
  • ceramics;
  • minerals and rocks;
  • plastic, rubber, foam.

It’s crucial to take the aquatic environment into account when selecting a material. You must remove the problematic material from the aquarium if its presence upsets the biological equilibrium.

For instance, the majority of metal items oxidize in water, changing the water’s chemical composition. A variety of varnishes and coatings help to salvage the situation, but eventually they also develop cracks and oxidation products contaminate the water. Very seldom are products made of metal used as decorations.

Aquarium background

The aquarium appears larger because of the carefully chosen background. Film that is laminated is the most widely used option.

Benefits of using the movie as a backdrop:

  • You can choose the right landscape – plants, rocks, etc. p.;
  • gives the aquarium a more natural look;
  • can be purchased in a store in accordance with the size of the aquarium;
  • easy to install (glue).

The glass is cleaned, wiped down, and disinfected prior to the film being adhered. After that, lightly moisten the material, apply it, and press to get rid of any water and air underneath it.

Aquariums containing goldfish and cichlids are particularly popular for using backgrounds; in these aquariums, plants are almost never planted in the ground except in special pots because the fish trample on the roots of the plants.

You can also use the following to make a background:

  • Styrofoam. Various models and backgrounds from a whole sheet are made from it. It is fired so that bulges are formed – cement, gypsum or alabaster are applied to this side. When the composition dries, paint it with gold or gray paint and attach it with tape to the back inner wall.
  • Mounting foam. It is applied with a spatula to a polyethylene sheet. To make it heavier, sand and stones are poured into it. When the mass hardens, a second layer is applied – a relief. The sheet is covered with epoxy resin mixed with acrylic paint on top. The resulting structure is attached to the wall with glue.
  • Wrapping paper. Aquarists use it for scrapbooking, which allows them to create truly unique products. If you need a minimalist background, a sheet of dark blue paper is enough.

It is not advisable to have the back wall transparent because a lot of fish are shy and can get scared of their reflection.

Stones

The simplest way to create a natural relief in an aquarium is with stones. Stones can be natural or artificial. The latter are far more appealing, but they need to be processed, which includes careful cleaning and disinfection. Furthermore, the impact of naturally occurring stones on the water’s composition must be considered.

  • granite;
  • solidified magma;
  • quartz;
  • petrified wood;
  • shale;
  • large pebbles.

Take care when using carbonate stones. They negatively alter the qualities of water for plants and fish. Pour some vinegar on a stone to see if it is suitable for an aquarium. It indicates the presence of carbonate in the stone if it begins to bubble and hiss.

An aquarium may sustain damage from:

  • marble;
  • alabaster;
  • dolomite;
  • corals;
  • limestone;
  • crushed shells;
  • different types of sandstone.

Avoid placing large stones on the glass. Aquadesigners who are new to the field frequently make this error. The aquarium glass may break under the stone’s weight.

Soil

The aquarium’s substrate can replicate a freshwater or marine reservoir’s bottom. In addition, it acts as a foundation for the growth of aquatic vegetation and a medium for nutrients.

  • Neutral. They are suitable for aquariums with vegetation. River pebbles, coarse sand, quartz or basalt chips are used as soil for planting. In such substrates, plant roots are well fixed. They are also gathering the life of the inhabitants and vegetable garbage.
  • Nourishing. It is a vitamin substrate or granular land substance. Laderitis substrates are rich in iron, with peat – nitrogen and phosphorus, with clay – potassium.
  • Decorative. There are soils that are created to decorate the aquarium. These include black soils (shungite with basalt and granite), and white soils (they usually contain limestone, which makes the water stiff).
    minus black soils – staining of water, white – they, on the contrary, are stained, for example, after adding medicines with dyes to the water.

Certain fish can only survive in the sand. They consume it to aid in better digestion. For spawning, other fish are buried in a layer of sand. Sand mimics the natural world flawlessly. Plants have deep roots in the sand, which gradually forms a fertile environment.

Wooden driftwood

Driftwood is a key component of Japanese design. Here, single pieces of wood, resembling a dead tree, are typically utilized. Large, uniquely shaped driftwood that protrudes from the water looks particularly opulent in aquariums. However, a great deal of artistic taste is required for a piece of wood to appear organic in water.

Everything in underwater landscapes needs to be carefully considered. Nothing extraneous should be in them; every component has a designated place. Selecting the appropriate driftwood for the aquarium and preparing it appropriately before diving are equally crucial.

In the aquarium, what kind of driftwood is there?

  • made of hard, non-coniferous wood;
  • boiled in salt water and dried in the sun;
  • for decoration, only “dead” wood is used, which has lain in nature for some time, deprived of bark and juices;
  • without rot, if there are rotten places – it is not suitable for an aquarium.

Shells and corals

This type of decoration should only be bought from pet stores; souvenir shops sell shells and corals that have been varnished. They have the potential to poison the fish in an aquarium.

Natural shells and corals need to be properly prepared before being added to the aquarium.

  • corals should be boiled in boiling water, then rinsed and wiped with a soft brush;
  • shells with a mother-of-pearl surface should not be boiled, they are usually placed in an anthill for cleaning;
  • coral reefs should be soaked in water for half a month, periodically renewing the water.

The correct accessories can turn an aquarium setup into a breathtaking underwater world. You may customize your tank in countless ways, from selecting the ideal substrate and plants to adding eye-catching decorations and building a natural habitat. This article looks at useful advice and imaginative setup ideas to help you set up your aquarium so that your fish can live in a healthy environment.

Other items

Aquarists use a variety of objects to create their conceptual, thematic landscapes; these objects can include castles, sunken ships, treasure chests, mermaids, artificial crabs, etc.

Aquariums are frequently kept purely for aesthetic purposes, and they are kept fish-free to make maintenance easier. These types of aquariums are referred to as herbal aquariums; they feature an abundance of vegetation and artificial fish dummies in place of the real fish. Seascapes or fairytale aquariums are frequently set up like this.

Gypsum models

Stones, pearls, grottoes, shells, and chests used as aquarium décor can be made of plaster or artificial resin mixtures. Every item is cleaned and sanitized before being added to the aquarium.

Completed ornamental pieces are adhered to the underside using silicone adhesive. They can be used as a starting point for original music. There are lots of plants in the area next to the handcrafted figures.

Original ideas

Every aquarist can contribute their own special ideas to the design of the aquarium. It might take a lot of different things to put them into practice.

Here are some inspirations for aquarium décor:

  • artificial island;
  • castle;
  • dry bamboo;
  • figurines;
  • jungle;
  • the shore of a wild lake;
  • waterfall.

DIY aquarium decor

Many aquarists are not limited to a set of stones or corals purchased from a pet store when creating a unique aquarium design. You can make unique and intriguing decorations with whatever materials you have on hand and some creative thinking.

Pebble house

Round pebbles work best when decorating aquariums. Its rounded edges keep aquarium occupants safe, and it doesn’t alter the characteristics of the water. Pebbles of varying sizes and colors can be used to create a variety of faux surfaces to adorn aquariums, caves, grottoes, bridges, and other structures.

Products made of pebbles are arranged in the aquarium with room remaining for the rear and exterior wall. It is necessary to leave multiple passageways in pebble houses.

How to build a dwelling:

  1. Roll sheets of paper into tubes – to make grotto holes.
  2. Lay out the base from flat stones. Place tubes between them — for passages.
  3. Place a lump of paper wrapped with tape in the center — to make a void inside.
  4. Cover the paper lump with pebbles on all sides. This way you will build walls, fastening the pebbles with glue or sealant.
  5. Place a large stone on top — it will serve as a roof.
  6. Carefully glue all the components. After two days, you can take out the paper tubes.
  7. Decorate the house on the sides with driftwood, flowers, algae to give the pebble house the most natural look.

Expanded clay grotto

A grotto is among the most well-liked and striking aquarium constructions. This serves as a haven for shy and small fish in addition to being a decorative element of the ocean.

For creating a grotto, you’ll need:

  • gypsum;
  • expanded clay (crumbs);
  • river sand;
  • polyethylene film;
  • water.
  1. Mix gypsum with sand 3:1.
  2. Add water and expanded clay to the mixture. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Spread out cellophane on a flat surface and put the resulting mixture on it.
  4. Make several blanks – a base with side walls – two pieces, a flattened part (shape – oval, rectangle or circle).
  5. Cover the figures with cellophane and wait for the figures to dry.
  6. Prepare a solution using the technology described above. Fasten the flat base with it to the columnar base. Glue the second blank on top, but upside down. This way you will build a multi-tiered structure.
  7. Submerge the craft in water for a week – to remove the alkali from the composition.

Check out the following video tutorial for building a fish grotto (cave) with your own hands:

Shelters from pipes

One can construct tunnels out of the remnants of polymeric plumbing pipes. Fish love to dive into them; it’s a feature of the game as well as a place to hide.

How to build a passageway:

  1. Take pieces of pipes of small diameter (up to 10 cm).
  2. Fasten them together in any way convenient for you.
  3. Heating the polymer, give the pipes the desired shape.
  4. Cover the pipes with cement mortar. Press small stones, ceramic fragments, pebbles into it.

A whole cascade of tunnels can be created by arranging the cylinders in a row.

Coconut as a decorative element

A split coconut can be used as useful décor for aquarium scenery. An element like this will be useful when designing a tropical aquarium.

  1. Buy a fresh coconut, use the pulp and juice as intended.
  2. Saw the nut in half.
  3. Boil the shell for 8 minutes.
  4. Use a jigsaw to cut holes and notches along the edges of the hemispheres.
  5. Place the coconut shells on the bottom. After about a month, the surface of the coconuts will become perfectly glossy.

Decorative lighting

An aquarium’s lighting is essential to its life because it serves as both a decorative element and a source of light for its inhabitants. particularly when employing exquisite lighting, such as colored illumination.

The primary light stream entering the aquarium comes from above; this is essential for the healthy growth and development of plants. There is extra lighting set up on the sides and back.

How to Select Lighting:

  • the degree of illumination should correspond to the volume of the tank, for 1 liter of water – 1 W;
  • for the aquatic world to exist comfortably, it is necessary to provide it with a daylight period of 12-16 hours.

Decoration Idea Description
Rock Caves Create hiding spots and add natural beauty. Fish

Creating a stunning underwater world in an aquarium is an enjoyable and artistic endeavor. You can create a visually stunning environment that improves the health of your fish and the aesthetic appeal of your tank by selecting the appropriate decorations and plants.

There are countless options to consider, ranging from man-made decorations and vivid plants to organic elements like driftwood and rocks. Every option has the potential to add something special, turning your aquarium into an eye-catching show. Recall that the secret is to strike a balance between aesthetic appeal and practicality, making sure that your fish have an abundance of hiding places and open swimming areas.

Try out various themes and layouts to see what suits you the best. Whether you go for a minimalist look or a lush, planted tank, setting up your aquarium can be a satisfying experience. You can create a breathtaking aquatic scene that you’ll enjoy for years to come with a little imagination and thoughtful planning.

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Elena Grishina

Ecologist and aquarist with a special interest in creating balanced ecosystems in aquariums. Main focus — ecosystems that require minimal human intervention. I support a natural approach to aquarium care, where each element plays its role, helping to maintain harmony in a closed ecosystem. I promote sustainable aquarium keeping and respect for nature.

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