Here you get important tips on how to turn your aquarium into an eye-catcher.
Aquaristics is a popular hobby. Watching fish has a calming effect. Working with a living organism requires attention and you learn a lot about biological relationships. In addition, the mini underwater worlds are beautiful to look at, if you do some things right. There are a few things to consider so that the water inhabitants feel comfortable, stay healthy and have the highest possible life expectancy. A species-appropriate attitude must already play a decisive role when setting up the aquarium. However, this is not contradicted by an attractive design.
A tasteful aquarium interior and residents who feel comfortable in this environment can be combined well. We would like to show you which aquarium accessories you cannot do without in order to create a suitable home for your fish. The basis is a healthy animal and plant world. This begins with the size of the aquarium. In the best case you know already when you buy the tank which and above all how many fish will live in it later. Where the aquarium is located is also important. At least it makes sense to have a power and water connection nearby. Direct sunlight, by the way, makes algae thrive particularly well. Then the question finally arises as to which aquarium accessories you want or should buy. The basic equipment of a freshwater aquarium includes a heater, a filter, an air pump and a light source. For the vast majority of fish, a cover is also necessary. For the decoration and design there are now a variety of possibilities.
From indispensable aquarium accessories to decorative furnishings
First the basic equipment
Here the filter is particularly important. It ensures good water quality and thus the health of the fish. The filter cleans the water in three stages. They include the screening of small particles, the absorption of harmful chemicals and the support of beneficial bacteria that are responsible for breaking down waste products. The bacteria are the actual filter. A pump provides for water movement and thus an improved gas exchange. This can be a membrane pump, which pumps water into the pool via bubble stones, or a flow pump. It is important that the water surface is at least slightly moved. The heating system creates the appropriate and constant temperature for the residents. Many fish species feel most comfortable at temperatures between 25 and 28 °C. A cover reduces evaporation and prevents the fish from jumping out. For the lighting you can choose between modern T5 fluorescent tubes or LED lighting. Ultimately, this is also a question of price. You should consider power consumption and life span.
Decoration begins with the choice of floor
Now it’s time for the interior design. For the floor, for example, sand or gravel is suitable. Here microorganisms can settle well. With this material there is a variety of grain sizes and colours to choose from, which make the aquarium a special eye-catcher. In any case, the material should actually be suitable for aquariums. We strongly advise against plastic-coated ground surfaces. Some fish search the bottom for food and swallow grains of sand. Not seldomly the coating also comes off after a while and may be eaten. Toxic substances can quickly become dangerous. Whether you choose sand or gravel, in any case you should wash both out well before you fill the material into the aquarium to a height of about 3 to 8 cm (depending on the design). With the bottom material it is also important to think about possible plants. Not every type of gravel or sand is equally suitable for every plant. Although aquaristics is certainly a very nice hobby, you should pay attention to a few basic things in order to enjoy your usually very colourful pets for a long time.
Wood in the aquarium
Wood is a popular aquarium accessory. Basically, all non-toxic and resin-free wood species can be used for decorating the aquarium. Wood that gives off resins such as pine or fir are not suitable because of the oils they contain. Wood is a must for most L-catfish species, which graze microorganisms from the surface of the wood, in some cases even the wood itself. Here a relatively soft wood is ideal, such as our favourite Moorkian wood. The roots, which come from moors and are obtained during peat extraction, also release healthy tanning agents into the water for the catfish, thus additionally ensuring the health and well-being of the animals.
Set up aquarium with stones
Depending on which biotope you want to recreate, stones are the first choice. Whether perforated rock, large pebbles or slate – you can’t go wrong with stones from the aquarium trade. Nevertheless, stones can also have an influence on the water. So slate is not just slate. Some slate, for example, is significantly more ferrous than others, which can be seen from the ‘rust spots’ in the material. So make sure that your plants and fish are not affected by this. Before the stones are placed in the aquarium, we recommend cleaning. Since some fish like to dig, you should either place the stones directly on the ground and secure them with slate or clay slabs.
Underwater plant world
Plants offer many design possibilities and enrich the water with oxygen. It is equally important for you to know about the requirements of the plants. Plants are not a must, however, but still play an important role for many aquarium owners when setting up their aquarium.
Decorating with clay
Clay is a very popular material and, if processed correctly, is ideally suited as an aquarium accessory. Here you will find a large selection of clay decoration articles. Clay tubes, clay caves and small shelters are even essential in the breeding of catfish, cichlids, crabs and shrimps or just for the care of many aquarium inhabitants. They offer ideal natural hiding places, which is also very important for many ornamental fish species.
So if you would like to try your hand at breeding and caring for these popular fish species, sensible decorative articles made of clay should be used. Otherwise you can let your imagination run wild. Many attractive clay articles or natural materials will help you to furnish your aquarium individually.
For example, shrimp trunks in various sizes and colours, which are ideal for planting and thus increase the radius of action of your shrimp many times over.
