Aquarium Decorative Features And Characteristics

Rocks and gravel sold for aquarium use are generally safe and non reactive. If there are any special characteristics that aquarium rocks and gravel may impact, it is generally indicated on the packaging by reputable companies.

When decorating with rocks, make sure any structures created are stable and will not collapse. It is also recommended to use only one or two types of rock and create groupings. This will lend a natural look to the setup. Smooth pebbles in a variety of colors are available and provide a natural accent which can highlight various fish and plants.

Gravel

For planted aquariums, a size range of 2 to 5mm is ideal for most plants. In general, it is suggested to avoid very light colored substrates, as they can make fish appear less colored. If epoxy coated gravel is being used, make sure to avoid rinsing with hot water and excessively agitating when cleaning, to preserve the epoxy coating. Use the gravel to aquascape and create a depth perspective. Slope from back to front and employ some terracing to provide deeper areas. This also benefiting plants which have heavier roof networks, such as the larger Echinodorus species.

Driftwood

Commonly used in many natural type aquarium settings. Hard root wood found in pet stores is probably the safest type of wood to use. Wood is organic and can decompose. It is suggested to verify its condition if water quality problems arise. It is normal for wood to discolor aquarium water at the beginning. Pre-soaking can help reduce this phenomenon. The use of activated carbon is also effective at removing this discoloration. An excellent method of keeping driftwood clean is to keep ancistrus or placostomus species which scrape and ingest it as part of their diet.

Driftwood adds an interesting dimension to many aquariums and provides an ideal anchor for plants such as Anubias barteri, Bolbitis heudelotii, and Vesicularia dubyana.

Ornaments

Hagen provides a wide variety of safe, non-toxic, natural and artificial decorations to enhance the aquatic environment. Creating an attractive and interesting aquascape is easy and beneficial to fish, providing them with structure that supports natural behavior patterns.

Polyresin Planting Rocks

These rocks furnish a natural look while being completely non-reactive in aquarium water. Planting rocks provide an advantage in that natural plants can be conveniently moved without significantly disturbing their roof systems.

Artificial Plants

Aquariums containing fish that uproot or consume plants are ideal for artificial plants on a last case scenario. Real is much better and health but if the fish will chew on live plants, then there's nothing wrong with fake ones. Within this category there are also silk plants which feature natural looking movement. Installations including large plastic and silk plants can even be attached to rock or wood when the fish, reptiles, or amphibians being kept constantly uproot them.

Aquarium Backgrounds

Marina aquarium backgrounds are available in a variety of sizes to fit most aquarium applications. The scenery can contrast or complement most any aquarium setup, while also hiding unsightly electrical cords or hoses. Aquarium backgrounds provide the finishing touch to any decorated tank, ensuring that fish and plants look their best and feel at home.