Pretty and Practical Aquarium Care
So you have an aquarium. The tank is clean; the water is clear and just right. You have the temperature, salinity, pH, and everything else just right. You have picked compatible fishes. They are all swimming about, unmindful of everything. Your fish are colourful and lively. You should be satisfied, but you are not. Then it strikes you: the aquarium looks too plain!
The addition of accessories to aquariums is just as popular as aquarium care, if not more so. The fish tank is meant for display so it needs to be interesting. Moreover, the fish do not seem very exciting just swimming around. This can be corrected by adding accessories to the aquarium. Even better, some accessories can help you maintain the balance of conditions inside the aquarium!
Aquarium decoration and design is immersive and entertaining. People spend large amounts of time just thinking up themes and layouts for their aquarium. They will also spend quite a bit of money buying these accessories.
Aquarium accessories are not all frivolous. Some are straightforward and are meant to do specific jobs related to aquarium care. Hydrometers measure the salinity of the water. Thermometers read temperature, and pH meters gauge the acidity or alkalinity of the water. Aquarium nets are used to catch fish during transfer operations, as well as for fishing out various objects. Aerators and aquarium filter pumps keep the water oxygenated and pull out dirt floating in the water. These single-purpose accessories were designed for maintenance, but can be set up to look nice too.
On the fun side, there are many props you can plant inside your aquarium. Aquarium plants are optional for some fish, but vital for others. Aquatic plants also come in many shapes and sizes. They provide a regulatory effect to the water’s oxygen and nitrogen levels. Plus, some fish like hiding in plants. Coral, pebbles, and sand are favourites. Coral shapes can be used to build themed structures, provide anchors for things like anemones and sea fans, and also provide hiding places for fish. Pebbles also make the aquarium landscape more interesting. Sand or fine gravel made of coral provide a base for everything.
Novelty aquarium props like underwater castles and sunken ships are also great choices. With accessories like these, an aquarium becomes a story. Imagine that the castle is inhabited by mermaids, or that the sunken ship has loads of pirate treasure hidden in its belly. Some aquarium enthusiasts have even constructed representations of the mythical city Atlantis in their fish tanks! Aquarium care can become a bit more complicated with these, but the joy and amusement you get will be worth it.
Combining the practical and the pretty can produce some very interesting results. Try piping your air pump to blow bubbles out the windows of an underwater castle prop; it will look like there are people living inside, and maximize the aeration effect by extending the time pumped air spends in the water. Another thing to try out is to disguise a thermometer as the mast of a sunken ship prop; that way you can watch the temperature without ruining the themed look of the aquarium. There are many other aquarium care tips you can do to combine practicality and looks in you aquarium. Be creative, and never forget your sense of fun!