Aquarium science is a very exciting affair. It happens that people are limited to a modest aquarium and a couple of goldfish. However, most often silent pets take more of our time. The aquarium is gradually becoming the central element in the interior, so it requires a lot of effort and, of course, imagination to decorate it.
The stores present a huge amount of live and artificial algae, colored stones for the bottom, shells and real sculptural compositions. Experienced aquarists prefer to do the decor for the aquarium with their own hands.
Background
The background is absolutely not important for the inhabitants of the aquarium, but for the grateful spectators a beautiful picture is far from the last meaning. She creates a certain mood and emphasizes other elements of the underwater interior.
Some experts consider the black background, which is associated with the depths of the ocean, to be the most advantageous. Bright fish on it look fresh and unusual.
You can buy the finished film at the pet store or create an original drawing and print it to order. In this case, the most important thing is to correctly apply the image on the glass. In addition, the decor for the aquarium made of PVC film has a long service life.
Coconut House
Decoration in the form of a house for fish is limited only by your imagination. Ready-made materials will help to create a true composition. Antique columns and ceramic vessels are transferred to ancient Greece, a treasure chest and a skeleton tells the story of pirates, and a funny pineapple house reminds of the funny cartoon “Sponge Bob”.
In fact, making a decor for an aquarium with your own hands is not difficult. Fish will certainly like caves made of halves of coconut. Head to the store and buy the biggest coconut. Then eat all the contents, and boil the empty shells for five minutes. If desired, additional holes can be made in the halves. The most important thing is that coconut does not violate the microflora of the reservoir, and some of its inhabitants will like its fibers.
Mysterious landscape
Another popular way of decorating is real driftwood. Such decor for the aquarium will cost absolutely free. Just while walking in the forest, look for small pieces of wood of the most bizarre shapes.
Before getting to know the fish, driftwood must go through several stages of preparation so that the substances released by them cannot tint water and upset the acid-base balance. To a greater extent this applies to branches of mountain ash and walnut.
So, bark and rot from driftwood can be removed in two proven ways: by prolonged boiling or by soaking in fresh water. Thus, you clean the surface of dirt, spores, germs, insects and bacteria.
Experts say that driftwood helps create natural conditions for fish. Very useful will be this version of the decoration for ancistruses, for which the upper layers of the branches are necessary for normal digestion.
In no case do not use coniferous trees - resin is very harmful to fish, and it is impossible to get rid of it. Oak secretes special enzymes that stain water.
Stones
Making a decor for an aquarium with your own hands does not require special skills, and the simplest material is stone. You can build a beautiful grotto, slide or cave - use aquarium silicone to hold smooth pebbles together .
Like wooden driftwood, stones need careful processing and boiling (about ten minutes). The scenery should be not only original, but also safe. Be sure to check the stones for alkali to prevent changes in the chemical balance of water.
Apply a few drops of vinegar to the surface and observe the reaction. The appearance of hissing bubbles means that limestone is present in the composition, and it is better not to use such a stone to decorate the aquarium.
Artificial elements
Novice aquarists, as a rule, make a choice in favor of beauty, rather than naturalness. Silicone decor for the aquarium looks bright, inexpensive, does not require much maintenance and is durable (according to the promises of manufacturers).
Multi-colored jellyfish, treasure divers, a water mill, corals, plants and even the marine inhabitants themselves - you can find a lot of silicone items in the pet store.
If you decide to purchase artificial jewelry, choose a reliable seller. Products made in the Middle Kingdom are notable for their low cost and dubious composition, so no one guarantees their safety.
The main advice: any decor for an aquarium requires a sense of proportion. Remember that the inhabitants of the reservoir should have enough freedom of movement. Do not overload the space for aesthetic beauty. Especially this advice applies to beginners who have not yet fully understood the rules for caring for the aquarium.