| Decor in a fish tank is important. Some | | | | Gravel is the standard substrate in most |
| rocks change your water chemistry, and | | | | aquariums. Many people are now |
| driftwood often lowers pH and makes | | | | experimenting with sand or smaller grade |
| water tan. It all depends on what kind | | | | gravel. Most of these people keep bottom |
| of look you want, or what kind of fish | | | | feeders who are often more interested in |
| you're keeping. | | | | a softer substrate. Most upper level |
| Rocks from your yard? | | | | schooling fish don't care what the |
| Rocks for your aquarium can be tricky. | | | | substrate is (though they often show |
| You need to make sure there are no | | | | better color on a dark background.) |
| insecticides, fertilizers, or harmful | | | | Sand can be bought at most home |
| toxins in the rocks you use. Unless you | | | | improvement stores, and is fairly cheap. |
| are keeping hard water species also | | | | You only need enough to cover the bottom |
| avoid whitish, or white flecked rocks, | | | | in an 1/2" - 1". Unless you have very |
| as they have a tendency to harden water. | | | | energetic digging fish it isn't very |
| Also avoid rocks obviously laced with | | | | safe to pile it deeper, as sand makes |
| minerals or metals. Large rounded rocks | | | | anaerobic pockets if not kept mixed. |
| are best. | | | | Click here for more about sand tanks. |
| I've found great rocks at ocean beaches, | | | | Driftwood and Water |
| as the water has worn them very smooth. | | | | Driftwood is normally best bought |
| You will want to give them a good scrub, | | | | through an aquarium source. Ordinary or |
| to remove any algae or salt. You can | | | | new wood may leech toxins into the |
| also get rocks from a clean stream or | | | | water, and rot in water. The best |
| river. Freshwater rocks need to be | | | | driftwood is store bought, though some |
| boiled to remove any bacteria or | | | | driftwood from a river, or ocean can be |
| parasites before putting them in your | | | | used. It must be boiled if coming from |
| tank. Put the rock in the pot, boil it, | | | | an outdoor source. You may also want to |
| then let it cool. Abrupt changes of | | | | boil store bought driftwood, as it can |
| temperature can cause rocks to crack. | | | | stain the water tan, and soften your |
| Plants, live or plastic? | | | | water. Fish like Neons, Cardinals, and |
| Live plants can have many benefits for | | | | Harlequin Rasboras look beautiful in |
| an aquarium, but several pitfalls. They | | | | blackwater. Black water is water with |
| need lots of light, and prefer nutrient | | | | tannins, or peat used to make it darker, |
| rich water. It is sometimes hard to keep | | | | and a low pH and hardness. |
| a balance between plants, algae, and | | | | Good woods are Mopani driftwood, and |
| fertilizers. Plant Choices here. More on | | | | Malaysian Sinking driftwood. There are |
| planted Aquariums here. | | | | many sources online to get driftwood |
| Plants prefer a 3" or so bed of finer | | | | from, which is often much cheaper than |
| gravel, with either amendments, or full | | | | from a store. Click here to go to the |
| flourite, clay based gravel. Stem plants | | | | links page. |
| aren't so picky, but plants like swords | | | | Where to get decorations |
| are very particular about their | | | | Decorations are best bought at a store |
| substrate. Plants love light, so at | | | | with Aquaria Safe decorations. Avoid |
| least 2 full length stips are needed for | | | | anything very sharp or rough, as it may |
| medium light plants. More light is | | | | injure fish who brush against it. Most |
| required if your tank is deeper than | | | | plastics used in children's toys are |
| 20". Plants also appreciate the addition | | | | safe, as are unpainted Terra Cotta pots. |
| of CO2. An article on the Addition of | | | | People have been known to design their |
| CO2, can be found here. | | | | entire tank with legos. Other than that |
| Gravel or Sand? | | | | enjoy. |