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What You Should Know About Aquarium Decorations
Aquarium decoration is an important element in setting up an aquarium. Aquarium decorations create a stimulating environment for the fish and a refreshing spectacle for the viewer. A well-decorated aquarium will not only be better to look at, it will also be more comfortable for the fish.
There are a many different kinds of aquarium decorations. You can use whatever designs you want for your tank, just be sure you choose aquarium decorations that are not harmful to the fish - avoid water-soluble minerals, soft stones, ceramic decorations with bright glazes and plastic or rubber items not made for aquarium use.
The first thing you should establish in your aquarium is the background. If you are on a tight budget, you can use paintings or printed pictures of landscape and stick it at the back of the aquarium. If you have more money to spend, you can go for the more beautiful, more expensive, natural landscape for your background.
After establishing your background, you can now choose the little bits and pieces of aquarium decorations to place in the tank. There are ceramic and plastic aquarium decorations you can use for your aquarium. You can also use slate, granite and other inert stones to accent your aquarium. Just to be on the safe side, purchase rocks and stone from your aquarium decorations supply shop instead of just picking them yourself. There are fake rocks available in most supply shops but these are generally more expensive. Use stones to create caves for the fish.
Different woods are used as practical aquarium decorations. They are used to anchor plants in the aquarium. They also add a genuine feel to natural backgrounds. There are two types of wood used as aquarium decorations - driftwood and bog wood. Drift wood are logs found floating in freshwater or seawater. Seawater driftwoods release salt when placed in the aquarium. Freshwater driftwood releases tannic acids that alter pH. If you are thinking about using driftwoods, be sure to boil it before using.
Bogwoods are tree trunks and stumps typically found in the edges of tannin stain lakes and areas of mucky soil. They contain extremely high levels of tannic acid and lower pH to very low levels. The use of bogwoods in tropical aquariums can be beneficial for the fish since some tropical fish are used to waters rich in tannic acid. If you want to use bogwoods for you tank, boil the wood for a long period.
By John Kirkham
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