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Fish tank decorations and accessories are additions to your aquarium that give an aesthetic effect and help raise a fish.
If you want to know how to make your fish tank attractive this post is for you. Wisely combining the decors and accessories listed in this post, you will have a very beautiful tank.
This article lists useful accessories (Automatic and manual-driven) that could solve many of your fish-keeping problems- including feeding.
Fish Tank Accessories you need
1. Natural Driftwood
This is a widely used fish tank accessory. It makes your aquarium look natural as a real-life fish habitat. Quiet fish like hiding in driftwood pores.
Driftwood is safe for your fish. Although more treated driftwood is bought in stores, You can save costs by getting it from streams or lakes and then treating it before adding it to your aquarium to avoid adding parasites and microbes that may harm the fish.
2. Biochemical Sponge Filter
Biochemical aquarium sponge filter sifts out both microbes and floating particles to make the aquarium water better for the fish. The soft sponge material made of cotton is safe and non-toxic. The filter effectively traps excess fish food and waste, preventing water clouding. The multilayered sponge helps in heavy absorption.
Sponge filters are generally easy to set up in the fish tank clean. Good ones should fit all kinds of aquariums.
3. Multicolour Aquarium LED Light
This is just another aquarium accessory to improve the aesthetic effect of your fish tank. They usually come in three-colour modes depending on the manufacturer.
4. Electrical Semi-Automatic Aquarium Heater
The submersible aquarium heater is an aquarium accessory that maintains fish tank temperature regardless of the external weather conditions. Its temperature is adjusted by the owner and is a useful accessory for any aquarium.
5. Automatic Fish Feeder
The automatic fish feeder is very important in fish tank decorations and accessories. It does the work of giving out fish food be it granular, sticks, or flat flakes. You just set the time for feeding and it does the work. They work with a plane that adjusts to supply the needed quantity of feed.
This is the best feeding option for your fish, especially for busy owners. The building of this accessory prevents the accumulation of food in the fish tank.
6. Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Water Pump
Taking the task of keeping your aquarium clean, The vacuum water pump sucks out waste particles from the aquarium water. It has a hose, a hand pump and a nozzle that can be pointed at the base or at where impurities clog in the floor gravel. A very efficient accessory in cleaning as well as emptying the aquarium. This is a great time saver as it lessons workload.
7. Aquarium Rocks, Stone/Gravel and Sand
Fish tank pebbles, stones, and sand are very good additions to aquariums. They’re very effective when it comes to creating a naturalistic and homely feel to fish tanks making them feel like the fish’s original habitat.
Adding gravel and pebbles found in the surroundings is okay only after they’ve been sanitized against harmful microbes, if not commercial rocks are better.
Be careful of sharp stones when picking from the wild.
Some rocks have carbon contents that filter into the water, gradually making it hard. This is not bad, especially for those who use very soft water.
To test for Calcium contents in rocks, use a liquid nitrate test kit for aquariums.
8. Wild Fish Friendly Aquarium Clear Water Conditioner
Aquarium Clear Water Conditioner nullifies the effect of metals, toxins, algae, and chlorine. Made of non-harmful materials to clear water cloudiness and turbidity. It acts quickly on introduction to the tank.
What decorations to put in a fish tank?
1. Caves
Caves serve as great hiding spots for playful fish. Fish run into caves when they feel threatened or shy.
Nocturnal fish like catfish and plecos are cave dwellers coming out only when dark to feed.
So, adding caves bolsters your fish territory making them feel comfortable and secure.
2. Ruins, sunken treasure shipwrecks
Artificial Ships give comforting hideouts to prey fish ensuring security.
Ancient ruins are fish tank accessories that are nice in mermaid-background aquariums and also create hiding spots for fish.
Sunken ships create natural sea themes and fit well with most fish tank designs.
3. Bubble Makers
Bubble makers and underwater air stones are useful aquarium decorations for well-stocked fish tanks.
They give more oxygen supply to single tanks containing many active fish.
4. Fish Tank Backgrounds and Themes
Aquarium themes add to the beauty of any tank. Poster backgrounds (flat, 2D pieces pasted on tanks) and structured backgrounds (3D, textured wallpapers) make aquariums feel real to fish.
Fasten them to the tank with gel or silicone and allow for two days before adding water and fish.
Things to note when picking Fish Tank Decorations and Accessories
1. Aquarium Size
Decorations are beautiful but stuffing your tank with these is ugly. Over-stacked decorations limit space for fish movement.
Better to have one creative addition appreciated by the fish.
It’s more advisable to decorate your aquarium based on the theme in mind. Choosing accessories by themes like treasure wrecks or mermaid themes makes decoration decisions easier.
2. Height of Aquarium Decorations
Like the real seas, aquatic habitats are divided into upper, middle, and lower regions. Fish spend a good time in any of these regions, so leave good space for movement in each.
To effectively distribute space, one or two tall additions that reach the upper region (based on aquarium size) and a few short ones of about an inch or two at the bottom are okay.
Your fish will adapt better if fish tank decorations align with a kind of pattern.
3. Fish Colour
If the feel of your aquarium is a concern, you can use the color of your fish as the focal point.
Aquarium designs and decorations either counter or go well with fish color. If your fish is light-shaded and doesn’t have a strong color, dull-colored decorations are okay with them.
Your fish color should pop against decorations and background.
Generally, your decorations and accessories choice gives the aquarium its theme.
For a natural-themed effect in the fish tank, green plants add good coloring, and gravel and pebbles also complement that.
4. Fish Agility
Agile and active fish use more oxygen than less active breeds. If you have such fish, accessories like oxygen-producing bubble makers help to provide needed air to maintain an active and healthy fish.
How many decorations can you put in a fish tank?
Generally, the larger and more diverse your fish tank, the more decorations you can add. Following the rule of thumb of 25% to 35% of decorations is a good guideline to ensure a balanced and healthy environment for your fish.
In a small tank, limit the number of decorations to just a few key pieces that provide hiding spots and visual interest without taking up too much space. In larger tanks, you have more flexibility to add a variety of decorations, such as rocks, plants, and ornaments, while still maintaining open areas for swimming. It’s important to balance the aesthetic appeal with the functional needs of the fish.
How Often do you Need to Clean Aquarium Decorations?
Aquarium decorations should be cleaned once a month. This removes algae buildup, uneaten food, and other debris that can accumulate on the decorations.
During regular water changes, which are often done every two to four weeks, you can also clean the decorations. If you notice a significant buildup, it might be necessary to clean the decorations more frequently than your usual schedule.
Porous materials like driftwood may require more frequent cleaning, while non-porous decorations like plastic plants may stay cleaner for longer periods.