Freshwater

Chapter 5: What to Put and What Not to Put in Your Tank
Have a focal point. Try to have at least one main point of interest in
your aquascape such as an unusual, beautifully shaped rock or a stunning
plant. Group other objects around to highlight the point of interest
and guide your eye toward it naturally. Take advantage of a point of
interest by using it to tell illustrate a natural area. For example, a hollowed
out log can make a great point of interest for natural breeding if it
is surrounded by broad-leafed plants that shelter it.
Think natural. Try to use wood and stones from the same region for
aquascaping. Don’t mix apples and oranges. Keep it natural instead.
Think outside the box. Why not use aquarium-safe silicone to add small
stones to the back wall of the tank in the shape of a rock hill? (Make sure
the rocks are close together to avoid dead spots in water flow.) Let your
imagination run wild. Try turning your true creative talents into a reality
by experimenting with different techniques.
Avoid crowding. Don’t cram your tank with so much aquascaping that
food will become trapped and foul the tank. Leave enough space to
vacuum the tank as needed. Keep in mind that your plants will need to
grow as well. Leave enough room for them to flourish naturally.
Suit aquascaping to species. Some species such as many cichlids can
quickly tear up and destroy a beautifully aquascaped tank. Make sure
the plants and rocks you choose match the personality of your fish. For
example, large fish such as pacus do not seem to like large plastic
objects such as divers and will pull them up. Goldfish may eat live
plants. Plecos will dig up plants that are not buried deep in gravel.
When aquascaping, keep your fish’s natural
habitat in mind. A natural tank shows the beauty
of your fish in a better light and allows them the
freedom to act more naturally. Many native decorations
such as plants, rocks, and wood have
a lot to do with the successful spawning of
many freshwater species.
By providing natural conditions in your aquarium,
you can enjoy the environmental interactions
that make aquarium keeping so fascinating. For
The natural tank
example, a guppy weaving its way in and out of
dense plant leaves is much more exciting to
watch than an oscar trying to make lunch out of
a plastic diver’s helmet.
Providing a balanced aquatic system for your
fish shows your children basic biological principals
that they can apply to other scientific areas
in the future. The delicate balance between plant
and animal life in a freshwater tank is easily illustrated
in an aquarium ecosystem.
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