When you hear the word “aquarium,” do you picture one lone goldfish circling around a tiny tank? Surely, all of us had this one back in the day. That goldfish was surely the favorite pet of our family and we tended to it perfectly. Roughly two decades ago, aquariums became much bigger and could fit a lot more different fishes. The development of aquaponics kits made this possible, like the ones you can see here: https://www.aquaponicsdiyer.com/aquaponics-kits/.
Also, the best combination would be to have an aquarium that consists of a couple of different species in it. At the same time, you need to be careful since there are some species that are not compatible and it can end in bloodshed, literally. Therefore, finding a perfect combination will provide you with a peaceful and proper set of fishes you will have.
These days, the sky’s the limit when it comes to aquarium design. One Australian home has a 26-foot aquarium that replaces the wall of the living with 10,000 liters of saltwater! Granted, you probably aren’t looking for anything that extravagant in your home. Does that mean you’re stuck with the same boring aquarium design you see in pet stores?
Not at all! In this post, we’ll give you some fresh ideas for creating a stunning aquarium habitat—no matter how big or small your tank is. Read on for aquascaping inspiration!
4 Amazing Aquarium Design Ideas
Here are some expert tips to take your aquarium biome to the next level.
1. Go Big (Or Go Home)
Let’s face it—there’s only so much you can do with a small aquarium. You might have chosen a smaller tank with the assumption that it’s easier to care for, but that’s not true. It looks much more impressive to see a large aquarium that has all of the additional features in it. We can see that having a large aquarium is a trend of sorts in this day and age. This trend was established a couple of decades ago and we can see that it still managed to remain relevant to this day.
Smaller aquariums (under 20 gallons) actually require more maintenance than their larger counterparts. Temperature, chemistry, and cleanliness are easier to maintain in a larger tank (50+ gallons). And since you can buy deionized Servapure water in bulk, filling your tank will be a breeze too. You only need to find a way to provide a steady supply of water and you will fill it in no time.
2. Add Plenty of Color
Now that you’ve got a bigger tank to utilize, let’s focus on aesthetics. Whether you’ve got a salt tank or freshwater, you’re not doomed to use boring gray gravel and rocks. Thankfully, there are some things you can actually do to improve this gray image into a perfect one, with a lot of different colors.
Instead, get some colorful gravel and visually interesting rocks, plastic plants, or driftwood. Add a realistic-looking rock background or some colorful artificial plants. Set up an “obstacle course” with these elements for your fish to hide in and swim around. At the same time, you can see that you will be able to use a plethora of different materials to insert in your aquarium.
It goes without saying that if you want to insert wood or a branch in your aquarium, you need to preserve it by applying some oils. The reason is that you need to provide additional protection for it since it’s going to be in the water until the day you throw the aquarium out of your room. Keep the visual intrigue going with a submersible light ornament to provide a soft, attractive glow (without disturbing your fish).
3. Create a Theme
Aquascaping is to an aquarium what landscaping is to a yard. Go Dutch-style with plenty of live freshwater plants, or go for Japanese minimalist “Iwagumi” style with sharp stones and gentle flowing features.
There’s plenty of fun decorations you can pick up at your local pet shop too. You might consider:
- Treasure chests
- Bubble makers
- Tiki statues
- Driftwood
- Caves
- Sunken ships
- Ancient ruins
Once you create a fascinating “world” inside your aquarium, you’ll enjoy endless hours watching your fish do their thing. Your aquarium can provide a whole new atmosphere to the room in question. You’ve surely seen in movies a scene where there is an aquarium that enraptures all of the room in itself. You will be able to provide your room with an atmosphere that everyone will remember. At the same time, there is almost nothing that relaxes you more than having a peaceful animal in your sight.
4. Consider Exotic Species
You’ll want to do plenty of research before you add any exotics to your tank. Still, there’s no reason you can’t enhance your aquarium with some colorful, unique species. We’ve already mentioned that you need to conduct thorough research before you can combine some of the species in your aquarium. Some of the species are not preferring to have another one in their space. So, it would be a grave mistake to do it.
For a freshwater tank, you might consider Bettas, Cichlids, or Neon Tetras. A saltwater tank will look beautiful with the addition of Mandarin Fish, Emperor Angelfish, or even a Moray Eel. So, you need to be pretty careful about the combination you are going to make. Be pretty careful during this process.
Ready to Create a Stunning Aquarium Habitat?
When it comes to interesting aquarium design, you’re only limited by your imagination! So, you are not limited at all. No seriously, there are a plethora of different elements you can combine in order to find the best possible solution. Naturally, this requires thorough research before you can make the final decision. Surely, you will be required to invest a lot of effort on your behalf and you can be sure that you will find the best possible solution.
Upgrade to a larger tank so you have more room to work with (and less maintenance). Create visual intrigue by adding brighter fish or plants—after doing research on species, of course. Finally, choose a fun theme for your aquarium’s decor to tie everything together. You will surely have a pleasant result, you can be sure of that.
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