Decorating your aquarium

An aquarium in the home is designed to give pleasure and everyone has their preferences, whether to create a natural aquascaped scene or to have busty mermaids and ship wrecks is a matter of choice.

For example, some rocks may be suitable for freshwater aquariums but not salt water aquariums, same applies to petrified wood which is excellent for soft water and acidic loving fishes but not so much for hard water, alkaline loving fishes, where as sand stone rocks will be vice versa. It is advised to use rocks that don't crumble or make a mess and to consider the shape, are there any jagged edges, can the fish damage themselves?

These additions can effect the pH of your aquarium water and very rarely there may be some rocks that contain toxic metals! It is therefore important you seek proper advice from your aquatic store, as processes such as scrubbing rocks and soaking petrified wood is all part of preparation of the aquarium. 

Furthermore, in the marine aquarium live rock has become very popular, containing much beneficial bacteria as well as marine life, live rock should be held completely submerged then rotated under the water, this will expel any trapped air. Live rock has many attractions, interesting life and beneficial bacteria but be aware it can also contain pests such as zoa eating nudibranchs and other unwelcome guests you may not see!

Lastly, rocks and wood are water displacement items - remember, the more we use, the less water volume - hence it is imperative to closely monitor water parameters, using the seneye device allows some peace of mind.