This aquarium design article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Maintenance Of Fish Tank Filters“.

The best way to start off a brand new fish tank, regardless of whether it is your very first fish tank or one of many that you have around the house if to plan your aquarium design. You don’t have to be so elaborate and detailed but you do need a rough idea of what your aquarium design is eventually going to look like.

Aquarium Design Considerations

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There are a number of considerations that you do need to take into account when trying to figure out your ideal aquarium design. This includes:

• The types of fish you plan to breed.
• Do you have an overall theme that you are aiming for?
• Are you planning to have live plants?
• What type of decor do you plan to use?
• The size of the fish tank.

Jot down these considerations on a piece of paper as a guide and work your ultimate aquarium design around these factors. This will allow you the chance to adjust your plans and make changes before you make the mistake of buying items and equipment that you will not use.

The Biotope Aquarium Design

One of the most popular aquarium design which has been gaining in popularity each year is the biotope aquarium design. The aim of a biotope fish tank is to replicate as close as possible the actual ecosystem in nature within the confines of the fish tank. You can regard it as your own piece of nature in your own home, complete with the correct type of plant life, rocks and even fish.

A biotope aquarium design that is well planned and executed can be extremely impressive. It will be a better visual representation of the part of the world that is mimic and is ideal for someone who has a love for the country that the aquarium design replicates. It would be a great ideal to do a more in depth study into the type of ecosystem that you plan to replicate in order to prepare the ideal fish tank with the correct components.

Types Of Biotope Aquarium Design

To help you with your biotope aquarium design, here are a few suggestions that you could try. The end result will rely on your creative imagination.

The Amazon Aquarium Design

When well executed, this popular aquarium design will look superb. Some of the best fish that you can select for to replicate the Amazon include the Cardinal Tetra, Cory Cat, Hatchet and Ram Cichlid which can be bought from the more popular fish shops. Apart from fish, you would also need to make the right selection of plants. One which can easily be bought is the Amazon Sword plant species. Use medium sized gravel for the base and place a nice medium sized driftwood to enhance the effect.

The African Lake Aquarium Design

You may be one of the many African cichlid lovers in this country so it is only natural for you to want to give your prized cichlids a home that feels like the one they left behind. African cichlids tend to be territorial and you would want to provide them with personal places for them to hide in when they need a time out. Unlike the Amazon aquarium design, you would not be using driftwood this time. The African lake terrain in mainly rocks with caves and nooks for the fish to swim into. Also, you would not be placing any plants in the fish tank because the active African cichlids do have a tendency to uproot them. Use a rougher grade of gravel for this type of fish tank as well.

Replicate Your Own Homeland

Yes, that’s right. Why not have an aquarium design that replicates the lakes that your own native fish live in. You will definitely find many gorgeous varieties of fish from North America such as Sunfish, Shiners, Darters and Dace. The plant life will be extremely easy to buy and so too the rocks and driftwood of the exact variety that you need. Study the lakes that are near you and choose the best local aquarium design for your fish tank.

Create Your Own Biotope Aquarium

Executing a beautiful aquarium design is a challenge but it is one that is extremely fun and will provide you a conversation piece in your home that will last a lifetime.

This aquarium design article is a follow up from a previous post entitled “Using An Aquarium Sponge Filter For A Small Fish Tank“.

Using rocks in an aquarium design is a superb choice. By choosing the right kind of rocks, preparing them and then arranging them into a natural look, your aquarium will look less like a fish tank and more like the kind of environment that your fish came from. This not only makes your aquarium design look great but will also make your fish feel more relax and at home.

Your Aquarium Design Rocks

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What you need to know here is that not all rocks are created equal. You can just take any rock from beside a river or the beach and plunk it into your fish tank because it may not be suitable. You need to fish test them to ensure that they do not harm the aquatic life in your fish tank. The kind of rocks that you can safely use in your fish tank largely depends on the species of fish and plant life that you already have or are planning to breed.

If what you have is a freshwater aquarium, then the rocks you use for your aquarium design should be inert rocks. These are rocks that will not alter the chemical balance of your fish tank and is the safest choice. Some of the types of inert rocks include basalt, obsidian, coal, quartz, sandstone and shale.

If your plan is in fact to raise the pH level of your fish tank or maybe to increase the hardness of the water than you may want to select calcareous rocks for your aquarium design. These include chalk, limestone and marble. Calcareous rocks will help alter the pH level as well as water hardness without you having to resort to chemicals.

Testing Your Aquarium Design Rocks

Here is an easy way for you to test to see if the rocks that you have chosen for your aquarium design is suitable. All you need is a bucket of your fish tank water, a test kit and your rocks.

First, test and jot down the pH, hardness, nitrates and phosphates levels of your aquarium water. Next, place the rocks into the bucket of water and allow it to sit for about a week. After the week is over, test the water one more time and compare your findings. You will find a slight change in reading but if the change is not much, then the rocks should in all likelihood be safe for your fish tank and can be used in your aquarium design.

You can also do a quick test by using vinegar. All you need to do is drip a few drops of vinegar on the rocks. If there is foaming, then the rocks are calcareous and should not be used in your fish tank unless you intentionally want to alter the chemical composition of your water.

Preparing Your Aquarium Design Rocks

After selecting the right type of rocks that you plan to use in your aquarium design, before adding them into your fish tank you would need to disinfect them first. Simply put, you would need to kill off any pathogens that may be breeding on the rock surface and cracks. To do this, vigorously brush the entire rock and rinse it properly to wash off any loose particles. Do not use any detergent for this, just plain water. After that, place it under direct sunlight for a couple of days to allow the sun ultra violet light to kill off any remaining pathogens.

Rocks For Aquarium Design (Click for details)

Your rocks are now ready for your aquarium design and will make a great addition to the ecosystem in your fish tank.