| Now for the fun part - saltwater aquarium decorations | | | | expensive. |
| are one aspect of marine fish keeping where you can | | | | Corals and shells can also be used as saltwater |
| really allow your creativity to reign free. A variety of | | | | aquarium decorations. Always try to use those from a |
| decorations are available - from backgrounds, ceramic, | | | | natural marine source. |
| resin or plastic ornaments, real or false corals and | | | | Marbles are traditional saltwater aquarium decorations. |
| shells and even plants the sky is (well almost) the limit | | | | They can be used underwater - whole circular to flat, |
| when it comes to creating a marine world for your fish | | | | marbles and crushed glass are popular in marine tanks. |
| and other invertebrates. | | | | However marbles don't make for a good biological |
| Saltwater aquarium decorations are fun to buy | | | | substrate. They do provide fantastic color to any tank, |
| because unlike the other inhabitants of your tank they | | | | though. |
| don't require any special care! You won't need to feed | | | | Faux natural saltwater aquarium decorations are |
| them, provide special habitats and they can't get sick | | | | another way of pepping up your marine tank. You can |
| or die so they are relatively hassle free! A tank without | | | | choose from fake rocks, logs, shells, coral, ships and |
| any décor is dull but that's not all. | | | | more. Fake they might be but some look quite |
| A marine tank without any saltwater aquarium | | | | attractive when arranged properly; so don't overlook |
| decorations is not very exciting AND it can be | | | | these decorations. |
| unhealthy for your fish. Using tank décor makes it | | | | Plastic plants are another option you might want to |
| possible to break up the physical environment of the | | | | make use of for your saltwater aquarium decorations. |
| tank and is important both for the biological and | | | | You can obtain some good likenesses of marine plants |
| psycho-social well-being of the fish in your tank. This is | | | | like sagittaria-turtle grass and vallisneria-zostera for |
| because using tank decorations provides hiding places, | | | | example so don't overlook them and use them to |
| areas for food to grow on and microbe activity that | | | | supplement your real plants while they are growing. |
| keeps your tank healthy. | | | | Your choice of saltwater aquarium decorations is up |
| Add to this the fact that saltwater aquarium | | | | to you but there are some general guidelines to bear in |
| decorations are nice to look at and fun to work with | | | | mind when making a choice. |
| and you'll begin to see that décor is essential in | | | | Always make sure that your saltwater aquarium |
| any marine tank. The best way to choose your marine | | | | decorations don't have any sharp edges on which |
| tank décor is to visit a store that allows you to | | | | your fish might cut themselves. Never use any |
| see saltwater aquarium decorations in an actual tank, | | | | substances (rocks, shells etc) that might give off toxic |
| not just on a rack or a table. | | | | chemicals into the water. Choose shapes and designs |
| Some examples of saltwater aquarium decorations | | | | that make suitable hiding places for shy animals and |
| you might like to try in your marine tank are: | | | | good substrates for the growth of marine plants. |
| Belching clams and treasure chests - These are | | | | Also make sure that your saltwater aquarium |
| bubbling and air actuated action ornaments. Spacemen, | | | | decorations are very clean when you put them into |
| submarines, clams, and treasure chests are always | | | | your tank. Never use decorations from a tank where |
| firm favorites. Even a frog on a log and airstones, are | | | | the fish or plants are ill or unhealthy in any way. Make |
| fun saltwater aquarium decorations. The display should | | | | sure that there are no spaces within the decorations |
| be well lit and there should be plenty of bubbles for the | | | | where fish might get trapped and die. |
| best effect! | | | | The best saltwater aquarium decorations don't have to |
| So what other options are there for saltwater | | | | be particularly fancy. If you like spacemen and frogs |
| aquarium decorations? What about different and | | | | go ahead and decorate your tank with them - it's your |
| interesting backgrounds? You can purchase a variety | | | | tank after all. If you prefer a more elegant style |
| of backgrounds like marinescapes, paint-on materials, | | | | choose natural, rather than faux ornaments and study |
| foils, mirrors and cork stock. You can even buy an | | | | natural systems and try to duplicate some of these |
| in-tank diorama! Display the background effectively | | | | environments in your tank. |
| and choose tank décor that suits its theme. | | | | You can easily glean this kind of information from |
| Rocks are another good choice for saltwater | | | | books on marine biology or by doing some research |
| aquarium decorations. You can choose from | | | | on the World Wide Web. The more you learn the |
| sandstones, volcanic and metamorphic rock or even | | | | more accurate will be the marine world you create |
| plastic. Some rocks don't have any impact on water | | | | and this will make your fish and other invertebrates |
| quality while others improve the water quality. If you | | | | happy and healthy. The most important thing to |
| aren't sure of a certain rock, play it safe and leave it | | | | remember is to have fun with your saltwater aquarium |
| out. Try pieces of tufa, igneous, silicious/petrified | | | | decorations. |
| woods), and brackish and African Great Lakes | | | | But don't forget the health of your marine ecosystem. |
| systems calcareous "base" rock. You can usually but | | | | Try to find the proper balance between the aesthetic |
| rocks by the pound or the 'piece'. Some rock types | | | | value of your tank and the well-being of your marine |
| are natural while others are artificial. | | | | life. The only way to make sure that your stock stay |
| Driftwood is a great idea for saltwater aquarium | | | | healthy is to study, study, study the fish, invertebrates, |
| decorations. It might be self-sinking or weighted and | | | | plants and make sure you give them what they need |
| wither chemically or physically inert or live. Don't try to | | | | to survive. Good luck and enjoy your saltwater |
| cure your own woods. It's just too time consuming and | | | | aquarium decorations! |