People who decide to purchase aquarium fish cannot but be interested in such a question as the design of an aquarium. It is important that this item is in harmony with the interior of the room where it will stand. I would like to create a real underwater kingdom. This material Dedicated to various aspects of the aquarium design, all the nuances are highlighted.
Look at the photo of the beautiful design of the aquarium, you will need to additionally purchase lighting and a special device for enriching the water with oxygen. In order for the inhabitants of the deep sea to feel as if they are in their familiar environment, aquarium plants are necessary.
Pour soil with small pebbles at the bottom, put driftwood with shells, install locks with ships, create grottoes and make a background.
If you are just going to do aquarium hobby, then take your time to shop. First, decide what kind of fish you need. Also, focus on your own taste preferences when choosing a container for keeping fish.
Each inhabitant of the "aquarium house" requires special conditions of detention. A 100 liter aquarium, if desired, can be turned into the Kingdom of Neptune.
Learn the habits of the fish you like, especially if you want to take on more than one species. Predatory fish should not be placed in the same vessel with herbivorous fish. Check with the seller, he will tell you which species coexist peacefully.
It is believed that the mood in the aquarium sets the ground. It is multifunctional: it is used as a substrate for algae, a natural biofilter. The soil is required for the life of fish. When choosing it, one should take into account the fraction, volume and color.
Give preference to a darker tone, then the aquarium fish will not merge with the soil.
When designing an aquarium with your own hands, remember that you can only use safe materials that do not emit toxins. If you plan on choosing your own stones with driftwood, make sure that they do not release toxic toxins.
For fish, the background does not play any role, this element is of great importance to the owner. You can make any aquarium background yourself and attach it. The easiest way is to paint the back wall of the container from the outside.
Living plants are "lungs", they release oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Many fish feed on plant foods. And during spawning, algae become a temporary home for eggs. Artificial vegetation of juicy flowers looks beautiful.
The light in the aquarium is the source of life. Good lighting is a must. Manufacturers produce backlights in various color solutions. Models are fixed at the bottom and at the top.
If you haven't decided yet how to arrange a round aquarium, take a look at ready-made solutions... Shells, castles, ships are often used as decorative elements. You don't have to buy them at pet stores.
You can pick up the figurines of the divers yourself. The main thing is that they are not made of toxic materials. It is not recommended to use chipped shells: fish can get hurt.
If we consider the classic variations, then pay attention to:
Many new to hobbyist hobbyist designs are preferred. They use skulls, amphorae and other elements as decoration. The principles stated above are not followed.
For a child, you can purchase a colorful children's aquarium. It should not be placed in the nursery, filtration and aeration make noise during operation, and therefore can wake up the baby.
The special prefix "pseudo" makes it clear that the entourage is created in order to imitate a marine aquarium, where brightly colored fish are inhabited. Corals, large shells and polyps are placed in the aquarium.
Aquarium in modern interior can be designed taking into account the natural habitat of fish. This is the so-called "light version" of the Dutch aquarium. Algae, stones and driftwood are placed in the vessel. The aquarist doesn't need to know everything about plants. It is enough if he provides them with simple care.
As for the natural aquarium, its main feature is the densely planted vegetation. To create an aquascape, you need to study the life of underwater plants. The algae need to be fed and it is also important to use the CO2 system correctly.
A themed aquarium gives you the opportunity to realize your dreams or fantasies. Create an underwater world with a sunken ship or Neptune's underwater palace in the background.
Glo Aquarium is a fashionable novelty. Everything shimmers in the reservoir, it looks great at any time of the day. Fluorescent live fish live in them.
The saltwater aquarium is intended for keeping saltwater fish. The marine theme always looks advantageous. However, the reservoir itself and its arrangement are expensive.
This aquarium contains exclusively fish of the cichloid family. The peaceful cichdids include scalars, parrots pelmatochromis, labidochromis ellou. But mostly cichlids are wayward predators, and do not forget about this. You should not buy many fish in one aquarium. Cichlids grow rapidly, and adult scalars have a wingspan of up to 15 cm.
An aquarium for African cichlids is a stone desert where they place artificial plants... This arrangement resembles a natural habitat.
If you want to create an underwater garden where cichlids live, choose apistogram or parrot pelvic. When scalars live in an aquarium, the zoning of the territory is simply necessary: the fish often fight.
Increasingly, most people around the world are starting to get involved in the aquarium hobby. And this is not at all surprising, because thanks to this passion and the implementation of a few simple actions, you can create in your room a real corner of wildlife that will bring joy and give a great mood, both to its owner and to his guests. And in today's article we will take a closer look at how you can design an artificial reservoir for 200 liters.
As a rule, before thinking about creating a magnificent and intriguing room in your room. underwater world, it is necessary to decide in advance on its form. After all, it largely depends on her how harmoniously it will be combined with the interior of the room. So, an aquarium of 200 liters can be:
It is also worth considering that an artificial reservoir of 200 liters has an impressive weight. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a special stand for it.
First of all, I would like to note that in many respects should take into account not only the interior interior of the room, but also certain features of its inhabitants. So, discus prefer the presence of pebbles as a soil and the presence of small snags. Others need dense vegetation and live rocks. Therefore, we will consider several ways to decorate a vessel designed for 200 liters.
This design is perfect for aquarists who want to recreate a piece of the seascape in their room. In addition, the pseudomore style is ideal for calm and peaceful fish. So what does it take to do it? First of all, a pleasant and calm background is selected for the 200 liter aquarium. For this purpose, both photos with corals and drawings that depict water can be suitable. After that, the turn comes to the choice of lighting.
For this purpose, you can apply:
Important! Many inhabitants of the aquarium, such as discus or guar, react differently to the intensity of light.
It is recommended to decorate the bottom with stones. Tuff stones are best suited for this style. Also, we must not forget about the indispensable attribute of such a design as corals. Of course, you can use the design in the style of a pseudo-sea without stones, as shown in the photo, but then you can forget about creating such beautiful decorative structures as coral slides.
As for the fish, they are populated, as mentioned above, mainly peaceful and calm species. For example, discus, panaki, cichlids.
But before settling 200 liters of its future inhabitants into the aquarium, it is necessary to take into account a ratio equal to 7 liters per individual. This is necessary in order to avoid territorial overpopulation.
In most cases, such a design, the photo of which can be seen below, is distinguished by non-standard decorative elements that bring brightness to the underwater world of the aquarium. So, first of all, the advantages of this style include:
So, the first step is to add aquarium gravel. This choice is due to the fact that not only cichlids, but also other fish feel more comfortable with such soil. Then you can add artificial plants such as Javanese moss driftwood. Next, we decorate the back. Plants are perfect for this purpose. big size, forming in the viewer the concept of the height of the vessel, but without imposing the depth of perception. Further, if desired, you can again add a little gravel to the sides of the vessel with planting red plants. 
This design allows you to maximize your imagination and translate any idea into reality. So, if you wish, you can create a fabulous meadow, the gloomy castle of Count Dracula, or even a flooded Atlantis. Various options decor can be seen in the photo below.
So, for this style, you can use ceramics, imitating both various sculptural works and models of sunken vessels. It is worth emphasizing that such decorative elements will not harm the rest of the inhabitants of the artificial reservoir, but, on the contrary, will serve as good shelters. For example, discus, in case of danger, will be able to hide their fry in them. 
But it is worth noting that before creating such a design, it is necessary to determine the size of the decorative elements of vegetation and, of course, fish.
As a rule, discus, gourami, scalar and other types of fish feel most comfortable in artificial reservoirs with conditions that match their natural habitat as much as possible.That is why decoration in this style is not only a real art, but also vital for all inhabitants of the vessel. ... But it is worth noting that in order to create such a design, you will have to work a lot.
So, first of all, it is necessary to select for him both vegetation and fish that will feel comfortable in the reproduced landscape. For example, when planning a vessel containing discus, it is necessary not only to constantly maintain the required temperature, but also not to forget about the presence at the bottom of the aquarium of a large number of small branches and leaves, among which the discus live in their natural habitat.
In order for the decoration of an artificial reservoir to go as planned, you need to remember some simple rules for decoration. So, it is not recommended to overload the aquarium with decor or leave too much empty space. In addition, do not forget about the simplicity and ease of subsequent maintenance of the vessel. That's why ideal option will be the use of collapsible structures. Also, if there are fish in the aquarium that love to bury themselves in the ground, then it is forbidden to use large pebbles as it. The best choice will become the use of sand or 1-3 mm. soil.
Any interior will be decorated with a well-groomed and original aquarium... The design of this aquatic environment has evolved so much that it has become a separate type of decoration called aquascape. Various elements are used in it, for example, algae and stones, driftwood and special figures. Before you start decorating your home aquarium, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the various decorating styles in order to choose the most suitable one.
There are many areas of aquascaping that you should familiarize yourself with before setting up an aquarium. The aquarium design has several fashionable styles, some of which are already called classic. These areas include the following:
The culture of Asia, Europe and America has been reincarnated in incredibly spectacular freshwater aquarium designs. At first glance, it is impossible to repeat such landscape masterpieces with your own hands, but if you look closely, you can find interesting techniques and individual details that can help an inexperienced person arrange a home aquarium on their own.
The depth of perspective and uncomplicated realism inherent in the paintings of famous Dutch painters, the designers brought to the world of aquarium hobby. Many different plants are used to create a Dutch style aquarium, which differ from each other in color and size.
In this case, tall algae with lush filamentous or small leaves are placed in the background. Shoots decorated with large foliage are planted in the middle. And the lowest bushes, along with those plants that imitate grass, are placed in front. This technique allows you to create the feeling of a deep landscape, consisting of several tiers.
Green algae of various shades, as well as brown, red and yellow algae are planted. Place them so that each plant occupies about 10 square centimeters of soil. This planting is considered dense, but at the same time it allows the algae to actively develop, forming the famous green landscape of the Netherlands.
If you place small bright fish in this living work of art, and with the help of lighting create the effect of oblique rays of the sun falling on some area of greenery, then a masterpiece created with your own hands will not yield to designer aquariums in beauty.
A Dutch-style aquatic environment requires constant care, which consists of the following:
You can decorate with such an aquarium an interior in the style modern classics, which contains elements of modernism. In addition, it will perfectly fit into a room decorated in eco-style.
The collection style is considered a beginner's style The originality of the collection aqua design lies in the peculiar charm of chaos. Some believe that this style was invented especially for beginners who, due to lack of experience, find it difficult to set up an aquarium.
The basis of this type of aquascape is the use of a large number of different algae, for example, to design an aquarium with a volume of fifty liters, at least fifteen pieces of plants are needed. As they grow, they crowd each other, creating an underwater neglected English garden. To make the landscape spectacular, high algae are combined with low ones. In addition, in this design, you can successfully combine plants with foliage of contrasting shades.
The undoubted advantage of this decor is its simplicity. But its versatility should also be noted, because an artificial reservoir with a collection landscape will perfectly fit both ethno interior and classic or Scandinavian style.
When decorating an aquarium in a pseudo-natural style, picturesque corners of nature are recreated under water. In the process, different decorations are used that imitate:
The designer must achieve a sense of the reality of the landscape, but at the same time add a little fantasy to it. An underwater sandy waterfall will add special effect to such a landscape. A special pump will help to create it, which blows out fine white sand. Gliding along the mountain slope, this sand creates a kind of jets.
When decorating an artificial reservoir in this style, you need to take into account that it will not work for a classic, modernist or art deco interior. But it will perfectly fit into an apartment decorated in a nautical design direction, pop art or safari.
Beautiful design in the design of the aquarium will create a wonderful mood for its owners In some interiors, it is very difficult to fit an aquarium harmoniously. These include industrial styles, that is, loft and high-tech, and Japanese minimalism. Nevertheless, it was in Japan that designers found inspiration for a new direction in aquascaping. They were the principles of Iwagumi aesthetics, in other words, the art of creating empty space, which is filled with philosophy.
It takes very little to turn a simple aquarium into a Japanese rock garden:
The most important role in this design is played by stones. You need to take three or four stones:
There is no need to use real stones. They can be successfully replaced with special layouts created for Japanese compositions. In addition, Japanese minimalism in aquascaping is expressed in stone landscapes with stunted plants that are carpeted over individual areas of the ground.
Vivid animated landscapes of cartoons about Nemo and the Little Mermaid presented new ideas to aquarium designers. The fabulous scenes recreated in the design of the aquatic environment come to life with real fish and algae.
To design an aquarium in this style, you need to choose brightly colored fish, the most bizarre shells, as well as grottoes, neon corals and treasures. You can supplement the whimsical fairy-tale world of the underwater kingdom with small algae.
Any child will be happy with such an aquarium. Especially if its decor is based on the kid's favorite cartoon.
Aquarium design can be customized with a wide variety of accessories There are many accessories for decorating your aquarium. For design, both purchased models of mountains or castles are suitable, as well as natural stones, driftwood and seashells. But it must be borne in mind that in no case should any decor you like be placed in the reservoir without preliminary processing, with the exception of the decorative background, which is placed behind the back wall of the container.
The foil that creates the background is attached from the outside to the back wall. Ideally, the design of the aquatic environment should gradually transition into the background. This makes the aquarium a kind of small world, complete with composition.
On sale you can find stickers with cartoon scenes, as well as backgrounds for decorating the aquarium in the Japanese and Dutch style. You can purchase special kits that come with a variety of layouts to match the style.
The decorative backdrop can be attached from the outside to the back of the aquarium You can purchase a volumetric background. It is also attached to the wall, but from the inside. Using it, you need to understand that this decoration can be dangerous for small inhabitants. If the background for some reason separates from the glass, then small fish, swimming behind it, will not be able to free themselves on their own.
All aquascape mockups are made from synthetic resins. Before placing them in an aquatic environment, it is necessary to carry out processing, the stages of which are described in the instructions attached to each item. In the aquarium, the decor is attached to the bottom and walls with silicone glue, creating the foundation of the landscape.
Driftwood has always been a fashionable element in aquarium design. They are used to simulate roots, tree trunks and even mountain slopes. Most often they are used not as an independent object, but as a basis for moss. The moss is tied tightly to the snag with a fishing line, allowing it to grow and form thickets of grass or tree crowns.
Driftwood is one of the trendiest elements in aquarium design Store-bought driftwood should be boiled for two hours before being placed in water. But when choosing a decor in the forest, you need to take into account that the wood should not be coniferous and oak. It is better to choose dead roots and branches, as they no longer produce sap and resin. The safest is the white driftwood, which can be found on the coast of the sea or river. This tree must be strong, and therefore you need to make sure that it does not crumble.
Before using the found driftwood, you should also boil it. It will take a long time to do this, regularly changing the water until it stops staining. After that, boiling is carried out in salt water and again in fresh water. This procedure will make it possible to protect the aquatic environment from the harmful effects of the new decor. To prevent the tree from floating up, it is fixed with silicone glue.
Without a doubt, natural stones look much better than a dummy, but it should be borne in mind that not all minerals are suitable for decorating an aquarium. The selected stone must be thoroughly washed and boiled. After that, vinegar should be dripped on it. If the acid starts to fizzle, it means that the mineral contains lime, which is harmful to fish and algae.
It is best to choose stones such as:
In addition, you can purchase ready-made stone décor. Before using minerals in the design of the aquarium, they must be cleaned with a brush with stiff bristles and doused with boiling water.
When forming a composition, one should take into account the preferences of those who will inhabit the reservoir. For example, shrimp like small caves, while cyclides prefer sandstone grottoes. To prevent the mainsail from collapsing, the stones must be glued together with silicone.
For the inexperienced aquarist, it is best to choose a ready-made substrate. But even in this case, when choosing it, you need to take into account many factors. These include:
The seller can help you find the right soil. To do this, you need to describe to him what algae you plan to plant, as well as what fish will live in the aquarium.
The soil in the aquarium must be selected from what plants are planned for planting. No decor will make an aquarium beautiful if it does not contain plants and animals. But in order for the underwater flora and fauna to be comfortable in the reservoir, it is necessary to create their habitat in a certain sequence:
The last two steps are repeated until the end of the vertical gardening. When it's finished, all that remains is to fill the aquarium with water and connect the equipment. It is very important to immediately apply carbon dioxide to the aquatic environment, since it helps the plant to take root faster and grow actively. After the plants have taken root, animals can be introduced into the aquarium.
It is quite possible to make an artificial reservoir correctly with your own hands, but before you start decorating, you need to choose the most suitable aquasape style so that the interior does not contrast with the aquarium. But the water environment, beautifully designed and harmoniously combined with the decor of the room, will become a real decoration of the room.
AQUARIUM DECORATION
The design of the aquarium is a worthy and fertile topic of conversation. This is not surprising, because this is the primary question that people who have just bought an aquarium ask themselves.
Unfortunately, on the Internet this issue is, surprisingly, poorly covered, briefly or sketchy. We hope this article will reveal all the aspects and nuances of aquarium design and help you create your own aquarium kingdom.
The soil is one of the most important elements of the aquarium, it is its mood. It is very important to approach the issue of its choice with special attention, because in addition to decorative functions, the soil plays the role of: a substrate for plants, for spawning and life of fish. It is important to select the desired soil fraction, it is important to select the required volume of soil, and only then the color of the soil. There is a good article on the selection and selection of soil on our website, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with - HERE.Speaking about the decorative properties of the soil, it is recommended to choose the soil of darker tones, so that the bright and light colors of the aquarium bottom do not overshadow the charm and beauty of the "main heroes of the occasion" - the fish. 
DECORATION OF THE AQUARIUM WITH STONES AND GROTTHS. An important technical nuance when decorating an aquarium with stones, grottoes, caves, etc. is the use of non-toxic, non-toxic materials. If stones, driftwood are selected and made independently, you need to do everything according to the rules and make sure that they do not emit harmful substances into the water. Certainly, the decorations should not be made of limestone, rubber and metal, no paints and enamels !!!
Speaking about the aesthetic part of the design of the reservoir, you should always remember that stones, grottoes, driftwood are taken from the aquarium. " useful area"- living space. The amount of such decor is calculated based on the volume of the aquarium and the needs of the fish themselves. In addition, it should be borne in mind that large decorative elements are installed at the edges of the aquarium or in the background. Don't put a huge lock in the middle !!! This is the same as if people put the refrigerator in the middle of the kitchen instead of in the corner. The aquarium is the amphitheater of life!
DECORATION OF THE AQUARIUM WITH THE BACKGROUND. The background of the aquarium is not so important for the aquarium inhabitants themselves. In fact, fish can live without it. The background is more important for a person, one might say - these are “aquarium curtains”, which play more an aesthetic role than a technical one.
For information on what kind of aquarium backgrounds are, how to make and attach them, see HERE.
DECORATION OF THE AQUARIUM WITH LIVE AND ARTIFICIAL PLANTS.
Continuing to use metaphors, we can say that if the background of the aquarium is "curtains", then the plants are "indoor flowers on the windowsill." What they will be, how many will be, depends on how your aquarium "window" will look. We recommend that you watch a great article on this topic - HERE.
LIGHTING OF THE AQUARIUM
The power and spectrum of light is important for aquarium plants - it is their source of life. When talking about aquarium design, the color of the light is important. Today there is a huge variety of colors for aquarium lamps. Choose to taste! Moreover, there are various aquarium bottom lights in the form of volcanoes, lanterns and LED aerators. Here they are.
DECORATION OF THE AQUARIUM WITH A DIFFERENT DECOR. 
Aquariums can be decorated with shells, castles, ships, figurines of divers, skulls, etc. At the same time, it is not necessary to buy all this in a pet store at a frantic price. When using such decorations, you need to adhere to only two rules: non-toxicity and safety. The shells should not be sharp, and the figurines of divers should not be made of rubber. See also article Seashells in the aquarium.
MAIN DIRECTIONS, TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF AQUARIUM DESIGN
The classic design options for a fish tank are:
Biotope- such an aquarium is designed for a specific aquatic landscape of a lake or stream.
Dutch- an aquarium, the main place in which is reserved for plants. Such an aquarium is popularly called "herbalist". The most famous Dutch aquariums are created by the mega aquarist Takashi Amano, here are his works:
Geographical- such an aquarium is designed for a specific region, it contains fish only from this region.
In the vastness of our Motherland, most often you can find "Household aquarium"- where the above principles are not followed. In such aquariums, you can often find castles, amphorae, the same divers, skulls and so on, so on, so on. In addition, there is a whole industry children's aquariums... Here's an example: 
There are other directions in the design of the aquarium.
As they say, how many people have so many opinions.
Next, let's clearly see the design options for the aquarium.
Pseudo-sea aquariums Such aquariums are designed and mimic marine aquariums - the seabed. The prefix "pseudo" means that such a body of water does not contain sea fish. Only entourage is created!
As a rule, fish of a bright color are selected in such an aquarium, which cichlids often have, for example, elow, demanosi, parrots, etc. The aquarium itself is decorated with corals, artificial polyps and sea shells. 
Dutch aquarium "light version" Aquarium close to the natural habitat of fish. It contains live aquarium plants, driftwood, stones, but "in a lightweight form." Such aquariums do not require any special knowledge of plant life from the aquarist. Elementary care for them is the key to success and achievement of the set goals. 
Truly Dutch aquarium - herbalist These are densely planted aquariums. Fully imitating all the beauty of freshwater reservoirs. To create such an aquarium, you need knowledge about plants, you need to study the issue of feeding aquarium plants and applying the CO2 system to the aquarium. 
Household, children's, themed aquarium Such aquariums are designed for a specific idea. As a rule, this is fiction and fantasy of a person. 
Futuristic aquariums or Glo aquariums More recently, the fashion for the creation of Glo-ponds has entered the aquarist. Where everything glows with neon and plays with phosphorus. There are even fluorescent live fish. Such aquariums look beautiful in the evening and at night. More about Glo-fish is here.
Marine aquariums These are aquariums that contain saltwater fish. The aquarium is imbued with a marine theme. The disadvantage of such reservoirs is the price and the huge cost of maintenance. 
Cichlidnik A species aquarium that contains only fish of the cichlid family.
Look CICHLIDNIK - cichlids in the aquarium 
There are also industrial and show aquariums 
We wish you success in the design and creation of your individual aquarium kingdom, below are additionally presented a photo clearly showing all the diversity and flight of the aquarium thought in the illuminated issue. 
Video about the design of the aquarium
Nowadays, a beautiful and fashionable design of an aquarium for a person engaged in keeping and breeding fish is not just entertainment, but a matter of prestige and simply aesthetic pleasure from contemplating the results of their labors.
Psychologists say that an aquarium with fish in an apartment is able to calm the nerves and normalize mental condition person. To do this, it is enough to simply organize a recreation area with an aquarium and watch the fish for at least 30-60 minutes. in a day.
The most exciting and time-consuming activity for all of us in the process of installing and filling an aquarium tank is its correct and beautiful design in the same style as the design of the room.
Today, there are a huge number of accessories that can be placed in an aquarium. Do-it-yourself design will allow you to recreate in it exactly the environment that you want to see there as accurately as possible. Just do not forget that the main inhabitants of the aquarium are fish. And they need the maximum amount free space in order to be able to swim freely.
The main components that allow you to design an aquarium (200 liters and all others) are:
Let's take a look at the following steps and examples of aquarium design:
Each of them has its own specific rules, which will be described below.
Soil for the aquarium bottom is one of the main and integral attributes. Before purchasing it in a specialized store, decide what kind of aquarium you want to have, since this natural material must be bought according to a specific goal. Yes, you heard right: a certain type of soil is taken for each target.
So, if small fish will live in your aquarium, then it is best to buy a small type of soil, and coarse-grained or mixed is suitable for large inhabitants of the tank. A similar approach is acceptable when you decide to equip a Dutch-style aquarium in your home, that is, a tank in which plants, rather than fish, predominate.
In addition, when choosing a bottom cover, you must take into account the individual habits of your chosen exotic aquarium fish. If you have purchased goldfish or certain varieties of catfish, then you must remember that they are very fond of digging in the ground. Therefore, you cannot buy small soil for them, otherwise there will always be fog in the aquarium. To avoid this, it is necessary to purchase a bottom cover of such a size that they cannot dig it.
It is best to buy a solid color aquarium cover. It is best to choose a dark colored bottom base as it will make your fish house stand out.
Before placing the purchased soil in the aquarium, it must be thoroughly rinsed or, ideally, doused with boiling water.
How is an aquarium decorated with stones and grottoes? These items chosen for decoration must only be made from natural, natural materials... They should not contain harmful or toxic impurities that, if released into the water, can lead to the death of the inhabitants of the aquarium.
In the case of self-collection of decorative elements in an aquarium, do-it-yourself decoration is carried out only after preliminary processing of all previously collected material in order to disinfect and check for the absence of all elements harmful to the health of the inhabitants of this tank.
Rocks can be processed in the same way as aquarium bottom soil, but driftwood pre-processing is a little more complicated. To do this, place the selected wooden decor in a container with water (so that the liquid completely covers it) and add salt there until it stops dissolving, then remove the treated snag and rinse it clean water, place in the purchased fish tank.
Do not forget that in no case should there be elements of limestone, rubber, various types of metals, as well as elements coated with paint or enamel in the aquarium.
Also, do not oversaturate the aquarium with decor, especially with large elements, such as stones, grottoes, etc., since this leads to a decrease in the useful internal space necessary for underwater inhabitants for their vital movement.
Do not forget that large-sized decorative elements must be placed in the corners of the container or in the background, so as not to spoil the whole appearance.
The so-called background is an important element of the aquarium decor. Since the background coating sets the mood for your whole brainchild, you should not choose dark and gloomy tones that carry the spirit of despondency and sadness.
There are several options for aquarium backgrounds:
Such a film can be attached both from the outside and from the inside of the back wall. If you want more saturated colors, then, of course, it is better to stick it from the inside.
Before applying the film, make sure that the surface of the inner wall of the back of the aquarium is completely dry (to avoid the appearance of pimples). Treat the purchased film around the entire perimeter with a special transparent silicone sealant purchased in advance from a pet store. Never use a conventional sealant, as the consequences of its use can be irreparable for the aquarium inhabitants.
If you decide to stick the film inside the aquarium, then you should not spare the silicone: it is better to smear the film very carefully, especially its upper edge, in order to avoid the possibility of it peeling off. After fixing, wait until the material is completely dry, and only then fill the reservoir with water.
If you purchased an aquarium and are engaged in its design, then do not forget about purchasing and planting various types of algae. There is no need to oversaturate the container with them, but you cannot do without them either, since they saturate the water with oxygen and are food for some species of fish.
They also act as a "nursery" for newly born fish, because only by hiding in the algae, they can survive, because among many fish species it is common to eat their fry. Those species of fish that lay eggs hide them on or under the sheets of algae.
Before purchasing aquarium plants, it is best to consult with the seller at the pet store, he will help you choose the perfect plants, and also tell you how to properly plant them in the aquarium so that they delight your eyes for a long time.
In any case, there are varieties of aquatic vegetation that do not require planting in the ground. For all others, the soil thickness should not exceed 3-5 cm, and it is recommended to choose medium or large grains. It is this size of soil that will speed up the process of full rooting of plants. A newly planted plant can be lightly pressed with pebbles or other decorative elements. Moreover, its roots should be in a straightened state.
If you decide to decorate the purchased aquarium with your own hands, then do not forget about the correct lighting, because not only the appearance of the tank depends on it, but also the health of its inhabitants, since the strength of the luminous flux and its spectrum are vital for plants.
Today there is a huge number of different backlights, both external and fully adapted for work under water, so that everyone can find the option that suits him. To help the novice aquarist, many different manuals have been published that help to correctly and quickly arrange an aquarium. The photos below will help make this process as simple and easy as possible.
When decorating an aquarium using decorative elements, you must remember that they must be environmentally friendly and not have harmful impurities, and in no case should the aquarium be oversaturated with them.
You can use either purchased or self-made decor.
Today there are different styles decoration of aquariums. All of them are very richly presented in pictures and photographs posted in our article and in various books devoted to the aquarium business. Also in Russia they can be seen in dolphinariums. Among them, the following aquarium design options stand out:
The design of a corner aquarium is carried out according to the same principles as for all others. A variety of different types and styles of work by experts in the aquarium business, known all over the world, will help you in this difficult task. We hope that the recommendations given in this article will help you get a clear idea of the future interior decoration of the fish house. In addition, the photos offered by us will help to correctly and beautifully decorate the aquarium. They will serve as an excellent visual aid.
After buying an aquarium, the first step is the question of how best to decorate the aquarium. Creating a stunning design requires imagination, careful planning, diligence and, of course, the desire to create a miracle. I will give examples of aquarium decoration, I will tell you about styles, materials and ladies useful tips who can help you in the future. Wish your beautifully decorated aquarium becomes the center of everyone's attention!
Previously, in the early days of aquarium hobby, there was no suitable equipment and specific information about the design of the aquarium. Most kept their fish in ordinary jars, not even dreaming about more. But time passed and everything changed. Peace modern technologies brought automation and new trends in fashion. A whole trend in the design of aquariums has appeared, called aquascape... Now in the container you can recreate any natural environment, landscape, even fantastic. It all depends on the idea and the right material.
Let's talk a little about design styles. There are many of them in the world of design art, and each is unique in some way. Let's consider only the main ones.
The Dutch style is based on lush and dense thickets. About 12 plant species are involved in its formation. For depth of perception, stem plants selected for color, texture and growth rate are planted in groups from back to front. A Dutch-style aquarium needs careful maintenance: periodic plant pruning, supply of carbon dioxide, the correct selection of fish and abundant plant bait.
Everything is clear here, nature and everything connected with it. It can be a mountain landscape, forest, field, lake or ocean. In creating a natural style, special emphasis is placed on the asymmetry of forms only for natural materials and living plants (about 5 species).
Quite a difficult style to reproduce. Its main features are correctly positioned stones of similar textures and shapes in a large open space.
A pseudo-natural aquarium design is available even for a beginner. Fast and inexpensive. The aquarium contains ordinary soil, plants and fish. Either sunlight or weak fluorescent lamps is used as lighting. No carbon dioxide supply.
Pseudo-sea aquariums were invented by lovers of seascapes. The design is as close as possible to the seabed (corals, shells and other attributes), but freshwater fish live in a pseudo-sea aquarium.
This style is also suitable for novice aquarists. Its essence lies in combining a large number of different types of plants, from 15 and more. If in the Dutch style the plants are planted in groups, then in the collector style everything is possible. Any variation in size and shape is welcome.
So, before proceeding with the design, decide which fish will live in it. After all, each needs its own individual characteristics of the content. And it is with this that you need to reckon with, and start from here. It is better to once again familiarize yourself with the habitat and preferences of future residents than to redo everything again later. Home furnishing materials can be varied. The main technical nuance of all materials is non-toxicity. Let's take a look at some of them.
Quite an important element in the decoration of the aquarium is stones. They not only decorate, hide the installed technical means from prying eyes, but also serve as a shelter and substrate for some spawning fish. The following stones are suitable for aquariums: granite, basalt, gneiss, porphyry. It is better not to use dolomite, limestone, sandstone in the design. They are only suitable for hard water aquariums. Good samples of stones can be found on the shores of lakes and rivers.
Before laying stones, rinse thoroughly and boil. Be sure to check for lime and metal impurities. To test a stone, just drip vinegar on it. If it hisses, then the composition contains calcium carbonate contained in limestone. After checking, the stones are thoroughly washed again. If you don't have the time and desire to tinker with the processing of stones, you can purchase them at a pet store.
You do not need to put stones with sharp edges in the aquarium. This can cause injury to your fish.
All large stones and structures are placed on the bottom before filling the soil. To avoid damage to the bottom, it is recommended to place plastic sheets under large stones. Large decorative elements are best placed in the background or on the sides. You should not put a cobblestone in the center, which will only take away precious area. Vertical stone slabs can be stabilized with silicone rubber adhesive.
If the stones are small, they can be placed on the ground itself. But at the same time it is worth remembering that the fish, undermining the ground, can be crushed by this stone. Basically, this type of decor is placed close to the walls of the aquarium or at a sufficient distance from them so that the inhabitants of the aquarium do not get stuck. With the help of a sealant from stones, you can create various stepped compositions, bizarre caves.
Laying the soil is the next step in setting up your aquarium. The soil is an important element of the decor. In addition to the aesthetic function, it serves as a substrate for plants, spawning and fish life. Having selected the required fraction, volume, you can proceed to the choice of color. Here, as your heart desires.
The soil can either fully correspond to the color scheme of the aquarium, or it can be radically different. When buying from a pet store, pay attention to what it is painted with. After all, paint can dissolve in water over time.
Most the best soil- it is natural, not colored by anything. Heaters or bottom filters should be installed prior to backfilling. In places where plants will grow, a nutrient substrate is poured. High bottom relief can be created with terraces.
Natural boundaries for the inhabitants of the aquarium can be created by placing wooden elements on the bottom. The specific texture of the wood will blend in beautifully with the underwater landscape of the aquarium. Moss or other plants can be attached to the driftwood.
Can be used:
Can not use:
The tree is cleaned of dirt and bark. To reduce the buoyancy of the driftwood, boil with salt for more than an hour, wash and leave to lie in cold water... The water is periodically changed to fresh. After that, you can proceed to the design.
River and seashells, of course, look natural and beautiful. But before you put them in the aquarium, they need to be processed. Small shells are thoroughly washed with water, and large shells are boiled for at least 30 minutes. You do not need to put a shell treated with varnish or other protective material... To avoid injury to fish, it is best not to choose specimens with sharp edges. Remember that shells and corals increase the hardness of the water.
The bottom of the aquarium can be decorated with an old castle, a sunken ship or a chest with colorful stones. Decorations can be very diverse. Glass vessels, ceramic or clay pots, or any other design. Plants growing in pots look original. You can diversify the color scheme of the aquarium by installing a bottom aquarium lighting in the form of a volcano.
Pet shops are full of an abundance and variety of artificial plants for the aquarium. You can buy everything here. In terms of biological properties, artificial plants, of course, are inferior to natural ones. But with the help of them, even a beginner can decorate the aquarium quite quickly and in an original way. In addition, artificial plants have many advantages:
The decorative design of the background is started first. This is usually the back wall. Two side walls can also be decorated. It all depends on the desire and the initial idea.
For the background, you can use sheet backdrops printed on durable film. Wall murals of different themes, colors, shades are sold in meters of different widths. Better to take with a margin of a few centimeters.
Fastened, as a rule, from the outside. If the base is thin, then you can simply moisten with water and smooth out thoroughly. If you plan to change the background often, it is better to use scotch tape. If desired, wallpaper for an aquarium can be glued on the inside with a special sealant designed for this. But here there are certain inconveniences - the film, no matter how you stick it hermetically, will peel off in water.
You can add volume to the back wall using a relief background. Recently, it has gained a lot of popularity. The price for it is quite high, but it is still in great demand among aquarists. Attached to the inside of the aquarium with silicone glue.
Stones or cork tiles can be used as a background.
The easiest way is to paint with paint. And anyone can. Since you will be painting the outside of the aquarium, it will in no way affect the quality of the water and the health of the fish. But this method has its drawback. If you decide to redo something in the background design, then after painting it will be more difficult to do it.
What else you need to know about the aquarium:
A beautiful and mesmerizing sight will become the highlight of any aquarium. Before decorating, it is better to immediately write down all your wishes on a sheet of paper, draw detailed drawing, decide what height and where the underwater waterfall will be.
Sand will play the role of falling water. Only a very fine and clean one will do for a good visual effect. Here you will need to experiment with the selection. You will also need a tube with a spray. The waterfall will operate on the principle of injection. Air bubbles rise upward. From the pressure, small grains of sand are drawn into the tube and, rising up, fall. In order not to form a pile of crumbling sand, it is necessary to experimentally select the amount of material, air pressure and the diameter of the holes of the underwater waterfall.
Whatever theme and style of aquarium decoration you choose, the main thing is that the reservoir is comfortable for the life of its future inhabitants. All decorations must be made of durable and non-toxic materials. It is the fish that will be in the spotlight, and all other decorative attributes are only a harmonious addition to the interior, which should fade into the background. I wish you success in the design and creation of your individual underwater kingdom!
AQUARIUM DESIGN - ORDER IN CHAOS!
Aquascaping rules when building an aquarium composition design:
golden ratio, Fibonacci series, fractality of nature.
Many regular readers and forum users of FanFishka.ru know that recently I finally launched my Aman herbalist.
The motivation for creating such beauty at home was the desire to prove that Amano's aquarium is "tough" for everyone, that it is real, that it is not so difficult ...
And what is important is only a burning desire, diligence, patience, fanaticism, if you will ... And of course the thirst for knowledge, experience, and most importantly, as sen-sei Takashi Amano says, an idea!
At the moment, the created herbalist is "maturing", correction and work on mistakes will be made in it. This will take 1-2 months and in order not to waste precious time, I am starting a series of articles in which I will share my experience, knowledge and emotions. I really want to believe that my fuse and the burning flame of love for aquarium keeping will be picked up by other guys, because this is, in fact, the ultimate goal of FF - to instill a love for the world of aquarium fish.
At the same time, I want to say that I do not claim the laurels of sen-sei Amano. Like any person, I am mistaken, I am constantly learning and getting to know the world of aquarium hobby. There is no perfection in aquarism, as, in fact, in life in general. The experience and opinion of everyone is important, the consolidation of aquarists is important. Both beginners and pros. In general, ask questions, criticize, advise!
So it took me four months to create the herbalist. During this time, I shoveled so much information !!! I ran around the shops so much !!! ... They probably don't prepare for the wedding as I do for my herbalist))). And do you know what is the main problem I am facing? Lack of clear, complete information on the creation of an aquarium in the style of a'Amano. Information is either scattered, or abrupt, or too abstruse. No workshop, no examples, no step-by-step instructions. Let's fill this gap together!
In any visual arts (painting, sculpture, architecture), there are many rules that are used to build a composition. Aquarium design is an art too! An artist creates with a brush, a sculptor with plaster ... an aquarist with plants, soil, stones and snags! It is impossible to describe in detail the many rules and principles of building a composition in one article. Therefore, I propose to talk only about the most important ones: "Golden Ratio", "Fibonacci numbers" and "Fractalities of nature".
I knew all of the above rules before, like many of you. When you first get acquainted with these rules, you get the feeling that you are close to solving the question of being and the divine principle. You feel, so to speak, that you "touched God by the little finger"! This is not surprising, because everything that exists (living and non-living, visible and invisible) is subject to these DIVINE RULES.
In this article I will try to explain in an accessible way about the application of these rules when building an aquarium composition. And, of course, give examples. But, I ask you not to dwell only on my article! On the Internet, you will find many mind-boggling worthy photos, videos and text materials on this topic!
People distinguish objects around them by shape. Interest in the shape of any object can be dictated by vital necessity, and it can also be caused by the beauty of the form. The form, which is based on a combination of symmetry and the golden ratio, contributes to the best visual perception and the appearance of a sense of beauty and harmony. The whole always consists of parts, parts of different sizes are in a certain relation to each other and to the whole. The rule of the golden ratio is the highest manifestation of the structural and functional perfection of the whole and its parts in art, science, technology and nature. The golden ratio is harmonious proportion!
I deliberately do not include all mathematical formulas and geometric constructions in the article in order to simplify the material as much as possible. Nevertheless, it is impossible to do without them completely. Let's try to grasp the essence.
Golden ratio- this is such a proportional division of a segment into unequal parts, in which the entire segment refers to the greater part as the largest part refers to the smaller one. Or, in other words, a smaller segment refers to a larger one as a larger segment to the entire segment.
Golden ratio(golden "divine" proportion, division in extreme and average ratio) - the ratio of two values, equal to the ratio of their sum to the larger of these values. The approximate value of the golden ratio is 1.6180339887. As a percentage, rounded off is the division of the value by 62% and 38%, respectively.
Golden ratio (proportion) - 1,618
called divine (oh), since it is the “yardstick” of everything, from a worm to a person, from a snail to an elephant, from DNA to the structure of the Universe! On the net you can find many fascinating popular science films and programs on this topic. Look, you won't regret it.
In our (aquarium) article I will give just one example of the golden proportions in the human body.
I write and remember the entertainment from my childhood. One day, I found out that the size of the foot is approximately equal to 1/8 of the height of a person. When I said this in class, everyone grabbed the rulers like crazy and let's measure each other! But this is a simplified example of the golden ratio. The most interesting thing is that forensic experts, archaeologists and paleontologists work according to the same principle when they restore a picture of a whole from parts and remains. Of course, everything is more serious there than "1.8 stops", but the principle is the same - "Golden Ratio" !!!
Now a little history. A person who at least once heard about the golden ratio associates it with the name of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo really made a huge contribution to the world of art and to the knowledge of the Ecumenical rules. But, in fairness, it is worth noting that the golden ratio was already known both in Ancient Greece and during the time of the pharaohs.
Thousands of the best minds have worked on this issue! It is worth mentioning the name of the German professor Zeising (1855), who did a tremendous job. He measured about two thousand human bodies and came to the conclusion that the golden ratio expresses the average statistical law. The division of the body by the navel point is the most important indicator of the golden ratio. The proportions of the male body fluctuate within the average ratio of 13: 8 = 1.625 and are somewhat closer to the golden ratio than the proportions of the female body, in relation to which the average value of the proportion is expressed in the ratio of 8: 5 = 1.6. In a newborn, the ratio is 1: 1, by the age of 13 it is 1.6, and by the age of 21 it is equal to the male. The proportions of the golden ratio are also manifested in relation to other parts of the body - the length of the shoulder, forearm and hand, hand and fingers, etc. Curious! Fundamental! Awesome!
SERIES OR NUMBERS OF FIBONACCIThe name of the Italian mathematician monk Leonardo from Pisa, better known as Fibonacci, is indirectly connected with the history of the golden ratio. He traveled a lot in the East, introduced Europe to Indian (Arabic) numerals. In 1202, his mathematical work "The Book of the Abacus" was published, in which all the problems known at that time were collected. One of the tasks was “How many pairs of rabbits will be born from one pair in one year”. Reflecting on this topic, Fibonacci built the following series of numbers:
Months 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 etc.
Pairs of rabbits 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89 144, etc.
Row of numbers 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, etc. known as the Fibonacci series. The peculiarity of the sequence of numbers is that each of its members, starting from the third, is equal to the sum of the two previous 2 + 3 = 5; 3 + 5 = 8; 5 + 8 = 13, 8 + 13 = 21; 13 + 21 = 34, etc., and the ratio of adjacent numbers in the series approaches the ratio of the gold division. So, 21: 34 = 0.617, and 34: 55 = 0.618. This ratio is indicated by the symbol F. Only this ratio - 0.618: 0.382 - gives a continuous division of a straight line segment in golden proportion, its increase or decrease to infinity, when the smaller segment relates to the larger as the larger to everything.
The Fibonacci series could remain only a mathematical incident, if not for the fact that all researchers of the golden division in the plant and animal world, not to mention art, invariably came to this series as an arithmetic expression of the law of golden division.
The shoot makes a strong ejection into space, stops, releases a leaf, but is shorter than the first, again makes an ejection into space, but with less force, releases a leaf of an even smaller size and ejects again. If the first emission is taken as 100 units, then the second is equal to 62 units, the third is 38, the fourth is 24, etc. The length of the petals is also subject to the golden ratio. In growth, the conquest of space, the plant retained certain proportions. The impulses of its growth gradually decreased in proportion to the golden section.
Fractality has more to do with geometry and visual representation of the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci series.
Fractal(Latin fractus - crushed, broken, broken) is a mathematical set that has the property of self-similarity, that is, homogeneity in various measurement scales (any part of a fractal is similar to the entire set).
Well, now with "human language." Around every cell, every molecule of physical bodies, there is an "endless space" of other cells and molecules. And in everything there is complete harmony - the harmony of fractal geometry.
Infinitely self-similar figures are called fractals, each fragment of which is repeated as the scale is reduced. The term fractal refers to the presence of a fine, repeating structure, both at the macro and micro scale of an object.
Fractality manifests itself in everything! In galaxies and cells, in the structure of every bush and tree, snowflake and cloud. Even lightning is fractal. What can we say about the bend of the coastlines of the sea, lakes, mountains, fields, etc ... After all, the rhythm of our heartbeat (cardiogram) is also a fractal!
Everything in space is fractal! And guess who is to blame? Of course, Fibonacci and its series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987, 1597 ....))) Wherever you look in nature , a number series is seen everywhere, where each subsequent number is the sum of the two previous ones.
You can watch any plant sprouting from the ground, and you will be surprised to find that first one leaf appears, then two, a little later - three, then five ... eight ... thirteen. And never any other way!
The same is in the aquarium hobby - a bush, to a bush, a pebble to a pebble. In a word, there must be harmony! There should not be stones of different color and texture in the aquarium, there should not be different snags. The decor elements themselves should not be the same size, they should be installed in the right place, and not anyhow!
For a better understanding and visualization, below I suggest looking small videos videos about the golden ratio, Fibonacci series and fractal
ON THIS I WILL PLEASE FINISH THE THEORETICAL PART AND GO TO THE PRACTICE OF APPLYING THE KNOWLEDGE IN AQUARIUMISTICS
From all of the above, we can conclude that everything in the world is subject to the above-described "divine rules". The design of the aquarium is an artificial recreation of a corner of wildlife. From this we can conclude: "In order for the artificial to be as close as possible to the divine, it is necessary to use the specified unshakable rules when decorating an aquarium!"
Take any piece of art.
For example, a painting by I.I. Shishkin "Morning in a pine forest"!
The author strictly followed the principles of the golden section. The main object is at the strong point, and all objects are located in the golden triangles. 
So, back to the Fibonacci numbers 1,1,2,3,5,8,13 ...
To begin with, divide the view glass of the aquarium into 3, 5 or 8 equal parts horizontally and vertically.
Note: My scape was done in a panoramic glass aquarium. The process of finding strong points in this case becomes more complicated. I photographed my aquarium and determined the points from the photo. Do not forget that all schemes and techniques refer to the picture that the viewer sees, and not to the geometric dimensions of the can. This is primarily about projection. 
1:2 2:3 3:5
Then select the axes dividing the whole into 3 and 5 equal parts.
Well, what about next? And then ... the flight of your imagination, the flight of thought about placing your idea in the golden section of the aquarium ... First mentally, then twirling the obtained decor (stones, driftwood) in your hands, while imagining their combination with plants. And only then - in the aquarium itself))).
Increasingly, most people around the world are starting to get involved in the aquarium hobby. And this is not at all surprising, because thanks to this passion and the implementation of a few simple actions, you can create in your room a real corner of wildlife that will bring joy and give a great mood, both to its owner and to his guests. And in today's article we will take a closer look at how you can design an artificial reservoir for 200 liters.
As a rule, before thinking about creating a magnificent and intriguing underwater world in your room, you need to decide in advance on its shape. After all, it largely depends on her how harmoniously it will be combined with the interior of the room. So, an aquarium of 200 liters can be:
It is also worth considering that an artificial reservoir of 200 liters has an impressive weight. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a special stand for it.
First of all, I would like to note that the design of the aquarium should largely take into account not only the interior of the room, but also certain features of its inhabitants. So, discus prefer the presence of pebbles as a soil and the presence of small snags. Others need dense vegetation and live rocks. Therefore, we will consider several ways to decorate a vessel designed for 200 liters.
This design is perfect for aquarists who want to recreate a piece of the seascape in their room. In addition, the pseudomore style is ideal for calm and peaceful fish. So what does it take to do it? First of all, a pleasant and calm background is selected for the 200 liter aquarium. For this purpose, both photos with corals and drawings that depict water can be suitable. After that, the turn comes to the choice of lighting. 
For this purpose, you can apply:
Important! Many inhabitants of the aquarium, such as discus or guar, react differently to the intensity of light.
It is recommended to decorate the bottom with stones. Tuff stones are best suited for this style. Also, we must not forget about the indispensable attribute of such a design as corals. Of course, you can use the design in the style of a pseudo-sea without stones, as shown in the photo, but then you can forget about creating such beautiful decorative structures as coral slides.
As for the fish, they are populated, as mentioned above, mainly peaceful and calm species. For example, discus, panaki, cichlids.
But before settling 200 liters of its future inhabitants into the aquarium, it is necessary to take into account a ratio equal to 7 liters per individual. This is necessary in order to avoid territorial overpopulation.
In most cases, such a design, the photo of which can be seen below, is distinguished by non-standard decorative elements that bring brightness to the underwater world of the aquarium. So, first of all, the advantages of this style include:
So, the first step is to add aquarium gravel. This choice is due to the fact that not only cichlids, but also other fish feel more comfortable with such soil. Then you can add artificial plants such as Javanese moss driftwood. Next, we decorate the back. Large-sized plants are perfect for this purpose, forming the viewer's idea of the height of the vessel, but without imposing the depth of perception. Further, if desired, you can again add a little gravel to the sides of the vessel with planting red plants. 
This design allows you to maximize your imagination and translate any idea into reality. So, if you wish, you can create a fabulous meadow, the gloomy castle of Count Dracula, or even a flooded Atlantis. Various decor options can be seen in the photo below.
So, for this style, you can use ceramics, imitating both various sculptural works and models of sunken vessels. It is worth emphasizing that such decorative elements will not harm the rest of the inhabitants of the artificial reservoir, but, on the contrary, will serve as good shelters. For example, discus, in case of danger, will be able to hide their fry in them. 
But it is worth noting that before creating such a design, it is necessary to determine the size of the decorative elements of vegetation and, of course, fish.
As a rule, discus, gourami, scalar and other types of fish feel most comfortable in artificial reservoirs with conditions that match their natural habitat as much as possible.That is why decoration in this style is not only a real art, but also vital for all inhabitants of the vessel. ... But it is worth noting that in order to create such a design, you will have to work a lot.
So, first of all, it is necessary to select for him both vegetation and fish that will feel comfortable in the reproduced landscape. For example, when planning a vessel containing discus, it is necessary not only to constantly maintain the required temperature, but also not to forget about the presence at the bottom of the aquarium of a large number of small branches and leaves, among which the discus live in their natural habitat. 
In order for the decoration of an artificial reservoir to go as planned, you need to remember some simple rules for decoration. So, it is not recommended to overload the aquarium with decor or leave too much empty space. In addition, do not forget about the simplicity and ease of subsequent maintenance of the vessel. That is why the use of collapsible structures would be an ideal option. Also, if there are fish in the aquarium that love to bury themselves in the ground, then it is forbidden to use large pebbles as it. The best choice would be to use sand or 1-3 mm. soil.
The most beautiful seascapes and the bright underwater world of the seas and oceans are always exciting, they attract special attention and encourage some aquarists to create marine artificial aqua systems. However, a real marine aquarium is quite expensive, both in terms of price and maintenance. That is why a special style of aquarium hobby - pseudo-sea was created and in recent years is gaining more and more popularity.
First of all, it should be noted that we do not mean any separate aquariums, but a whole trend or style in aquaristics, the main feature of which is the creation of the illusion of a marine aquatic environment with its living inhabitants and appropriate decorations.
Why an illusion? Yes, because instead of real salty sea water in such a system there is fresh water, respectively, the inhabitants of this aquadom are freshwater. But thanks to special techniques, it is possible to achieve such a strong correspondence to the natural seascape that only specialists can calculate the illusion. An ordinary viewer can hardly distinguish a pseudo-sea aquarium from a real sea.
Pseudomore is free from all these conditions. This style allows you to create and diversify the internal content of the aquarium according to your own imagination. But some general rules for the design of pseudo-sea aqua systems, developed empirically, are still available.
A pseudo-sea aquarium can be realized in two versions: in cold colors or in a warm tropical style. The choice of this or that option directly depends on the situation, the interior of the room.
The sea is well suited, for example, for a room dominated by blue, red tones. This can be a children's room, a living room that is not cluttered with furniture, or even a large bathroom. In a room furnished with massive brown (classic) furniture, nautical theme is unlikely to fit.
If a pseudo-sea needs to be created in the office, then you should not install it in the manager's office: such a noticeable detail of the interior does not correspond to the business style and, in a sense, distracts visitors or subordinates. But in the reception room or in the common hall of the company, the seascape will be more appropriate, since it will create a benevolent emotional background.
There are no special requirements for the shape of the pseudo-sea: it can be round or oval, rectangular or prismatic, flat or three-dimensional.
But experts advise the capacity of the can to choose more, from 100 liters and above. This is due to several circumstances.
Unlike a conventional aquarium, where lighting is mainly used for the life of plants, light in a pseudo-sea plays an exclusively decorative role.
They try to make the lighting system in such a way that the interior decorations look in the most advantageous perspective. This is why the main lamp is installed closer to the front glass panel.
There are no exact recommendations for the type of lamps, here each person chooses his own version, but in this particular case, fluorescent lamps that give cold light are more suitable. As an option: imported Power-Glo, Hagen LifeGlo, Sylvania Coralstar or Marine-Glo lamps, which are designed for both the sea and regular aquariums.
Currently, there are also special lamps on sale exclusively for marine aquariums with the corresponding radiation spectrum.
A pseudo-sea aquarium looks much more spectacular when using halogen lamps that provide directional light. Some additionally install a neon lamp, when using which white decorative elements (corals, for example) visually become even whiter.
As a rule, two lamps, located at the front panel and above the center, are quite enough for a pseudo-sea. The lighting should not be too intense to prevent the development of algae and wall overgrowth. Some experienced owners of such an aquarium generally advise turning on the light for no longer than 5-6 hours a day.
Perhaps this is the basis of this type of aquarium.
Background... The first thing to think about is the background with which the back wall is decorated (film, wallpaper). As a rule, it is chosen in blue. Of course, there are various variations - sea water with corals, sea fish, algae, scenes of underwater life, etc. Do not overload the background too much, because the main thing is the interior decoration combined with fish.
As a soil most often natural marble chips are used, there are options for using artificial painted soil (glass balls, for example). But such a commercial substitute for natural soil has more disadvantages than advantages: most often it is toxic and does not perform the function of biofiltration of aquarium water, since bacteria do not settle in it. So, experts advise: either marble chips or coarse sand.
Decorations pseudo-seas are most often large sea shells, corals (natural or artificial), large stones, stone grottoes, caves, terraces. This does not mean, however, that the interior needs to be cluttered. On the contrary, the overall composition should emphasize the central element around which the details are concentrated.
Plants... As a rule, there is no natural aquatic vegetation in pseudo-marine aquariums. Its decorative functions are performed by synthetic artificial plants, which are now produced by many companies specializing in aquarium accessories. For example, the German company Hagen produces original plastic plants specifically for marine aqua systems, as well as imitators of coral and shells from a synthetic material - stadium.
Most often in such cases, African cichlids are born. A logical question: why these cichlids? The thing is that the natural habitat of these fish is water with an alkaline pH balance, and in the pseudo-sea fish house, a similar balance is created due to the limestone corals and shells located there.
Red atherins, mollies, swordtails also feel good in such an aquatic environment. The beautiful cornflower blue haplochromis will perfectly fit into the pseudo-sea environment with a black background and bright lighting.
Simply put, they start such fish that tolerate hard, slightly alkaline water well. Of course, the brighter the color of the living creature, the better.
The technical equipment of such a system is identical to a regular aquarium: aquafilter, aerator, thermometer and more. auxiliary equipment... But it should be borne in mind that natural vegetation does not participate in the processes taking place in the pseudo-sea. Therefore, it is necessary to install a powerful filter with all types and degrees of water purification - mechanical, biological, chemical.
The absence of natural vegetation can negatively affect the condition of the soil, therefore, this substrate must be siphoned more often. Periodically, it should be cleaned of the slightest hint of green algae and all decorative elements.
Do not forget about water changes as well. This operation should be carried out weekly, replacing 15-20% of the total volume.
An aquarium is an immovable thing, it will not run away anywhere. Therefore, there is no need to rush to take it off, you should carefully prepare, carefully look at the pseudomore through the camera display.
First of all, it will be superfluous to clean the front wall of green algae, adhering particles of organic matter. Thus, the cleanliness of the glass must be close to ideal, otherwise the picture will glare.
The same will happen if you shoot with a flash. Better to shoot with off or muted outside lighting with maximum use of the aquarium lighting. If there are light-colored objects near the aquarium home interior, then it is advisable to drape them with some dark material.
The conclusion suggests itself: it is better to photograph a pseudo-sea aquarium in the dark. And indeed it is.
Of course, the beauty and attractiveness of the pseudo-sea cannot be compared with a real marine reef aquarium. However, attempts to recreate a natural seascape can lead to brilliant results.
Video from professional aquarists: how to arrange a pseudo-sea.
Making an aquarium with your own hands will not only give additional comfort to the fish, but will also be able to decorate the interior of your home. To ensure that the decor is not too mediocre, we have prepared the most stylish ideas, photos and videos for your inspiration.
There are many styles for decorating your aquarium. The most popular are Dutch, Japanese and nautical. Let's consider each of them in a little more detail.
Includes a variety of aquarium plants that are planted from the back of the tank to the front. Dutch-style aquariums look really impressive and this option is very popular for a reason. You can choose any underwater plants, they are planted most often in small groups every 10-12 cm 2 (depending on the volume of the aquarium).
The combination of green, red and brown algae. In the Dutch style, the emphasis is on the flora, so a large number of plant species are welcome. The main thing is that they are all appropriate, and the decor does not look gaudy. You can see successful examples of DIY design in this style in the photo below:
Unlike the previous version, Japanese style aquarium hobbyists do not require a lot of plants. The accent in the design of the aquarium is placed on large rocks, undersized algae and the use of moss. This option is suitable for lovers of minimalism in the interior.
The Japanese-style decor looks very unusual and attracts admiring glances from most people. It seems that you are looking at a real landscape in miniature, only instead of birds in the "sky" fish swim. Some experts add spectacular bonsai made from driftwood and moss to the underwater decor. Such a realistic direction even received a special name - aquascaping.
In the design of the aquarium, the marine style is the most common, but far from the most boring. It is here that you can show your imagination in full force, because you can make the so-called "pseudo-mor". The most popular decorative elements are artificial corals, shells, pebbles and various algae.
It is also advisable to use a variety of props from a pet store for decoration in a nautical style. A sunken ship, a treasure chest and even a miniature scuba diver in a suit - all this will undoubtedly look advantageous in a 200-300 liter large aquarium.
Some fans nautical style they also equip the sunken island of Atlantis in the fish house. The decorative elements in this case are the castle with towers, a grotto and statues. It turns out very impressive, beautiful and not at all trivial. You can be convinced of this after viewing the photo of the "pseudo-sea" design in the aquarium:
Remember that the aquarium can both highlight the unique interior of your home and make it tasteless. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully consider all the elements of the underwater decor with your own hands.
Sand, pebbles, granite and some other volcanic rocks can be used as a substrate for an aquarium tank. After filling the base with a thickness of 4-5 cm, you can start decorating the bottom with various stones and shells as you wish. Please note that decorative elements found on their own need heat treatment (boiling or calcining on a stove).
The color of the substrate should be consistent with the overall style of the aquarium. A good choice for decoration is the choice of a white shade, since it reflects artificial light and puts a beneficial accent on the entire composition. However, if you want to recreate the underwater world in miniature, then black, brown or dark gray colors are more suitable.
You can beautifully decorate the aquarium using ordinary driftwood. You can purchase a suitable piece of wood from a pet store or find one yourself. If you like the second option more, then be sure to consider some features:
This way you can make the driftwood safe for fish and other inhabitants of the aquarium. Real and artificial plants, stones, Javanese moss or figurines are also used in DIY decor. Choosing the right decorations will be much easier once you've decided on your aquarium style.
An interesting idea is to decorate the background of the aquarium. This is done using double-sided tape and a special film from a pet store. The image can be anything: from a standard underwater world to realistic mountain landscapes. This solution helps to make the decor as complete as possible.
Making an aquarium with your own hands brings an unforgettable pleasure, because it is so nice to feel like a real landscape designer. We hope we were able to surprise you with colorful photos and inspire you to new achievements!
Finally, we suggest watching a video with step by step instructions aquarium decor from improvised means:
