#Aquarium hides update#

Penn-Plax Spongebob Squarepants Officially Licensed Aquarium Ornament – Spongebob’s Pineapple. PENN-PLAX Age-of-Magic Wizard’s Castle Aquarium Decoration – Safe for Freshwater and Saltwater.Ĭoospider Hobbit Miniature Landscape Hillside Fairy Hole House Manor Decor Ideas for Aquariums. Ceramics with jagged edges can be chipped away and coated in a bead of aquatic silicone to prevent injury. Plain/unglazed ceramics like terracotta are suitable as they come with no risk of chemical leakage. If any of the shininess of the object has deteriorated, this indicates chemical leaching and the object is unsuitable for aquatic usage. Submerge the ornament, or part of it, in this solution and wait a month before examining it again. If you’re unsure about the safety of a ceramic ornament, dilute a household acid like vinegar to a pH similar to the most acidic conditions your aquarium could reach. Non-dinnerware pieces do not meet these standards and should be avoided. This means that its glaze has been fired using methods that prevent chemical leaching under acidic conditions. The truth is that some ceramic ornaments are, indeed, totally harmless, while others leach toxic metals as their glaze dissolves and can seriously harm fish.Īny object that is stamped as ‘dinnerware safe’ is suitable for use. Implementing ceramic ornaments into an aquarium is a contentious practice with some hobbyists claiming it to be perfectly safe and others totally against their use.

#Aquarium hides update#

Last update on / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API 10. The best way to sanitize rocks is using the bleach method I covered under the “Sanitizing Non-Commercial Items” section above. This can cause the rock to shatter or even explode. If you put a few drops on a rock, and it starts to foam, it means the rock is calciferous, and will leach minerals into your water over time. Nitrate tests contain two bottles, usually labeled bottle 1 and bottle 2. You can test rocks for calcium content with an aquarium liquid nitrate test kit. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you have really soft water.

Before doing this, however, it’s vital that you sanitize the rocks before adding them to avoid bringing in harmful organisms.īe mindful, too, that some rocks, like lace rock, can be sharp and cause harm to your fish and should be avoided.Īlso, some rocks can contain calcium that can leach into water, hardening it over time. You can also add rocks found in the wild to your aquarium. They’re also ideal for nature themed tanks, comforting fish by mimicking their native habitat. There are many attractive stones, pebbles and rocks available commercially which serve as great additions to many aquariums. Last update on / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API 2. Tannins are harmless to fish, but many people don’t like that they can dye the water brown. If you don’t, you run the risk of adding harmful microbes and parasites, having the potential to make your fish seriously ill.īoiling driftwood before placing it in an aquarium can help remove some of the tannins in the wood. You should exercise caution when doing this and be sure to quarantine wild-sourced wood. You can, however, fish driftwood out of rivers and streams, adding it to your tank without spending any money. It also acts as a great hiding spot for more timid fish.ĭriftwood can be bought in many stores and is usually very safe. Natural driftwood is a popular addition to many aquariums and can help create a natural, simplistic feel. When choosing which decorations to add to your aquarium, it’s important to consider the benefits and potential drawbacks of each.

Simple things to consider before choosing your decorations so you can get the right ones for your tank,ġ0 Different Styles of Aquarium Decor to Inspire you.

We’ll talk about 10 types of decorations you can use for inspiration.

So I’ve created this guide to make it easier for you. When your inner designer won’t come out to play, deciding on your tank decor can be a frustrating process.