When decorating the interior of your own apartment, the design of the aquarium plays an important role. Since, as a rule, it can rarely be found in a rented room. An aquarium with live fish has become a symbol of stability and reliability. Thus, it favorably emphasizes the status of the owners who have already decided on a permanent place to live. After all, hardly anyone will transport ornamental fish from place to place. In addition, maintaining an aquarium requires certain costs, which not every person can decide on. Therefore, next we will consider the features of designing an aquarium in a modern home.

Introduction to aquascaping

This term refers to the creation of a picturesque landscape under water in decorative conditions. Those users who think that to get fish it is enough to pour stones into a glass box and fill it with water, they are deeply mistaken about one thing. Namely, in the aesthetic perception of the final result. Experienced designer Even at the interior design stage, he will ask the owners about the aquarium. It is important to choose not only the fish, but also the style of the tank itself. It should fit perfectly general interior premises to perform their role efficiently. Even if you add plants and various rattles to the stones in an unattractively designed aquarium, this will not improve the situation. You won’t be able to admire an irresponsible creation for long.

In addition, many types of aquarium fish require special treatment. In order to somehow compensate them for their natural habitat, it is necessary to take care of adequate filling. Artificial materials will look cheap and unattractive. Thanks to the World Wide Web, you can find enough information about each of the fish. Some people need frequent water changes, while others don’t need it at all because they purify it themselves. The choice of plants should also be approached responsibly. But the main issue for owners remains the issue of aquarium design.

Its aesthetic characteristics must meet the taste preferences of the home owners.

There are a huge number of options on how you can organize the design of an aquarium with your own hands. There are also many examples of designs online that were created by professionals. Even competitions for the best example of aquascaping are held regularly. First place is often given to those guys whose work really requires skill and patience. In order for the design of an aquarium to allow it to become an integral element of decor, you should be prepared for a labor-intensive process.

Design style

Since there are countless design styles, we will highlight only the main ones. These examples are the most popular among users:

Pseudo-sea. It is characterized by the fact that during design a high-quality imitation of the seabed is created. For this, all the elements that can be found in the vicinity of the same coral reef are used (corals themselves, unusual shells, characteristic sand). Freshwater space can be decorated with ceramics, light-type soil, and pirate accessories. When the design of the tank is ready, it is populated with brightly colored fish. Decorative cichlids can boast of this;

Forced herbalist. A style with a self-explanatory name was noted for its original approach to design. The emphasis in such an aquarium is exclusively on plants. Small fish are either far in the background (a striking example is the characin family) or are completely absent. Sometimes they are replaced with shrimp. But compositions of green inhabitants underwater world should delight the owners. To maintain them in proper condition, CO2 and various additives are used. Additionally, the installation is decorated with decorative driftwood and stones;

Small desktop version

Unforced herbalist. The difference between this type of design and the previous one is that a large number of fish are observed here (from characins to cyprinids). At the same time, there may be no less plants, snags and stones. This style is designed to imitate the natural habitat for aquarium fish. Design in this style can be found among most novice aquascapers;

Story aquarium. The most interesting style, since it implies unlimited creativity of the owner. The designer can advise him to choose a specific theme that can be realistically implemented. It could be a trivial sunken ship, or it could be a large metropolis underwater. There are also exotic options with football fields or railways. Only imagination dictates to the owners how to fill such an aquarium with accessories;

Aquarium "Vanguard". It implies a riotous combination of colors or an emphasis on one particular picturesque color. The latter should attract the views of all guests without exception. It is allowed to use all kinds of forms for more attraction attention. In order for the fish to feel natural in such an environment, the owners must competently approach the adjustment of the biological balance;

Biotope aquarium. The approach to organizing this type of water world is somewhat similar to plot style. The only difference is that the natural environment of a particular biotope must be imitated here. This could be the nature of the clayey Ganges, the green Amazon, Lake Baikal, etc. All elements in such an aquarium are selected to match the chosen area: appropriate soil, plants growing there, aquatic inhabitants. This will favorably emphasize the conceptual taste of the home owners;

Aquarium with show fish. The design of the aquarium should be tailored for a large fish, which needs space and volume. The scenery plays a secondary role, since the main emphasis is on the shape of the fish itself. It could be a knifefish, arawana, etc.;

Industrial aquarium. If the owners are distinguished by their practicality, then they can, to the detriment of the design, refuse to use decorations and sand. Because the latter tend to get dirty. Instead, you can organize proper aeration with a water supply;

Marine aquarium using live Reef corals. The beauty of these underwater structures is due to the colorful colors of the marine polyps. It is important to remember that they do not tolerate dirty water. To prevent corals from dying, a good biobalance should be established. This will adequately imitate the depths of the ocean and the beauty of a coral reef. Maintaining such a tank will give the interior a respectable look.

Key elements of arrangement

Any painting consists of a canvas, a brush and paints. Original combination the latter can give the most unpredictable results. The situation is similar in aquascaping. Experts identify a number of key elements:

1. Background. If the tank is located near the wall of the room, then it is logical to use its surface to organize a decorative background. To do this, color films or photos of the scenery are placed between the wall and the glass wall. However, no one is stopping the owner from making a decorative background himself. Can be used various panels, branches, unusual leaves. It will be great if you can place moss in a narrow space.

1. Stones. The practical design of the aquarium allows you to perform two functions at once. Since large specimens can serve not only as decoration of the water space, but also as a reliable shelter for pregnant fish. Granite, basalt and other rocks are used. There are some restrictions on the use of sandstone (limestone), as soft water is not suitable for them. When arranging, you must first cover the bottom with sheets of plastic, and then install stone structures. Only after this can the bottom be filled with the selected soil. This is a precaution against damage to glass surfaces and the fragile position of the stone structure. When installing the latter, you can adhere to the principle of the golden ratio, when the structure occupies one or two thirds of the space. Small stones are located in the corners.

1. Priming. If you plan to use bottom filters, then these technical elements should be installed before backfilling. You should also carefully prepare the place for planting. The nutrient substrate will significantly strengthen the surface of the soil, the thickness of which is about 5 cm. To create a high relief, you will need help special devices. And in order to ensure uneven placement of the soil, you should use additional elements decor.

Plant roots hold soil well. Without them, it becomes flat over time.

1. Driftwood. They perform approximately the same role as large stones. Serve for reliable shelter of decorative fish. If the owner is engaged in the arrangement himself, then the found driftwood should be pre-treated. To do this, boil it in salted water for an hour. Afterwards, you need to thoroughly rinse the wood to get rid of any remaining salt. After this, the buoyancy of the driftwood should decrease. Otherwise it will be difficult to place it in the aquarium. Some users attach the weight to wood material. Moss or another plant on its surface will look interesting.

1. Plants. It is difficult to imagine an organic aquarium without live plants. Their ability to harmoniously adjust the balance is highly valued by professionals. To soften the power of stone structures and add naturalness to an artificially created space, tall or floating plants are used. Low-growing ones, on the contrary, can enhance the effect of the hardness of the rock. The approach to planting should be balanced and patient. You should not immediately place a representative of the flora into the water. It is necessary to gradually prepare it for the new environment, periodically spraying it with aquarium water from a spray bottle. Then the reservoir is sequentially filled with liquid.

Corner aquarium as a partition in the room

Making a design with your own hands involves creating a harmonious composition from the above-mentioned elements. It is recommended to immediately follow the advice of specialists so that you do not have to redo it later. A beautiful home aquarium design creates a lasting impression on guests at home.

Conclusion

When setting up an aquarium, owners have the right to independently choose the style of its design. It’s easy to create a beautiful design with your own hands, following the practical advice of professionals. It is important to familiarize yourself in advance with the conditions of keeping certain fish in order to properly prepare the space for life in an artificial reservoir.

People who decide to purchase aquarium fish cannot help but be interested in such a question as aquarium design. 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 is devoted to various aspects of aquarium design, all the nuances are covered.

Necessary materials

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. To make the inhabitants of the deep sea feel as if they were in their familiar environment, aquarium plants are needed.

Pour soil with small pebbles at the bottom, put driftwood with shells, install castles with ships, create grottoes and make a background.

If you are just planning to get into aquarium keeping, then take your time to make purchases. First, decide what kind of fish you need. Also, be guided by your own taste preferences when choosing a vessel for keeping fish.

Each inhabitant of the “aquarium house” requires special conditions of detention. If desired, a 100-liter aquarium can be turned into the Kingdom of Neptune.

Study the habits of the fish you like, especially if you want to take several species. Predator fish should not be placed in the same vessel with herbivores. Consult the seller, he will tell you which species coexist peacefully.

Priming

It is believed that the mood in the aquarium is set by the soil. It is multifunctional: it is used as a substrate for algae, a natural biofilter. Soil is required for fish to live. When choosing it, you should take into account the fraction, volume and color.

Give preference to a darker tone, then the aquarium fish will not merge with the ground.

Underwater rocks with grottoes

When decorating an aquarium with your own hands, remember that you can only use safe materials that do not emit toxins. If you plan to select driftwood rocks yourself, make sure they do not release toxic toxins.

The background

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 outside of the back wall of the container.

Vegetation

Living plants are “lungs”; they release oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Many fish eat plant foods. And during spawning, algae become a temporary home for the eggs. Artificial vegetation of rich flowers looks beautiful.

Backlight

Light in an aquarium is the source of life. Good lighting- This required condition. Manufacturers produce backlights in various colors. Models are fixed at the bottom and at the top.

Decorative elements

If you haven’t decided yet how to decorate a round aquarium, take a look at ready-made solutions. Shells, castles, and ships are often used as decorative elements. You don't have to buy them from pet stores.

You can choose the diver figures yourself. The main thing is that they are not made from toxic materials. It is not recommended to use broken shells: the fish may be injured.

Directions of decorative design

If we consider classic variations, pay attention to:

• Biotope aquarium. A body of water that actually exists in nature is recreated.
• Dutch aquarium. It is also called natural. Here plants take center stage.
• Geographic aquarium. Registration is carried out for a specific region.

Many beginners in the aquarium hobby prefer amateur design options. They use skulls, amphorae and other elements as decoration. The principles stated above are not followed.

You can buy a colorful children's aquarium for your child. It should not be placed in the nursery; filtration and aeration make noise during operation and can therefore wake up the baby.

Pseudo-Sea

The special prefix “pseudo” makes it clear that the surroundings are created to imitate a marine aquarium, where brightly colored fish are stocked. Corals, large shells and polyps are placed in the aquarium.

Aquarium in modern interior can be designed taking into account the natural habitat of the fish. This is the so-called “light version” of the Dutch aquarium. Algae, stones and driftwood are placed in the vessel. An aquarist does not need to know everything about plants. It is enough if he provides them with simple care.

As for a natural aquarium, its main feature is its densely planted vegetation. To create an aquascape, you will need to study the life of underwater plants. The algae needs to be fed and it is important to use the CO2 system correctly.

A themed aquarium gives you the opportunity to realize your dreams or fantasies. Create an underwater world against the backdrop of a sunken ship or Neptune's underwater palace.

Glo Aquarium is fashionable novelty. Everything shimmers in the pond; it looks great at any time of the day. They contain fluorescent live fish.

Most expensive option

A marine aquarium is designed for keeping saltwater fish. The marine theme always looks advantageous. However, the reservoir itself and its arrangement are expensive.

Cichlid

This aquarium contains exclusively fish from the cichlid family. Peaceful cichdids include angelfish, Pelmatochromis parrots, and Labidochromis yellow. But basically, cichlids are capricious predators, and we should not forget about this. You should not buy too many fish for one aquarium. Cichlids grow quickly, and adult angelfish have a wingspan of up to 15 cm.

The aquarium for African cichlids is a stone desert where artificial plants are placed. This arrangement resembles a natural habitat.

If you want to create an underwater garden where cichlids live, choose apistogram or parrots. When angelfish live in an aquarium, zoning the territory is simply necessary: ​​the fish often fight.

What to pay attention to

• If you want to place vegetation in a vessel, then first choose unpretentious algae. tall plants place them at the back wall, and low ones at the front.
• After planting living plants, we must not forget about spraying in the future. You should pour water into the aquarium without haste. It is better to use a small ladle or watering can for this purpose.
• There is no such thing as symmetry in nature, so avoid it when decorating. A chaotic order of placement of decorative elements is what is needed.
• Creating a balanced ecosystem with your own hands will require certain knowledge. This includes a number of important steps. It all starts with planning. When the vessel is ready and filled with soil and decorative elements, you can fill it with water.
• To prevent the composition from deteriorating due to water pressure, place a plastic bag under the stream. Filtration, aeration and lighting are installed. After this, the inhabitants of the underwater depths are released into the aquarium.

Photo of aquarium design

We have already discussed in the previous article how important it is to correctly understand the various aspects of the problem of maintaining required quality water to ensure the proper condition of the aquarium environment intended for ornamental fish. The same applies to aquarium decorations and materials used to create a suitable environment for the fish living in that aquarium. In nature environment for fish it is a combination of water and various shelters in it - plants, stones, tree roots and branches.

Planning your aquarium design

All materials selected for use as primer must be thoroughly washed before use. You can wash it in a bucket. In this case, the bucket must be constantly shaken or mixed, and in addition, the water must be changed several times. You can also rinse the material in small portions in a colander under running tap water. This must be done until the flowing water becomes clear.

Background

The background is one of important aspects decorative design of the aquarium, which aquarists often neglect. They either do not use a background at all, or do so only to hide the wallpaper behind the aquarium, as well as the cables and hoses of the aquarium equipment. However, it would be much better if the background depicted the bank of a river, pond or lake, that is, the place where shelters are mainly found in natural conditions. Fish caught by sudden danger in open water most often head for the protection of the shore. Therefore, if you provide them with such a background, it will set the direction for the aquarium and its inhabitants and provide the fish with a sense of security. This is especially important for fish that are almost always near the surface of the water and live above the level where the main aquarium decorations are located. Such fish, in the absence of a background, will feel vulnerable from all sides, and they will not have a single safe zone left. In addition, the background provides decoration for the rest of the aquarium decoration.

Aquarists who prefer an open-standing aquarium (that is, visible from all sides) or an aquarium used as a decorative partition should take into account the lack of a safe haven at the back of the aquarium and the fact that the fish are visible from all sides or even from on both sides, causing them stress.

The background can be either internal or external. In the first case, all materials used for its manufacture, including adhesives and paints, must be non-toxic and waterproof. The internal background is sometimes made three-dimensional - in this case it is made of polystyrene foam or cast from fiberglass. Sometimes the backdrop may simply consist of slate roofing tiles (real slate, not synthetic slate) mounted across the back wall of the aquarium.

To create an external background, the easiest way is to paint the outer plane of the back glass of the aquarium. The color should be dark, subdued and riverbank-like (such as black, brown or charcoal grey), but never fiery red or yellow. There are other options: you can stick paper, plastic or carpet of a suitable color onto the glass. Cork tiles create an interesting effect.

Purchasing background material

You can purchase a ready-made plastic background with an image printed on it. In pet stores, such a background is available in rolls of different heights, from which they cut desired length. For freshwater aquariums we offer different types images - stones, driftwood, plants or various combinations thereof. Obviously, the background for an aquarium with sea ​​water with images of corals and sea anemones is completely inappropriate here.

Aquascaping is a long-studied art form that allows you to create an underwater landscape. Inspiration for many of the works comes from underwater locations, as well as natural landscapes such as mountains, jungles, deserts, waterfalls and many others. Before you can create a beautiful aquarium design with your own hands, you will need a functional component of the aquarium environment. Some aquatic plants require that they be provided with rich light and nutrients.

Low operating costs of an aquascape allow you to consume a low amount of carbon dioxide, less fertilizer and lighting. Diffused or dim lighting can be just as stunning as the plants will create beautiful highlights. For aquarium design, plants, stones and wooden driftwood are usually used.

Types of aquascapes

The Iwagumi style is a stone aquarium design that came from Japan. All decorative elements are thin and pointed, but supported by flowing elements. Large stones with uneven surface placed in central part reservoir. To create an analogy with the natural environment, the stones have slopes that water can hit.

Admire the Iwagumi-style aquarium.

Iwagumi aquascapes are often used for short plants that are planted in the foreground. The emphasis is on the rocks rather than the plants. Dark and cool stones are popular in this type of design.

Dutch style is an aquascape made from many types of plants. Traditional Dutch style places minimal emphasis on stones and driftwood. The choice of plants, their color and arrangement are key factors in creating style. Dutch aquascapes visually look like dense thickets of underwater rivers. Here you can often see bright red, orange, green plants, which are planted in large quantities in the foreground, center and background. This type design involves the use of the most unusual and whimsical forms of plants. Preparing an aquascape takes a lot of time, skill and patience.

Natural style - recreates natural landscapes. Plants, driftwood and stones are arranged in such a way that they resemble a lake or river from a natural environment. This style is characterized by chaotic forms and simplicity. It is used exclusively natural materials. The placement of plants, driftwood and rocks is key. Pisces is just an addition to beautiful design. Modeling the natural environment requires careful planning. Plants for this aquascape are required to be short and attached to snags, stones or planted in the ground. The fish chosen for it are those that can enliven the landscape - barbs, swordtails, tetras, neons, angelfish (schooling species).

Symmetry

To design an aquarium with your own hands, you need to know some rules for arranging parts.

Form

1. Avoid straight lines and fenced plants. Tall seedlings in the background that spread out are not recommended. Natural views often have very few straight lines and little continuity. The best shapes are those that look like a smooth curve, or chaotic ones.
2. Natural curves and concavities are a plus - plants can be trimmed to create height at the edges and lowered in the center, creating a visual fall. This will help create more open space for the fish to swim.
3. Beveled shapes can be quite attractive - triangular shapes and islands can look natural and aesthetically pleasing. Beveled dark plants look like a river bed that gradually becomes deep.

See how you can decorate a 100 liter aquarium.

Foreground, middle ground and background (background)

It is important to differentiate each aquarium background. Each background should have both tall and low bushes of plants. Medium shot should consist of driftwood, rocks and medium-sized plants. The foreground should have beautiful broadleaf seedlings such as Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Arrowhead, Aponogeton, and others.

You can make a synthesis - stones and driftwood can be planted in the foreground, and plants can be planted on any plane to improve the appearance of the aquascape. If you can afford an open-top aquarium, then you have more opportunities to use rocks and driftwood that will stick out from the water surface.

It is better to plant plants this way: starting from the foreground and ending with the background, visually “going down” down. Long-stemmed species weigh less and easily become entangled in low plants that are in the foreground. Use silicone aquarium glue to install rocks, stones and attach them to each other. It is safer and keeps mosses, ferns and all wires in place. Also, mosses, ferns and creeping plants should be attached to a hard surface - wood or stone. Do this with aquarium glue or fishing line.

Aquarium design 200 liters with description and photo

Increasingly, most people around the world are becoming interested in aquarium keeping. And this is not at all surprising, because thanks to this hobby and the implementation of a few simple steps, you can create in your room a real corner of wildlife that will bring joy and give a great mood to both its owner and his guests. And in today’s article we will look in detail at how you can design an artificial reservoir for 200 liters.

Choosing a 200 liter aquarium

As a rule, before you think about creating a magnificent and intriguing underwater world in your room, you need to decide in advance on its shape. After all, how harmoniously it will blend with the interior of the room largely depends on it. So, a 200 liter aquarium can be:

1. Corner. Ideal for office premises. Thanks to their structure, these vessels make it possible to build incredible underwater harbors or a coral lagoon, the photo of which is presented below.
2. Wall-mounted. Registration in this way for quite a long time caused concern even among experienced aquarists. But today this option is increasingly beginning to be found both in office and home spaces.
3. Panoramic. Such vessels are distinguished by concave glass, which allows us to examine in great detail the events taking place inside the aquarium.
4. Rectangular. A standard option that is perfect for keeping all kinds of fish, for example, discus, barbs, angelfish, gourami. In addition, such a vessel allows you to implement any underwater landscape design. And this is not to mention its high quality and fairly affordable price.

It is also worth considering that an artificial pond of 200 liters has an impressive weight. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a special stand for it.

Selecting a design for an aquarium

First of all, I would like to note that the design of an aquarium should largely take into account not only interior interior premises, but also certain characteristics of its inhabitants. Thus, discus prefer the presence of pebbles as soil and the presence of small snags. Others require dense vegetation and living rocks. Therefore, we will consider several ways to decorate a vessel designed for 200 liters.

Pseudo-sea design

This design is perfect for aquarists who want to recreate a piece of the seascape in their premises. In addition, the pseudo-sea style is ideal for calm and peaceful fish. So what does it take to make it? First of all, a pleasant and calm background is selected for a 200 liter aquarium. For this purpose, both photos with corals and drawings depicting water can be suitable. After this, it’s time to choose lighting.

For this purpose you can use:

• neon lamp;
• cold light;
• standard light bulb.

Important! Many aquarium inhabitants, such as discus fish and guar fish, react differently to light intensity.

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 design as corals. Of course, you can use a design in the style of a pseudo-sea and without stones, as shown in the photo, but then you can forget about creating such beautiful decorative designs like coral slides.

As for fish, as mentioned above, predominantly peaceful and calm species are populated. For example, discus, panaka, cichlids.

But before populating an aquarium with 200 liters of its future inhabitants, it is necessary to take into account the ratio of 7 liters per individual. This is necessary in order to avoid territorial overpopulation.

Artificial Vegetation Vessel Design

In most cases, this design, a 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:

1. High life expectancy of the used decorations.
2. Possibility of content various types fish, which under standard conditions would cause irreparable damage to vegetation.
3. Lightweight and easy to care for.

So, first of all we add aquarium gravel. This choice is due to the fact that not only cichlids, but also other fish feel more comfortable in such soil. After this, you can add artificial plants, for example, driftwood with imitation Java moss. 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. Next, if desired, you can again add a little gravel to the sides of the vessel with planting red plants.

Story design

This design allows you to maximize your imagination and turn any idea into reality. So, if you wish, you can create a fairy-tale meadow, the gloomy castle of Count Dracula, or even a flooded Atlantis. Various options the decor can be seen in the photo below.

So, for this style, you can use ceramic products that imitate both various sculptural works and models of sunken vessels. It is worth emphasizing that such decorative elements will not harm the other inhabitants of the artificial reservoir, but on the contrary will serve as good shelters. For example, discus fish, in case of danger, will be able to hide their fry in them.

But it is worth noting that before creating such a design, you need to decide on the size of the decorative elements of the vegetation and, of course, the fish.

Biotope design

As a rule, discus, gouramis, angelfish and other types of fish feel most comfortable in artificial reservoirs with conditions that best match their natural habitat. That is why design 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 hard.

So, first of all, it is necessary to select for it both vegetation and fish that will feel comfortable in the reproduced landscape. For example, when planning a vessel in which discus fish are located, it is necessary not only to constantly maintain the required temperature, but also not to forget about the presence of fish at the bottom of the aquarium. large quantity small branches and leaves, among which discus live in their natural habitat.

Design nuances

In order for the decoration of an artificial pond to go as planned, you need to remember a few simple rules registration 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 ideal option would be to use collapsible structures. Also, if there are fish in the aquarium that like to burrow into the ground, then it is prohibited to use large pebbles as it. Best choice will use sand or 1-3 mm. soil.

Aquarium design: photos, video examples, styles and options

AQUARIUM DESIGN

Decorating an 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, this issue is surprisingly poorly covered on the Internet, briefly or fragmentarily. We hope this article will reveal all the aspects and nuances of aquarium design and help you create your own aquarium kingdom.

Due to the volume of this issue, let's divide the article into two sections:
1. MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR DESIGNING THE AQUARIUM: soil, stones, grottoes, driftwood, the background, artificial and live aquarium plants, aquarium lighting, shells, castles, ships.
2. MAIN DIRECTIONS, TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF DESIGN OF AQUARIUMS.

Materials necessary for decorating an aquarium

And so, as you know, in order for fish to appear in your house, you need a vessel and water. However, aquarium keeping is not just the banal keeping of fish, it is the creation of a closed ecosystem, imitation of the natural conditions of keeping aquatic organisms. It’s trite, but aquarium science begins with fish. Before you think about decorating an aquarium, first of all you need to decide on your desires and the fish that will swim in your pond. And this is very important! Each individual fish needs its own conditions of detention, its own water parameters, and other conditions. And it is precisely for them that an “aquarium house” needs to be built, this is precisely what we need to start from. For example, if you decide to keep African cichlids and at the same time want to see a garden of living aquarium plants in your aquarium... You are initially dooming yourself to a virtually impossible task. Natural habitat The habitat of most African cichlids is the rocky banks of the river. Nyasa and r. Tanganika, there are no plants, no algae - this is a “stone desert”. If you place plants in an aquarium with cichlids, they will pull them out and destroy them.
Based on what has been said, we advise you to first decide on the fish that will live in your aquarium, study their characteristics and habits, read and find out the conditions for keeping them. And then start and think about decorating the aquarium.
DESIGNING AN AQUARIUM WITH GROUND 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 the life of fish. It is important to choose the right fraction of soil, it is important to choose the required volume of soil, and only then the color of the soil. On our website there is good article about the selection and selection of soil, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with - HERE.

Talking about decorative properties soil, it is recommended to choose soil of darker tones so that bright and light colors the aquarium bottom was not overshadowed by the charm and beauty of the “main heroes of the occasion” - the fish. DESIGNING THE AQUARIUM WITH STONES AND GROTTOES. An important technical nuance when decorating an aquarium with stones, grottoes, caves, etc. is the use of non-toxic, non-toxic materials. If stones and driftwood are selected and made independently, you need to do everything according to the rules and make sure that they do not release into the water harmful substances. Certainly the decorations should not be made of limestone, rubber and metal, no paints or 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 " usable 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 taken into account that large decorative elements are installed along the edges of the aquarium or in the background. Don't put a huge castle in the middle!!! This is the equivalent of people putting the refrigerator in the middle of the kitchen instead of in the corner. An aquarium is an amphitheater of life!
DESIGNING AN AQUARIUM WITH A 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 of an aesthetic role than a technical one.
For information on what types of aquarium backgrounds there are, how to make and attach them, see HERE.

DECORATING 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 like and how many there will be will determine how your aquarium “window” will look. We recommend you look at this wonderful article on this topic - HERE.
AQUARIUM LIGHT DESIGN

The power and spectrum of light is important for aquarium plants - this is their source of life. When it comes to decorating an aquarium, the color of the light is important. Today there is a huge variety color range aquarium lamps. Choose according to your taste! Moreover, there are various bottom aquarium lights in the form of volcanoes, lanterns and LED aerators. Here they are.




DESIGNING THE AQUARIUM WITH ANOTHER DECOR. Aquariums can be decorated with shells, castles, ships, diver figures, skulls, etc. At the same time, it is not necessary to buy all this at a pet store at an exorbitant 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 figures of divers should not be made of rubber. See also the article Seashells in an aquarium.
MAIN DIRECTIONS, TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF AQUARIUM DESIGN
The classic design options for a fish aquarium are:
Biotope– such an aquarium is designed to match the specific water landscape of a lake or stream.
Dutch- an aquarium, the main place in which is given to plants. Such an aquarium is popularly called a “herbalist”. The most famous Dutch aquariums are created by a 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, you can most often find "household aquarium"- where the above principles are not observed. In such aquariums you can often find castles, amphorae, divers, skulls, etc., etc., etc. In addition, there is a whole industry children's aquariums. Here's an example:


There are other directions in aquarium design.
As they say, how many people have so many opinions.
Next, let's clearly see the design options for an aquarium.
Pseudo-sea aquariums Such aquariums are designed and imitate marine aquariums - the seabed. The prefix “pseudo” indicates that such a reservoir does not contain sea fish. Only the surroundings are created!
As a rule, brightly colored fish are selected for such an aquarium, which are often characteristic of cichlids, 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 natural conditions fish habitat. It contains live aquarium plants, driftwood, stones, but “in a lightweight form.” Such aquariums do not require the aquarist to have special knowledge about plant life. Basic care for them is the key to success and achieving your goals.






Truly Dutch aquarium - “herbalist” These are densely planted aquariums. Completely imitating all the beauty of freshwater bodies of water. To create such an aquarium, you need knowledge about plants, you need to study the issue of feeding aquarium plants and using a CO2 system for the aquarium.






Household, children's, themed aquarium Such aquariums are designed according to a specific idea. As a rule, this is a person’s fiction and fantasy.






Futuristic aquariums or Glo aquariums Relatively recently, the fashion for creating Glo-reservoirs has become fashionable among aquarists. 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. Read more about Glo-fish are here.






Marine aquariums These are aquariums that contain marine, saltwater fish. The aquarium is riddled marine theme. The disadvantage of such reservoirs is the price and the huge cost of maintenance.






Cichlid A species aquarium that contains only fish from the cichlid family.
Look CICHLID - cichlids in an aquarium





There are also industrial and show aquariums


We wish you success in designing and creating your own individual aquarium kingdom; below are additionally presented photos that clearly show all the diversity and flight of aquarium thought in the issue covered.







Video about decorating an aquarium

Aquarium: DIY decoration. Aquarium design styles and options

Nowadays, beautiful and fashionable design of an aquarium for a person involved in keeping and breeding fish is not just entertainment, but a matter of prestige and simply aesthetic pleasure from contemplating the results of his labors.

Psychologists say that an aquarium with fish located in an apartment can calm the nerves and normalize a person’s mental state. To do this, you just need to organize a relaxation area with an aquarium and watch the fish for at least 30-60 minutes. in a day.

Aquarium: DIY decoration

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. Decorating it yourself will allow you to recreate as accurately as possible exactly the environment that you want to see there. Just do not forget that the main inhabitants of the aquarium are fish. And they need 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:

• stones;
• natural and artificial algae;
• pebbles;
• various wooden elements;
• artificial decorative elements, such as locks, chests, etc.

Examples

let's consider next steps and examples of aquarium design:

• covering the bottom with soil;
• decorating the aquarium with stones and grottoes;
• decorating an aquarium using a properly selected background;
• use of different types of plants;
• correct selection of lighting;
• decorating an aquarium using decorative elements.

Each of them has its own specific rules, which will be described below.

Laying the bottom with soil

The soil for the aquarium bottom is one of the main and integral attributes. Before purchasing it in a specialized store, decide what type of aquarium you want to have, since this natural material must be purchased according to a specific purpose. Yes, yes, you heard right: a certain type of soil is taken for each purpose.

So, if you have small fish living in your aquarium, then it is best to buy a fine type of soil, while large-grained or mixed soil will suit the larger inhabitants of the tank. A similar approach is acceptable when you decide to set up a Dutch-style aquarium at home, that is, a tank in which plants predominate rather than fish.

In addition, when choosing a bottom coating, you must take into account the individual habits of the exotic aquarium fish you have chosen. If you purchased goldfish or certain types of catfish, you must remember that they love to rummage in the ground. Therefore, you cannot buy fine soil for them, otherwise there will always be fog in the aquarium. To avoid this, you need to purchase a bottom covering of such a size that they cannot dig through it.

It is best to buy a plain cover for the aquarium. It is best to choose a dark-colored bottom base, as it will highlight the inhabitants of your fish house.

Before placing the purchased soil in the aquarium, it must be thoroughly washed or, which is ideal, doused with boiling water.

Stones and grottoes

How is an aquarium decorated with stones and grottoes? These parts chosen for decoration should be made only from 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 independently collecting decorative elements for an aquarium, do-it-yourself decoration is done 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.

Processing stones and driftwood

Stones can be processed in the same way as soil for the bottom of an aquarium, but pre-processing driftwood is a little more complicated. To do this, you need to place the selected wooden decor into a container with water (so that the liquid completely covers it) and add salt there until it stops dissolving, then remove the treated driftwood and, after rinsing it with clean water, place it in the purchased fish tank.

Do not forget that in no case should the aquarium contain elements made of limestone, rubber, various types of metals, as well as elements coated with paint or enamel.

Also, you should not oversaturate the aquarium with decor, especially with large elements, such as stones, grottoes, etc., as this leads to a decrease in the useful internal space necessary for underwater inhabitants for vital movement.

Do not forget that large decorative elements should be placed in the corners of the container or in the background so as not to spoil the entire appearance.

Decorating an aquarium with the right background

The so-called background is an important element of aquarium decor. Since the background covering sets the mood for your entire creation, you should not choose dark and gloomy tones that have a spirit of despondency and sadness.

There are several background options for aquariums:

• You can simply paint the back wall of the tank in a color of your choice. This path has its pros and cons. An undeniable advantage is the uniqueness and 100% originality of your brainchild. The list of disadvantages includes certain difficulties with changing an existing background (removing it with a solvent).
• Background in the form of a colored plastic film, having an unlimited number of different variation solutions, among which everyone can choose the most suitable one for him. In addition, the price of such a film will be almost imperceptible in your pocket, and it can be installed or removed very quickly.
• Panels and dioramas for the aquarium. Do-it-yourself decoration in this case is an ideal option, since these parts can not only be purchased in the store, but also made independently using the following available materials: small pebbles, driftwood and branches, foam plastic and polyurethane foam. But we must not forget about the environmental friendliness and natural origin of the selected materials, so as not to harm the fish. Such decorative elements will always be one of a kind.

Rules for gluing film

Such a film can be attached both to the outside and to the inside of the back wall. If you want to get more saturated colors, then, of course, it is better to stick it from the inside.

Before gluing the film, you must 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 at a pet store. Do not use regular sealant under any circumstances, as the consequences of its use can be irreparable for aquarium inhabitants.

If you decide to stick the film inside the aquarium, then you should not skimp on silicone: it is better to coat the film very carefully, especially its upper edge, to avoid the possibility of it peeling off. After fixing, wait until the material has completely dried, and only then fill the tank with water.

Decorating an aquarium with various types of plants: live or artificial

If you have purchased an aquarium and are decorating it, then do not forget about purchasing and planting various types of algae. There is no need to oversaturate the container with them, but you can’t do without them, since they saturate the water with oxygen and are food for some types of fish.

They also act as a “nursery” for newly born fish, since only by hiding in algae can they survive, since it is common among many species of fish to eat their young. Those species of fish that spawn hide them on or under sheets of algae.

Planting and caring for live aquarium plants

Before purchasing aquarium plants, it is best to consult with a seller at a pet store; he will help you choose the ideal plants, and also tell you how to properly plant them in the aquarium so that they please 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 thickness of the soil 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. At the same time, its roots should be in a straightened state.

Choosing the right lighting

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, but also the health of its inhabitants depends on it, since the strength of the light flux and its spectrum are vital for plants.

Today there is a huge number of different lights, both external and fully adapted for working underwater, so everyone can find the option that suits them. To help the novice aquarist, many different manuals have been published to help set up an aquarium correctly and quickly. The photos below will help make this process as simple and easy as possible.

Decorating an aquarium using decorative elements

When decorating an aquarium with decorative elements, you must remember that they must be environmentally friendly and free of harmful impurities, and in no case should you oversaturate the aquarium with them.

You can use both purchased and self-made decor.

Styles

Today there are various styles aquarium design. All of them are very richly presented in the 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 stand out the following options aquarium decoration:

• Biotope, which is the landscape of a single body of water.
• Dutch design style, placing the main emphasis on the richness of the underwater flora, and not on the fish.
• Geographic - an aquarium with representatives of the animal and plant world of a particular region.
• The pseudo-sea aquarium is stylized to resemble the seabed without plants, and its inhabitants are brightly colored fish. Since such a tank is decorated with large-sized decorations, such as stones, corals, artificial polyps, shells, and there is almost no vegetation, it is excellent for cichlids. After all, this is the ideal design for an aquarium for cichlids.
• Children's aquariums are designed in accordance with the child's favorite theme (games, cartoons, book plots, etc.).
• Marine aquarium with inhabitants living in salt water.
• Futuristic aquariums filled with luminous elements, including special hybrid fluorescent fish.
• Household and themed containers created based on human imagination.

The design of a corner aquarium follows the same principles as all others. A variety of types and styles of work by experts in the aquarium business, known all over the world, will help you in this difficult matter. 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 we offer will help you decorate your aquarium correctly and beautifully. They will serve as an excellent visual aid.

Aquarium: DIY design (photo)

Today it is not difficult to implement design solutions turnkey interior and exterior design of aquariums. Modern studios offer the most unusual variations in the artistic design of hidden depths. However, if you wish, you can create your own personal project, making a truly unique aquarium. A do-it-yourself design will allow you to bring any idea to life, making the created underwater world the main element of the interior of the room.

Aquadesign

It is best to keep aquarium fish for those people who see it as a pleasant activity and relaxation, and not as hassle and problems. After all, it’s not enough just to buy an aquarium and add inhabitants to it. It is also important to be able to care for it so that it not only pleases, but provides aesthetic pleasure.

The underwater world at home or in the office is a kind of living picture; it is a way to emphasize the individuality of the interior. Aqua design is an integral part of aquarium keeping. Its special uniqueness is guaranteed by its own vision of the design of the underwater world. When thinking through their artistic project, real aquarists approach it with all their hearts. Their main goal is to create an original landscape and a comfortable living environment for aquatic inhabitants. Such artistic design allows you to most harmoniously integrate the aquarium into the interior of the room. The design, made with your own hands, allows you to realize the most incredible design options for compositions, from which in the future it is simply impossible to take your eyes off. These can be fabulously beautiful sea, rocky scenes, mountain valleys, mangrove forests.

With your wild imagination, you can create the most incredible decoration projects. However, they all require a clear concept - from their development to implementation. First of all, you need to decide on the style of the aquarium and its features. It is also important to take into account the size of the aquarium and its shape, so that the chosen style is appropriate for a given area. Selection internal filling The aquarium and its appearance must harmoniously blend into the surrounding environment.

Great importance also have fish. The design is developed for them, taking into account their usual habitat. Compositions are made depending on the type of fish. Many of them require shelter, without which they may die. Some of them like to hide in the sandy bottom, some prefer small thickets. The role of shelters is excellently performed by snags and grottoes. These decorations, with special lighting, add special charm and mystery to the underwater world. They allow you to create unique compositions and a real paradise for exotic inhabitants, for which your aquarium has become a new habitat. The design, made with your own hands, makes it possible to implement any creative ideas, if you wish.

Types of aquariums

Decorations for the object environment of the underwater world serve as a win-win decoration for the aquarium. But the main component of the interior design is its thriving biosystem.

Aquariums according to their purpose are divided into decorative and special (spawning, selection, nursery, quarantine and others). The most popular of them are species and biotope.

A species aquarium will not only decorate the interior of your home, but will also give you a unique opportunity to observe a certain type of fish or their closely related species. Its inhabitants have a significant influence on the design of the aquarium. It’s not at all difficult to design it with your own hands, but before implementing the idea, you should seriously familiarize yourself with the habits of the selected fish in their natural habitat.

Biotope aquariums reproduce an imitation of any natural biotope with a characteristic species of fish, plants and certain parameters their usual habitat.

Design styles

There is no single qualification for aquarium design. Typically, the design of a project is carried out according to established stylistic directions. The main ones are:

• decorative;
• natural;
• Dutch;
• Japanese;
• pseudomarine;
• plot;
• vanguard;
• collector;
• seawater aquarium.

For newbies

For beginning naturalists the best option The design of the aquarium will become a collector's style. This perfect option, allowing you to “get your hand.” Absolutely everything is allowed here. You can mix plants, use their artificial imitations, or choose any aquarium. The design, brought to life with your own hands, allows you to create interesting compositions from plants of different textures and decorative elements. There is an opportunity to experiment with different storylines. The choice of plants should depend on the theme. To begin with, it is recommended to give preference to unpretentious and hardy plants.

Natural style

In 1980, Takashi Amano, a famous Japanese aquatic designer, introduced a new direction in aquarium design - the natural style. The philosophy of these aquarium paintings lies in the understanding and feeling of nature, recreated according to the principle of “Wabi – Sabi” (“modest beauty”).

This style takes inspiration from mountain and forest landscapes and water streams. With the help of various decorative elements (driftwood, stones), defining focal points design, small architectural forms are created. Their asymmetrical placement, based on the rule of the “golden ratio,” makes it possible to set the direction of the natural sense of perception of the entire composition.

Schooling fish will effectively highlight the recreated landscapes, add variety to the underwater world and literally draw attention to the aquarium. Do-it-yourself design (100 liters of volume, no less) of a miniature version in natural style It’s better to start by using no more than 5 types of plants.

Underwater garden

The Dutch style is considered one of the most beautiful trends in creating an underwater world. It’s quite exciting to create a similar aquarium design with your own hands. 250 liters for creating an underwater garden is quite the optimal option.

The basis of this style are aquarium plants of various textures, shapes, sizes and colors. Paths made of green spaces, occupying almost the entire main area of ​​the bottom, allow you to create an amazing effect of depth. Architectural forms in the form of decorative driftwood and stones are present in limited quantities. A well-kept underwater garden is visually perfect and interesting.

Seawater aquarium

Many people today are passionate about breeding marine fish. It is more difficult to prepare a biological environment for them, especially when using living corals, which are quite demanding on water parameters. But experienced naturalists are quite capable of creating such an aquarium design with their own hands. 200 liters is the optimal average volume for enjoying the contemplation of the underwater world. It should not be overpopulated with living beings, since such a tank has a limited life support system.

It is necessary to design a marine aquarium taking into account its type, which is not last resort depends on the inhabitants. These can be predators (sharks, rays, moray eels), non-predatory fish (zebrasoma, angelfish and other species) or corals and invertebrate sea anemones. Predatory fish are considered the most unpretentious; invertebrates are more difficult to care for and can die from minor deviations in the chemical parameters of water.

To support the life support of such aquariums, it is worth purchasing expensive equipment. It will need to be decoded, this is worth taking into account when designing an aquarium with your own hands. The photo demonstrates how successfully you can hide all the wires, hoses and tubes, decorating the background with picturesque coral reefs, rocks and shelters for fish in the form of mysterious grottoes and caves.

Aquascape

Having acquired practical skills and relying on the experience gained over time, you can try to master such a special type of art, a kind of analogue of landscape design for parks and gardens, as aquascape.

This is a DIY aquarium landscape design that more experienced aquarists can create. They organize the underwater world using certain aquascape rules. This direction in aquadesign implies a composition thought out to the smallest detail. To create an underwater landscape, decorative elements, plants and inhabitants are selected that can not only coexist peacefully, but also express the main idea contained in the landscape.

Aquarium background

A beautiful background for decorating the back wall of an aquarium is easily created using special films on which images of the underwater world are printed. They can also simply have a rich blue color, creating the effect of depth and contrast. But it is much more interesting, using your imagination, to think about the background, the size and volume of the tank, the decorations used and include everything in the developed aquarium design with your own hands: 250 liters, there is a stone background, spectacular driftwood, stones, moss, various plants- all these elements will come in handy.

It is worth noting that the background of an aquarium often gives the entire composition (especially volumetric ones) a unique charm and naturalness aquatic environment. It is not difficult to create it with your own hands, using, for example, foam plastic broken into different pieces, which is glued to back wall aquarium and painted with special paint in intermittent strokes. The result is an excellent imitation of a stone background. It can be made in a similar way, using pieces of bark from driftwood.

The composition can be created from dead coral, stones from a sea reef. In a marine aquarium, small invertebrates, polyps and other inhabitants will find refuge here.

The design of an aquarium, developed and executed with your own hands, allows you to implement a considerable number of excellent ideas for story aquariums using exotic plants, shells, sea pebbles. An incredible number of them can be brought to life by creating your own “rock gardens”. And then enjoy watching bright fish with unusual colors flash against their background.

The main thing is not to overdo it with decorative elements, plants and inhabitants of the aquarium. Everything should be harmoniously combined, give pleasure to its creator and not harm the fish.

Aquarium - interior element

Thanks to their unusual beauty, modern aquariums can become a real pearl of any interior. The variety of styles and shapes is simply amazing. Aquariums can be suspended, floor-mounted, or built-in. Diorama aquariums create a stunning effect indoors; their shape seems to promote immersion in the exciting aquatic world. A hand-decorated version improves well-being and lifts your spirits. Today it is not uncommon to even have a dry aquarium. The design, carried out with your own hands, allows you to give yourself an unusual creative concept of a seascape. Many solutions can be created through an incredible flight of creativity. It's definitely simple and incredibly fun!

Aquascaping is a long-studied art form that allows you to create an underwater landscape. Inspiration for many of the works comes from underwater locations, as well as natural landscapes such as mountains, jungles, deserts, waterfalls and many others. Before you can create a beautiful aquarium design with your own hands, you will need a functional component of the aquarium environment. Some aquatic plants require intense light and nutrients to grow.

Low operating costs of an aquascape allow you to consume a low amount of carbon dioxide, less fertilizer and lighting. Diffused or dim lighting can be just as stunning as the plants will create beautiful highlights. For aquarium design, plants, stones and wooden driftwood are usually used.

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Types of aquascapes

The Iwagumi style is a stone aquarium design that came from Japan. All decorative elements are thin and pointed, but supported by flowing elements. Large stones with an uneven surface are placed in the central part of the tank. To create an analogy with the natural environment, the stones have slopes that water can hit.

Admire the Iwagumi-style aquarium.

Iwagumi aquascapes are often used for short plants that are planted in the foreground. The emphasis is on the rocks rather than the plants. Dark and cool stones are popular in this type of design.

Dutch style is an aquascape made from many types of plants. Traditional Dutch style places minimal emphasis on stones and driftwood. The choice of plants, their color and arrangement are key factors in creating style. Dutch aquascapes visually look like dense thickets of underwater rivers. Here you can often see bright red, orange, green plants, which are planted in large quantities in the foreground, center and background. This type of design involves the use of the most unusual and whimsical forms of plants. Preparing an aquascape takes a lot of time, skill and patience.

Natural style - recreates natural landscapes. Plants, driftwood and stones are arranged in such a way that they resemble a lake or river from a natural environment. This style is characterized by chaotic forms and simplicity. It uses exclusively natural materials. The placement of plants, driftwood and rocks is key. Pisces are just an addition to a beautiful design. Modeling the natural environment requires careful planning. Plants for this aquascape are required to be short and attached to snags, stones or planted in the ground. The fish chosen for it are those that can enliven the landscape - barbs, swordtails, tetras, neons, angelfish (schooling species).

Symmetry

To design an aquarium with your own hands, you need to know some rules for arranging parts.

Form

1. Avoid straight lines and fenced plants. Tall seedlings in the background that spread out are not recommended. Natural views often have very few straight lines and little continuity. The best shapes are those that look like a smooth curve, or chaotic ones.
2. Natural curves and concavities are a plus - plants can be trimmed to create height at the edges and lowered in the center, creating a visual fall. This will help create more open space for the fish to swim.
3. Beveled shapes can be quite attractive - triangular shapes and islands can look natural and aesthetically pleasing. The sloping dark plants look like a river bed that gradually becomes deep.

See how you can decorate a 100 liter aquarium.

Foreground, middle ground and background (background)

It is important to differentiate each aquarium background. Each background should have both tall and low bushes of plants. The middle ground should consist of driftwood, rocks and medium-sized plants. The foreground should have beautiful broadleaf seedlings such as Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Arrowhead, Aponogeton, and others.

You can make a synthesis - stones and driftwood can be planted in the foreground, and plants can be planted on any plane to improve the appearance of the aquascape. If you can afford an open-top aquarium, then you have more opportunities to use rocks and driftwood that will stick out from the water surface.

It is better to plant plants this way: starting from the foreground and ending with the background, visually “going down” down. Long-stemmed species weigh less and easily become entangled in low plants that are in the foreground. Use silicone aquarium glue to install rocks, stones and attach them to each other. It is safer and keeps mosses, ferns and all wires in place. Also, mosses, ferns and creeping plants should be attached to a hard surface - wood or stone. Do this with aquarium glue or fishing line.