Aquarium Ornaments - a Guide to Wood, Rocks and Decor in the Fish Tank
Ornamental hardscape is the largest element of an aquascape. The aquatic plants supply the natural living structure whilst the solid heart of the scape is provided by carefully placed wood and rocks. The goal of aquascaping is to mimic nature within the aquarium. Driftwood and river rocks are carefully put into locations in that they compliment the plants and draw the viewers eye to the correct locations.
Unusual, very branchy wood or jagged striped rocks can be quite attractive to an audience. It is very important to utilize earthy blacks and browns. These colors enhance the natural atmosphere of the aquarium and provide an excellent contrast to green red and plants. In a aquascape plastic fake or artificial decor should be avoided. The best goal is to replicate a bit of nature within four walls of glass.
Drift Wood
Thinner stems and the branchier arms of the driftwood make more interesting aquarium centerpieces. Fifty per cent of a stump lying in a planted aquarium tank has little appeal. Choosing pieces which look naturally fallen without visible cut marks increase the natural beauty. Wood with unusual bends and fronds can be ideal for applying moss and plants. A fascinating idea is to have the wood decreasing to the tank like in nature as if it had fallen from the nearby tree. Placing the driftwood rising up is another unusual method found in modern aquascapes. Some aquarium hobbyists used this effect to generate trees out of moss. The aquascaping guide may help deciding how to place the drift wood.
If you collect wood yourself you MUST ensure that you boil it over and over and let it sit in a tub for at least a week to eliminate the majority of the tannins. These will stain your water an ugly brown and soften your pH. “Driftwood” is what you would like, it's been exposed to the weather and most of the water changing tannins will soon be gone, if you buy it from a store make sure you wash it to eliminate any chemical bleaches they could have applied.
Rocks are another great addition and can often compliment wood within an aquascape. It is very important to only choose natural coloured rocks. Red desert rock and white hole rock can look striking nevertheless when put into the tank they can draw too much attention and turns out to be over powering. Softer colours like black, grey, and deep browns are the best. Before putting the rock to the water make sure it will not react and make the water more acidic or harder. The easiest way to test is to place vinegar on a tiny non-exposed part of the rock. When it bubbles don't risk the rock or stone in your aquarium and source an alternative type.