Fishkeeping is the personal responsibility and hobby of maintaining any type of fish within a tank, pond, or bowl, complemented by necessary accessories. Aquascaping is the art of turning their living spaces into something more beautiful.
While you can hypothetically get someone to do the heavy lifting for you, this can be pricey and less unique. Here’s how to get started when you’re interested in setting one up in your Solano Grand condo space.
Starting with a Solid Foundation
To optimize aquascaping comfortably and at its best, you will need an aquarium that can hold more than 20 gallons to avoid cramping the space with large and heavy materials. Buy different core substrates for the ground and level them; this acts as a healthy and functional flooring. Do not fill it up yet, but if yours is already full, don’t worry; just transfer the fish somewhere safe while you drain the insides of the tank.
Finding the Best Decor
As much as possible, go for natural resources such as driftwood, rocks, live plants, etcetera. Plastic decor carries a variety of chemical risks and has a chance to scratch or scrape your fish’s scales. The only exception is for intentional designs such as a bridge, barrels, and others. Besides, authentic ornaments bring a more lively atmosphere, help absorb waste products and nutrients, and improve water quality.
The Necessary Tool Kit
Of course, you will need crucial pieces of equipment to stick, place, or hold pieces in place, as we cannot solely rely on them to stay put. Starting with the most vital one, it’s the cyanoacrylate, or simply, the super glue of underwater decor. Pair it with a piece of cotton, filter floss, or a dispensing spray, and you will effortlessly bond two things together safely (even live ones!). You will also need: scissor variations, tweezers, a siphon, glass cleaners, and levelers.
How to do the Process
Start by watching some tutorials on social media platforms, surfing the web for inspiration and ideas, and visualizing and confirming how it will look in the aquarium. Do not rush the process; work slowly and gradually with your tools and decor to minimize imperfections. However, if anything goes wrong or it doesn’t look the way you expected, don’t worry; be proud of yourself; this is just your first aquascaping! Most importantly, focus more on the experience, as this is what will help you improve later on as you advance.