The Swell Guide to Aquarium hardscape (2023)

FAQs

How do you arrange hardscapes in an aquarium? ›

If just using rocks, place the largest rocks first (in size order,) and then add smaller pieces around the bases. Keep the hardscape away from the front, back and sides of the tank as that's where the aquarium plants will go. It also makes algae scraping and substrate vacuuming easier during maintenance.

The classic way to do this is to simply place three or four large, flat rocks on the bottom of the tank and then place one large slab on top of them like a table. Repeat this sort of structure across the tank to create as many caves as will be required for the fish being kept.

CO2 is arguably the most important element in the planted aquarium. It is required for respiration and growth by all aquatic plants, used in a process called photosynthesis. Plants require a constant supply of CO2 during the light hours, otherwise they can suffer.

Plants definitely grow better with the addition of CO2, but some plants don't need additional CO2 at all. A thriving, healthy planted aquarium can be created without CO2, as long as you choose the right plants, and light it accordingly.

The Rule of Thirds

In terms of aquascaping, if you divide your tank (or your “canvas”) into three equal vertical and horizontal sections, you end up with a grid divided into nine rectangles.

Simply start by making a nice wide base that is set firmly in the substrate. Then add rocks in layers, making sure that each rock is very stable (remember, fish can bump into them and knock them over). I usually try a rock at a certain location and then push on it in all directions.

For aquascaping, you will likely want to cement/epoxy several pieces together to make cool overhangs, caves, and to create a stable base. Epoxy and cement work great for this. If you are doing a large aquascaping project, you will probably want to go with cement as tubes of epoxy can be quite expensive.

Depth is important too. Gravel needs to be at least two inches deep to anchor live or artificial plants, or if covering an undergravel filter. Too deep and the tank loses fish swimming height, and it traps a lot of dirt.

In conclusion, too much CO2 in a planted tank can lead to a CO2 overdose and serious consequences for the fish and plants. It is crucial to maintain proper CO2 levels in the tank and use high-quality CO2 equipment.

An aquarium air pump is a device that injects air into a tank's water. At the top of a tank, oxygen enters the water and carbon dioxide is released with the help of surface agitation.

Can plants have too much CO2 aquarium? ›

The presence of carbon dioxide is not considered a major problem in most aquariums and, in fact, is important for photosynthesis in a planted aquarium. However, high levels can be detrimental because carbon dioxide reduces the ability of a fish's blood to transport oxygen.

Aerosol CO2 sets are perhaps the cheapest and quickest way to add CO2 to a planted aquarium. They consist of a pressurised CO2 can, a hose, and a diffuser. Press the button on the can and the diffuser fills with Carbon dioxide gas.

In conclusion, if you're looking for aquarium plants that don't require CO2, there are plenty of options to choose from. Anubias, Java fern, Amazon sword, cryptocoryne, and vallisneria are all great choices for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.

However, plants can only do this during daylight hours when they undergo photosynthesis from your aquarium lighting. During the day, aquatic plants absorb CO2, producing O2, and during the night they absorb O2 and produce CO2.

It is basically a line segment subdivided at a ratio of approximately 1 to 1.618. The larger part of the line segment and the smaller one are in the same ratio as the entire line segment and its larger part. Since the Antique, this proportion has been considered especially pleasing and harmonious.

Generally speaking, if you unintentionally add a substrate into your aquarium that changes the water, you are going to have a bad time. Using play sand as a substrate, for instance, can introduce silicates into your water, which can then lead to an outbreak of brown algae.

The width of a tank should be at least half the length, or maybe even a bit more. An example: a tank with a front length of 60 cm should be at least 30 cm wide. Popular aquascaping tanks such as the ADA 60-P meet these requirements. The Scaper's Tanks by Dennerle are especially wide.

Aquarium gravel, or any other material placed on the bottom of the tank, is referred to as substrate. Beneficial bacteria reside in your aquarium's substrate and break down fish waste, leftover food, and plant debris to keep the water conditions healthy.

The principal danger of using your own outdoor gravel and stones in an aquarium is the possibility that they contain calcium, which can alter the pH of aquarium water. But before testing, make sure to also wash the stones thoroughly to remove all loose grit and contaminants.

Gel super glue is good for connecting small pieces of hardscape which has good contact with other hardscape piece. It is easy to hide and if the contact is good, can bare quite a bit of weight when left to fully cure.

What is the best glue for rocks in a fish tank? ›

When it comes to gluing down anything in your aquarium – rocks, gravel, plants or decorations – there is just one tube of glue that you need to reach for… What is this? Cyanoacrylate gel… Better known as super glue gel!

Avoid using rocks that have a high salt or calcium content, such as limestone, marble, and dolomite. Shells and corals are also not suitable for most freshwater aquariums, except for African cichlid tanks, which prefer higher pH and hardness.

A natural brown, tan, or black bottom can make them look significantly more vibrant. Still, if you really enjoy a light tan or white substrate color, using plants and other sources of cover will encourage your aquarium fish to remain vibrant.

By not having any sand, bare bottom fish tanks allow you to have significantly more flow. You can have powerheads at or near the bottom of the aquarium. You can also keep a higher flow without stirring up sand. This increase in water flow can help the health and growth of your SPS corals.

The ideal substrate for plecos is fine gravel or soft sand because it will allow the pleco to filter through the substrate to find food. The tank should be densely planted, especially with broad-leafed species like Java Fern and Anubias, to ensure that the pleco can feed on algae growing on the surface of the leaves.

Gravel is the best choice of substrate for planted tanks, as it provides a firm anchor point for roots. Also, fish waste will work its way into the gravel, where it provides a natural source of fertilizer for your plants.

Stirring the sand bed regularly will mix in oxygen and prevent anaerobic pockets from forming. I recommend stirring up the sand bed after you vacuum out wastes. Equipment: Gravel vacuum.

Fish produce CO₂ as a byproduct of respiration - so the more fish in a tank, the higher the CO₂ produced. Surface agitation increases gaseous exchange, the process of oxygen entering and carbon dioxide exiting the water. If there is not enough surface movement, CO₂ remains in the water.

The CO2 Indicator Method

A glass bubble normally containing a liquid called Bromothymol blue will be submerged within the tank for 24 hours. If there is an excessive level of carbon dioxide, the solution will turn yellow. Green indicates a well-balanced tank and blue signifies that carbon dioxide levels are too low.

For most of our tanks, lights and CO2 injection are turned on for a duration of 8 hours per day. For beginners afraid of algae, using a short light cycle such as 6 hours can be helpful. For stable, matured tanks, light duration can be pushed to 10hours+ without adverse effects.

How do I circulate CO2 in my aquarium? ›

Water flow equalizes CO2 concentration

Large aquariums often experience uneven CO2 concentrations. A solution to this problem is to install two separate filter outflow ports on both sides of the tank to create water flow that circulates the entire tank. This will help equalize CO2 concentration in the tank.

Whether you need an aquarium bubbler entirely depends on your setup. Many people use bubblers when creating a DIY equipment such as sponge filters – the bubbler is used to “drive” the filter, causing it to draw in water. If your water is not circulating or low on oxygen, then a bubbler could be just what you need!

CO2 never directly prevents algae from growing? It helps the plants so the plants can prevent the algae from growing. It is an indirect contributor, but one thing makes carbon dioxide one of the best algaecides. One of the effects of carbon dioxide injection in the tank is it turns the tank water slightly acidic.

High CO2 levels cause plants to thicken their leaves, which could worsen climate change effects, researchers say. Plant scientists have observed that when levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rise, most plants do something unusual: They thicken their leaves.

Carbon dioxide reactors provide the aquarium water with a constant flow of CO2, which is vital for your plants to grow. As CO2 is slightly acidic, it can help lower the pH inside your aquarium, as long as you keep a reactor running.

Use equal parts of baking soda and citric acid; in one bottle use 1:1 baking soda to water and 1:3 citric acid to water in the other. This reaction causes carbon dioxide to be released and then transferred into the aquarium.

In fact, adding a few fish, shrimp, or snails is highly recommended because it will create a more natural ecosystem with higher CO2 generation. As previously mentioned, fish will exhale CO2, and the plants will turn these molecules into dissolved oxygen, thus creating a win-win situation for the tank.

Instructions. Add 1 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Dose once a day.

This biochemical reaction is the same for all plants, but the faster a plant grows, the more carbon dioxide it will use up per second. By that measure, bamboo might be the best at sucking up CO₂.

Yellow Poplar (or Tulip Tree), the top carbon-storer in one New York City study, works hard under rough conditions. Silver Maple can trap nearly 25,000 pounds of CO2 in a 55 year period, according to the Center for Urban Forests.

Which plant is most efficient at converting CO2 to oxygen? ›

Pothos is the best indoor plant for oxygen because of its high rate of conversion. It was able to show a 6.5 percent decreased carbon dioxide in an experiment, where the CO2 content was reduced from 454PPM to 425PPM, resulting in higher oxygen levels.

CO2 Can Affect Fish Health

However, too much CO₂ can be detrimental in the fish keeping hobby. Excessive amounts of CO₂ in aquarium water can cause fish to gasp at the surface or ultimately suffocate if the problem is not corrected.

Their lifespan, however, is usually less than 5 years. How do I feed and maintain my aquarium plants? For healthy growth, aquatic plants need feeding just like fish do! This is overlooked by many hobbyists and all-to-often plants are simply repurchased once they've died off after a couple of weeks.

The good news is, YOU DO NOT have to experience algae in your planted aquarium. Algae normally appears when there is an imbalance in nutrients, CO2, oxygen and light. For example, too much light but too few nutrients and CO2 will cause algae. Poor distribution of CO2 and nutrients is also a common cause of algae.

Depending on the variety, its placement can be in the foreground or middle of the aquarium for smaller species or the background for larger ones. Simply plant them in a sand or gravel substrate and that's it.

First, you use a layer with good CEC, like peat, soil or clay. Then you use a large grain substrate, 3-7 mm in size, as a sealing substrate, to not let the nutrients escape in the water. Lastly, you top that off with small-size gravel (1-2 mm) or just sand.

Three major styles emerged in modern aquascaping: Nature Aquarium style, Iwagumi and the Dutch Aquarium. Each style having unique features and characteristics, with one of them – the Nature Aquarium, employing a variety of themes and sub-styles.

Best Directions

Ideally, aquariums in Vastu are always placed in the south east of the living room as it improves socialization skills, attracts kin and friendship. Place it in the north, east or north east, if you are looking for financial profits and career growth.

Cryptocoryne plants (or crypts), sword plants, bulb plants, carpeting plants, and plants that produce runners all tend to feed from the substrate and will greatly benefit from root tabs.

Most easier species can be grown purely with water column fertilization - this includes many common Swords, Crypts and Lotuses that will grow without special substrate arrangements.

What is the best substrate for crypts? ›

Aqua Soil is a superb substrate high in nutrients and creates an acidic environment for roots that crypts prefer.

Gravel is probably the most popular substrate option for many fishkeepers. The variation in shapes, sizes and colours make gravel suitable for a variety of set-ups. If you plan on buying fish tank gravel for your aquarium, it is a good idea to consider the livestock that you are keeping first.

White backgrounds provide a lot more depth to the aquascape and showcase the plants and fish very well. While a dark background absorbs the colours and generally shrinks the perspective, a white background accentuates the colours well.

In general, you can't go wrong with a 10-gallon tank, or preferably a 20 gallon+ tank.