An aquarium is like a slice of a natural water body, with a bottom covered in sand and smooth stones. In the clear, transparent water, delicate, vibrant green plants rise, and colorful fish swim gracefully.
An aquarium is not just a decorative piece in a room; it’s also a fascinating way to observe the lives of fish and aquatic plants. You can create an aquarium yourself using cut plastic bottles, various sizes of glass jars, or even cups. However, it’s usually best to buy a ready-made aquarium from a store.
Along with the aquarium, you should purchase a grotto (a piece of tuff or pumice shaped like an arch) where the fish can swim through and hide from the light. Sometimes, the grotto is positioned so that small flower pots can be placed on top of it. If the aquarium has just been painted, it should be filled with water and left for a few days until the smell of paint dissipates; during this time, you should also check for any leaks.
It’s advisable to include plants in the aquarium. To do this, coarse river sand (gravel) should be thoroughly washed and heated, then laid down in a thick layer at the bottom of the aquarium and moistened with water. Aquatic plants are planted in small clay pots using the soil they originally grew in, then covered with sand. The pots should be submerged in clean water several times before being pressed deeper into the aquarium’s sand.
Plants can also be planted directly into the aquarium substrate. Start by placing a mixture of turf soil and peat (dried at high temperatures) mixed with washed sand at the bottom, then add a layer of washed river sand on top. After that, fill and drain the aquarium with water until it becomes completely clear. Once that’s done, fill the aquarium with clean water.
To allow the plants to take root, fish should be introduced to the aquarium after 2-3 days. It’s important to ensure that the aquarium water is not colder than the water the fish were in previously.
For external decoration, use plants that trail or climb along the walls. These include species like Isolobium, Tradescantia, and various ivies. On the grottos or special shelves in the corners of the aquarium, place pots with upright-growing plants such as golden fern, snapdragon, and cyperus.
Aquatic plants help purify the water and replenish it with oxygen, which is essential for the fish’s survival.