How to Make an Aquarium Shimmer

An aquarium can be an entertaining and engaging way to keep a pet in your home. Fish take little care and are at home in an aquarium where they have plenty of room to swim. With proper upkeep, your aquarium can also be a showcase in your home that attracts the attention of guests and spurs conversation. If you want to make your aquarium shimmer, a few tips and techniques will help you accomplish that goal.

Things You'll Need

  • Fluorescent aquarium lights
  • Halogen light fixture
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the aquarium decorations and gravel out of your tank.

    • 2

      Rinse the decorations and gravel using warm, running water. Do not use soap.

    • 3

      Allow the decorations and gravel to dry.

    • 4

      Remove your fish and put them in small containers filled with aquarium water.

    • 5

      Drain your aquarium and replace the old water with fresh, clean water. Adjust the saltiness if you keep a saltwater tank.

    • 6

      Return the clean decorations and gravel to the tank. When they are clean, they are more likely to catch the light and shimmer.

    • 7

      Change the lighting in your aquarium.

    • 8

      Replace your current lighting with fluorescent lighting and one halogen fixture. Jeff Senske and Mike Senske, authors of "The Inspired Aquarium: Ideas and Instructions for Living with Aquariums," note that using a combination of fluorescent and halogen will create an effect that looks like shimmering rays dancing through the water.

    • 9

      Position the single halogen light fixture to shine on one focal point of the aquarium, such as a large decoration. Alternatively, shine it directly into the center of the tank.

    • 10

      Adjust the halogen light until you achieve your desired amount of shimmer.