Brackish Fish Tank Decorating Ideas

When freshwater and marine water combine, brackish water is formed. Decorations in an aquarium with brackish water must be able to withstand the salinity of the marine water and provide nutrients to brackish fish. Choose live plants, natural decor and mass-produced aquarium decorations for your brackish tank. Demonstrate your aquatics knowledge by decorating the tank to resemble a native brackish environment, while providing a comfortable environment for fish, crabs and shrimp.

  1. Live Plants

    • Decorating a brackish fish tank with live plants provides natural beauty and healthy native vegetation for brackish fish to enjoy. Marine algae such as caulerpa are a good choice for brackish aquariums, according to Badman's Tropical Fish. Other live plants that will flourish in brackish water include cryptocorne bekketti, hairgrass, hornwort, java moss, java fern, water sprite and vallisneria. Anacharis and milfoil plants can be anchored in the substrate or tucked among driftwood pieces.

    Natural Decor

    • Rocks, stones, shells and driftwood are often used to decorate brackish aquariums with a natural flare. Bogwood is a popular driftwood among aquarists, but be warned it may turn the aquarium water a slightly brown hue and should be used sparingly for this reason. Dead coral or ceramic replicas of coral add to the marine environment. Clam, mussel and snail shells can be nestled into the substrate of the aquarium for added authenticity.

    Manufactured Decorations

    • Choose decorations that resemble tree roots to replicate a mangrove environment. The brackish fish will enjoy swimming and hiding among the roots, while the decoration provides an authentic aquatic scene. Choose manufactured decorations made from ceramic or slate, as these will tolerate the saline water better than plastic or rubber decorations.

    Substrate

    • In naturally occurring brackish environments including mangrove swamps, estuaries and salt marshes, the ground is covered in sand, silt or mud. Replicate theses types of substrates to make a brackish fish tank appear like a true brackish environment. Make aquarium maintenance simple and choose silica sand from a pet store or aquatics retailer. A 1-inch layer of silica sand substrate will decorate the bottom of the tank and provide enough space for live plant roots.