Saltwater Aquascape Ideas

Saltwater aquascaping ̵1; the practice of decorating a marine aquarium ̵1; is a challenging and rewarding hobby. Saltwater aquascapes often reflect a coral reef ecosystem for two reasons: the majority of organisms available for saltwater aquaria come from reef environments, and those species are extremely colorful and active. Home aquarium enthusiasts are not, however, limited to reef aquascapes when designing their saltwater tanks.

  1. Perspective

    • No matter which decorations you select, place the elements in a formation that offers the best perspective for viewing. Position small rocks, coral or shells at the front of the tank, and large pieces of stone or wood at the back. Remember to leave hiding places for the fish and invertebrates.

    Natural Reef Ecosystem

    • This type of aquascape replicates a naturally occurring habitat, with the same type of substrate, plants, rocks and other items (such as shells or driftwood) found in that environment. For example, to create a Hawaiian coral reef in your saltwater tank, you might use crushed coral gravel and chunks of lava rock to mimic the volcanic stone of the islands. All of the fish and other species should be native to that region as well.

    Regional Design

    • This type of aquascaping includes items that evoke the fish̵7;s region. For example, if you have species of fish that are native to Southeast Asia, then decorate the tank not only with substrate and rocks, but also with ceramic pagodas or miniature statues of Buddha to evoke the region̵7;s culture. (Read labels or warnings of non-natural elements to make sure they are safe for marine aquaria).

    Room Design

    • Design a saltwater aquascape to match the décor of the room in which it is located. Choose artificially colored gravel, rock and plastic (not live) plants that blend with the look of the tank̵7;s surroundings. If your living room has a mid-century modern feel to it with a green and cream color palette, pick out ivory-colored gravel and dark-green plastic plants, and keep the aquascape sparsely furnished to match the linear mid-century style. Add fish that thrive without a lot of hiding places or cover, and don̵7;t choose fish that are shy or timid.

    Monochrome

    • Monochromatic aquascapes are very contemporary and contain elements of the same color. Play with color contrasts between aquascapes and fish. Since most saltwater aquarium fish are very colorful, choose a neutral color for the gravel, rock and other décor (such as gray), and then add brightly colored fish in a contrasting tone (such as yellow tangs).