Ideas for How to Decorate a Brackish Fish Tank

Brackish waters are found where salt water and fresh water mix. These habitats are sometimes recreated in fish tanks. A variety of ways can be used to decorate these specialized aquariums, including with natural plants or artificial ornaments. Not only will these decorations add to the aesthetics of your tank, but they'll also provide needed shelter for the fish in it.

  1. Brackish Plants

    • Live plants can add a natural and beneficial decoration to your brackish tank. A variety of plants grow naturally where salt and fresh water meet. A mangrove is one of these aquatic plants that can be placed in your tank. Hygrophila, sagittaria and vallisneria are a few other plants that can be purchased at a pet store and planted in the aquarium. Not only will these decorations look authentic, but they'll also provided shelter, oxygen and food for your fish.

    Natural Decorations

    • In addition to plants, add some other natural ornaments to your tank with rocks, pebbles, driftwood and shells. Think about what would be naturally found in your style of brackish waters. For example, if you're trying to recreate a mangrove swamp, which is where the ocean flows into fresh water, consider using tree roots in your setup. Buy these decorations from a pet store or other fish supplier so you know they're not contaminated with pollutants that can harm your tank.

    Artificial Decorations

    • If you're not comfortable using live decorations like plants, spruce up your brackish fish tank with artificial decorations. These ornaments, which are often made from plastic, don't require any upkeep and won't die. Some of these artificial decorations can still recreate a natural brackish aquascape through fake plants and driftwood. You also can opt for more unrealistic fish tank decorations, including sunken ships, pirates and cartoon characters.

    Substrate

    • Substrate is a natural material found on the bottom of water beds, including brackish waters, that can be included in a fish tank. This type can be plain aquarium gravel, which comes in a variety of colors. For more authentic brackish tanks, mix in a bit of silica sand to natural-colored gravels. Stir in broken seashells to the substrate, too. This material will encourage plant growth if you include some laterite, a substrate fertilizer.