Refresh Your Aquarium and Passion for the Hobby
Many of us keep more than one aquarium at home. Some of us even have an entire room dedicated to aquariums, also known as a “fish room.” Fishkeeping is more than a pastime, it’s a passion, yet we may still become complacent. Binge-watch your favorite TV shows long enough and even they can grow stale. Boredom leads to burnout, which isn’t good for the hobbyist or the animals and plants in their care.
Luckily, reinventing an aquatic habitat needn’t require a complete overhaul or major investment. With a splash of creativity and some thoughtful planning, you can transform an aquarium into a vibrant showpiece, all while keeping your underwater friends happy and healthy.
In this article, we’ll explore imaginative yet easy ways to change up an aquarium, be it from introducing new décor and livestock or enhancing what is already there. Let’s dive in and rediscover the joy of fishkeeping!
Refresh the Aquascape
Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, driftwood, and other decorations in a way that’s pleasing to the eye and beneficial to our fish. If you’re looking for a way to enliven a tank, revamping the aquascape can make all the difference. It can be as simple as putting something new in. Or taking something old out.
Early in our fishkeeping journey, many of us started with a classic nature-style aquascape, using some type of driftwood and stone. It looked stunning at first, but over time maybe the wood lost its color and shape. Or your plants grew over the structure, resulting in something more unkempt. In such a case, you might consider removing the old wood and stone, thereby freeing up space for your plants to spread and flourish in a delightful display. You’ve essentially transformed the aquarium into more of a garden-style aquascape, where the plants take center stage. Not only could this reignite your passion for a specific aquarium but also for aquatic gardening in general.
Speaking of plants, beyond their natural beauty, they provide the benefit of consuming excess nutrients and converting waste into oxygen and healthy growth. Unlike adding new fish, you can be more flexible and experimental with plants. Think of them as you would home décor. While carpeting plants such as Monte Carlo or Dwarf Hair Grass prefer strong light and CO₂, others, like Pygmy Chain Sword, grow just as beautifully with less fuss. Surface plants like Frogbit or Red Root Floaters instantly create a natural aesthetic, draping the top of your aquarium with greenery, their delicate roots gracefully dangling into the water. If space allows, the iconic Amazon Sword makes a stunning backdrop or centerpiece.
At Aquarium Co-Op, our mantra is to enjoy nature daily, and nothing speaks to that better than live plants growing in (and out) of an aquarium.
Explore Themes and Biotopes
With a little research, you can take things further by creating a biotope or biotope-inspired aquarium. A biotope replicates a specific natural habitat, using plants, animals, and hardscape from one specific region. Whether it’s a South American blackwater river or a Southeast Asian swamp, biotopes are educational, beautiful, and deeply rewarding. Collecting the appropriate flora and fauna becomes part of the fun, deepening your appreciation for aquatic environments around the world. There’s something soothing about an Amazonian-inspired biotope. And they are as enjoyable to create as they are to gaze upon.
Developing such an ecosystem often leads to another excellent (and easy) way to change up an aquarium: using emersed plants as part of the display. Many common houseplants like pothos and monstera make excellent candidates. It can be as simple as placing a cutting in the back of the tank. If needed, you can stabilize them with DIY contraptions or choose from a wide range of plant holders available online made just for this purpose. Emersed plants instantly enliven an aquarium, increasing its visual footprint while naturally filtering the water by drawing in nutrients. The growing tangle of roots provides a safe refuge for timid fish to congregate or spawn—and it looks amazing.
You could add a bit of intrigue by creating a mysterious cave for your fish to explore, or even breed in. Caves are fairly simple to DIY, but you also have the option of purchasing pre-made coconut shell huts, or ceramic caves. For something whimsical, add a derelict pirate ship or sunken treasure chest to the bottom of your watery world. Some may find these ornaments excessive, but they add a delightful, nostalgic touch, evoking the childhood joy that drew many of us into the hobby in the first place.
Add New Livestock
We did not start this article by suggesting you put new fish into your aquarium for a reason. Adding another fish, or any creature into your tank, requires careful consideration, so as not to upset the ecosystem. But with due diligence, a new resident or group can spice up the entire neighborhood. Converting an aquarium to a species-only setup is especially exciting. A small colony of White Cloud Mountain Minnows, for example, will thrive and even spawn in a predator-free environment.
Successfully breeding fish is often a transformative experience. Seeing that first baby guppy is how many of us got into the hobby. Live-bearing species like Endlers, guppies and mollies thrive and reproduce readily, creating a living, evolving display that celebrates the full cycle of aquatic life. Be mindful, however. If you spot one Platy fry, there are likely thirty more, then fifty, you get the idea.
Play With Lighting: Set the Mood
Aquarium lights do far more than grow plants. They create mood and atmosphere. Converting to a full-spectrum LED light will transform your entire display. Many of these lights can be programmed to simulate sunrise and sunset, suitably mimicking the natural world. A word of caution, it’s generally not recommended to use artificial moonlight settings or specific color LEDs, as these effects can cause algae and other disruptions. And remember to always give your fish a natural period of darkness.
Backlighting an aquarium creates a dramatic effect, delivering warm tones of amber or soft yellow, causing your Neon Tetras to shimmer as they would in the wild. There are products specifically made for this, but you can easily do it yourself, using an extra LED strip laid down along the back.
New color doesn’t have to come from lighting at all. Easy to apply, colored backgrounds are available at most pet stores as well as at home supply and craft shops. A black or blue backdrop is common, while frosted vinyl adds a sleek and modern flair.
Upgrade the Substrate: The Foundation of Change
Be it sand, gravel, aquasoil, or any combination, substrate plays a huge role in every aquarium’s look and function. Thankfully, completely replacing your substrate isn’t necessary to have an impact. Pouring a light-colored sand along the front will brighten up any aquarium, or layer new substrate in the rear, creating dimension and new planting opportunities.
Let’s Get Technical
As with any hobby, ours is constantly evolving, including cutting-edge technology designed to make things better looking, more efficient and easier to operate. We’ve already covered lighting, but filtration systems have come a long way as well. Some even include heaters or algae scrubbers. Many come with sleek glass or acrylic pipes and tubing. Upgrading to one of these radically improves function and form.
Those of us hesitant about using CO₂ systems might reconsider. Modern kits are easier, safer, and more affordable than ever. CO₂ almost always improves plant growth and vitality. The difference can be striking. There are even devices that provide fine mist from above the fish tank, just like in a tropical rainforest. In addition to improving your aquariums appearance and health, these tools can reignite your curiosity and passion for the hobby.
Speaking of the Internet, we’d be remiss not mentioning social media. Aquarium Co-Op’s forum is a great place to start. Sharing your progress and struggles connects you with aquarists from around the world. You might discuss ways to change up your aquarium, which in turn could help other hobbyists as well. Cory regularly shares videos from his fish room on all these subjects and more.
Whether we make a small change or start fresh, every adjustment reveals something new about the aquarium, rekindling our curiosity and sense of wonder, not only for the tank but for nature itself and maybe even ourselves. If you think it’s time to refresh your aquarium, Aquarium Co-Op is here to help!