The *art* of fishkeeping

I'm wondering how everyone would feel about this? I have come to love fishkeeping for many reasons, including the science of it and what the fish teach me about the value of life.

I also love the *art* of fishkeeping: selecting the fish, aquascaping, and creating beauty.

I have been getting some ideas about how to design my 2 tanks. One has a tropical theme and the other kind of a "Colorado Mountain Stream" theme, although not a biotope.

This is my brand new 20 Long. I am just beginning with it but it shows a couple of ideas. (Sorry it came out a little dark, but if you click on it you can see clearly.)




1. A soft fabric drape showing behind the back of the tank.

2. Fine jewelry that you don't often wear: The string of pearls draped over the coral. This is fun for a tropical scene or a pirate theme. You can take the jewlery back out of the tank, wash it off with mild soap and hydrogen peroxide *and wear it*! [NOTE: Don't use costume jewlery because of the metals and toxins.) I also have some colorful plastic "jewlels" from the Dollar Store crafts section. I drop them on the sand.

3. Porcelain or crystal. You can use a decoration like a porcelain sculpture. An antique china cup, or a crystal vase. I have a bowl full of sand that is actually a "sand box" for my rabbit snail until I get substrate in there.

4. I'm even thinking candles would be cool if you could keep them from floating. It's striking and interesting: a candle? in water?

What do you think?

 

The poll is closed..

Anyway, the Candle in the fish tank, I'm not sure if that would work or not. I heard that if you accidentally spill candle wax into a tank that it shouldn't affect the fish. But I'm not sure if a candle itself can be in a fish tank. I have googled it and I'm coming up with nothing. Personally I wouldn't try it.

I like how the tank looks though I love the design. No substrate though?

 

I look at my aquariums as living art. It is an outlet for my creative side, while at the same time satisfying my scientific urges. The perfect hobby for me

 

The poll pertained to something else and was no longer needed.
I was unable to delete it.

Now it's a discussion about different and unconventional aquascaping ideas.

 

I agree with Jaysee, you can make this hobby as scientific or artistic as you want.
Maybe you want to try and breed a rare species of cichlid. Or maybe you're more into creating that perfect planted tank. Fishkeeping has something for everyone

 

Fishkeeping has something for everyone

Because it's a hobby Some people forget that from time to time.

 

The poll is closed..

Anyway, the Candle in the fish tank, I'm not sure if that would work or not. I heard that if you accidentally spill candle wax into a tank that it shouldn't affect the fish. But I'm not sure if a candle itself can be in a fish tank. I have googled it and I'm coming up with nothing. Personally I wouldn't try it.

I like how the tank looks though I love the design. No substrate though?

Thanks! The substrate is temporary after an emergency tank leak. It was a bummer! New planted 20 gal broke and leaked overnight. Fish were panicked in about 1-2 inches of water in little pools. There is a long thread on it. I was thinking how could I house the fish until I got a new stand, part of the problem, and someone said just put them back in the replaced 20 gal without substrate until the stand arrives. They have a good cycled filter with extra tankage and water params are good. Ckg them ever day..

The candle is just a thought to throw out. Maybe it didn't google because it's another one of the ideas that my husband calls "hairbrained" lol. I prefer "outside the bowl" ideas. I have tried hard to think of the safety of the fishies and number one in deco. All ideas need to go through that filter first!!!!! The wax is water repellant and doesn't leach anything. (I would not use a scented candle btw.) And the only other ingredient is a string. I'm sure many people would agree with you and take the more conservative approach. I personally would try it if I wanted a candle in there.

But this is exactly why I asked to do the thread! I love tossing out ideas in a group and then trying to see how and if they will work!

Thanks so much for your comment and googling the safety. I appreciate you!

CW

 

I look at my aquariums as living art. It is an outlet for my creative side, while at the same time satisfying my scientific urges. The perfect hobby for me

Very cool! that is one of the reasons I love fishlore, I share so much in common with the people here. Thanks!!! Be sure to post some of your ideas.

BTW "iving art" ... beautiful wording!!!!! I agree completely!

 

Clear glass hurricane lamp globes can be used.

One of my betta tanks had one. I set a few colored flat glass marbles in it.
My betta gal loved to rest in it and swim through it.

Hmmmm...that would make a pretty good fry hang out if it was stuffed with java moss.

 

The poll pertained to something else and was no longer needed.
I was unable to delete it.

Now it's a discussion about different and unconventional aquascaping ideas.

Thank you, Lucy!! You did a fantastic job with this whole idea! I am a writer by profession and there is nothing more valuable than a good editor to make you look remotely literate!!

Thanks a bunch!!

 

Thank you, Lucy!! You did a fantastic job with this whole idea! I am a writer by profession and there is nothing more valuable than a good editor to make you look remotely literate!!

Thanks a bunch!!

My goodness.
Thank you, but you give me way too much credit.

 

Are those real pearls? I've had fake pearls that started peeling. I'd be leery of using fake ones in a tank. Real ones came from the water though, obviously I know some fake plants that aren't designed to go in a fish tank can often have problems too. Metal exposed, inappropriate dyes used, etc.

 

Clear glass hurricane lamp globes can be used.

One of my betta tanks had one. I set a few colored flat glass marbles in it.
My betta gal loved to rest in it and swim through it.

Hmmmm...that would make a pretty good fry hang out if it was stuffed with java moss.

Love it!!! Also would be pretty holding an aquatic plant inside!

 

My goodness.
Thank you, but you give me way too much credit.

Actually, you're very good at it!! You should do more with writing and editing!! Seriously.

 

Something I've wanted to do, but won't, is use a fish bowl in a tank. The bowl would be for a crab. Since they need access to air, I would silicone the bowl to the bottom of the tank, inverted, at an angle. I would silicone gravel to the one side of the bowl to make a ramp. I would then run an air line into the bowl. The air will displace the water, allowing the crab access to "land" on the bottom of the tank, and because of the air line there will always be fresh air for it. Then, the crab could explore the tank and retreat above the "waterline".

Like this

 

Are those real pearls? I've had fake pearls that started peeling. I'd be leery of using fake ones in a tank. Real ones came from the water though, obviously I know some fake plants that aren't designed to go in a fish tank can often have problems too. Metal exposed, inappropriate dyes used, etc.

Yep, they're real. They were my mothers. I would never recommend costume jewelry. I'm pretty sure I say in there somewhere, fine jewelry only. No copper, brass, aluminum, nickle, etc. The only metals I would consider putting my own tank are gold and pewter. Silver kiills bacteria so that would be a disaster. Pioneers used to put silver coins in stagnant ponds to make it drinkable. With any jewelry other than gold or something, there too many possibilities for toxins and heavy metals leeching. I think the first three rules of tank decor/aquascaping are:

1. Fish saftey
2. Fish safety
3. Fish safety!! lol but seriously fishies first. it's their little world after all.

 

Something I've wanted to do, but won't, is use a fish bowl in a tank. The bowl would be for a crab. Since they need access to air, I would silicone the bowl to the bottom of the tank, inverted, at an angle. I would silicone gravel to the one side of the bowl to make a ramp. I would then run an air line into the bowl. The air will displace the water, allowing the crab access to "land" on the bottom of the tank, and because of the air line there will always be fresh air for it. Then, the crab could explore the tank and retreat above the "waterline".

OMGOSH you are a genius!!! What an incredibly cool idea!!!! May I ask why you won't do that? It sounds pretty safe, anyway. I'm thinking it could be cool for other animals too, such as snails to lay their eggs above water or more easily oxygenate themselves.

 

Well, I hate air pumps, and don't want to keep a brackish tank. I am under the impression that the fiddlers and all are brackish. Don't really know anything about them, other than needing dry land.

 

Love the drape behind the tank! These are some really cool ideas.

The only thing I see that needs to be changed is the plant still in the pot. The wooly(called rock wool) stuff needs to be cleaned of the roots very thoroughly.

All you need now is a treasure chest
Carol

 

What about "easter eggs" or decorated eggs. If you half-hid some of them it could look like an easter egg hunt. You could blow them out, use permanent ink or some safe type of permanent dye, and sink them as they fill with water. You could superglue them together if you wanted. I suppose you could do it as a holiday thing, or just for interest and calcium!

Oooo or glass Christmas ornaments! How fun. Does anyone have other holiday theme ideas?

 

Love the drape behind the tank! These are some really cool ideas.

The only thing I see that needs to be changed is the plant still in the pot. The wooly(called rock wool) stuff needs to be cleaned of the roots very thoroughly.

All you need now is a treasure chest
Carol

Gee, thanks a bunch! I appreciate the encouragement, for sure. I'm glad you like the drape. I think it looks a little unique and also real. I mean it's a real drape not a fake mural. Don't get me wrong, a lot of those murals are gorgeous. But if they are not well done, some of them leave me well ... for lack of a better word, blah ... kind of ho hum.

Good catch on the little potted plant. The little guy is waiting for my dirted-tank substrate. I had a dirted tank a couple of days ago before *my tank leaked* sigh. But when the stand gets here I will plant him to his roots in dirt! BTW, he is not in the potting material that he came in from the store. It may not come as a surprise that I did something unconventional with it ... lol. This is how I "dirted" him:

The plant was dying and is doing much better now. One other plant I did this with developed new growth. Unfortunately, I had to stop the experiment and quickly change my substrate to save my rabbit/elephant snail. You may have seen that in my sig.

 

You know what? I was wishing I could put my sister's treasure chest in there. It is a small chest she made from balsa wood with exquisite attention to detail when she was a kid. It even has a ships wheel made from match sticks and a gold chain to hold the lid on. Unfortunately, I love it too much to risk soaking it. Plus I think she used Elmer's glue, which would obviously dissolve. Sigh. I'll have to keep my eyes out for a waterproof one.

This is it:

 

Really neat ideas!

 

I put this idea in the DIY forum but I think it is a crossover idea so I am putting a link in this thread, too.

It is about floating a small tank in a larger tank for reasons of quarantine, fry keeping or decoration:

 

Solution for "tarnished" pearls

2. Fine jewelry that you don't often wear: The string of pearls draped over the coral. This is fun for a tropical scene or a pirate theme. You can take the jewelry back out of the tank, wash it off with mild soap and hydrogen peroxide *and wear it*! [NOTE: Don't use costume jewelry because of the metals and toxins.)

NOTE:

I have kept the string of real pearls in this tank, but noticed a few days ago that some of the pearls had developed a dark gray discoloration. I decided to soak them in a mild clorox solution about 1 teaspoon in 2 cups of water. I watched them carefully and in about 5 minutes they had brightened up and looked brand new white! Whew! What a relief.

 

"Colorado Mountain Stream" theme

This is a post from my blog on the progress of this tank:


I wish my mom could see it.

 

Hand Drawn Backdrops - Project for kids or grownups

I am thinking of sketching / drawing my own background for my 10 gal "Mountain Stream." Something like a log cabin and pine trees with lots of sky.

I'll post it when I'm done ... if I like it that is.

Was thinking this could be a great project for kids to do. Even finger paint art could be pretty cool.

Probably laminating it would be a good idea, but I don't know if you can laminate something that large economically?

 

Lighting effects: Sunrise in the Garden

Has anyone tried lighting the tank from different angles? Like the side, right or left?

If so can you post pics?

I have a reading lamp with a fluorescent bulb over my Colorado Mountain Stream tank and sometimes I create the illusion of morning, noon, or evening with it. At least in my own mind - lol

In my other tank I have a sweet statue looking into the "sunrise":

 

I am planning on sketching a backdrop for this. Even wondering if they still make Lincoln logs. I could build a little cabin for inside the tank like a fish fort.

But in the mean time I put a fabric backdrop behind it. This photo doesn't show the texture and colors aren't true. But I do ove a fabric backdrop.