Have you ever found yourself becoming weirdly calm and chilled out while gazing into an aquarium?
It’s not only you who feels that way. Research shows that gazing into aquariums can improve your physical and mental well-being.
But while aquarium fish create a tranquil underwater oasis for us to enjoy, there are some environmental side effects. Does that mean you have to give up on your mesmerizing aquarium for home?
No, it’s possible to make eco-friendly decisions that are kind to our beautiful planet. Don’t leave it to “salmon” else. It’s time for YOU to start saving the planet tank by tank.
Are you ready? Let’s make your home aquarium a little greener.
Building Your Eco-Friendly Home Aquarium
When building your aquarium for home, keep it simple. Follow this guide below. And you’ll be able to keep your fish friends healthy and comfy without disrupting mother nature (and your electricity bill!)
Size Matters
When it comes to your aquarium for home, don’t go overboard. Think small and choose a tank that fits the amount of fish you desire. But don’t forget to take into account how big they will grow.
The Right Tool for the Job
Even if your aquarium is eco-friendly, you will still use energy to keep it running. But you can choose smart options that will enable you to use the least amount of energy as possible.
Use green lighting to reduce energy consumption. For example:
- Fluorescent lighting
- LED lighting
- T5 lighting
- Plasma Lamps
Whether you’re making a freshwater or saltwater home aquarium, you will need a filter to regulate natural water movement. Cheap filters generally consume high levels of energy. But if you spend a bit extra on an eco-filter your tank will be green and your electricity bill lower!
Whatever equipment you choose to buy, be sure to keep it in tip-top condition. When equipment is poorly maintained, it can start to use more energy.
Let There Be Light
If you choose to add living plants, it’s a great idea to place your tank somewhere where it gets natural sunlight. Having natural sunlight for a few hours in the day will allow the plants to perform photosynthesis.
Keeping your aquarium in direct sunlight can also keep the tank warm. Which means you can use less energy to heat the tank. Of course, you should closely track the temperature to keep it within the ideal range.
Additives and Alternatives
When creating your aquarium for home, there are chemicals you can use to keep the fish in good health.
For example, if you fill your aquarium with tap water, you will need to treat it to remove the chlorine. This is because fish cannot survive due to the high level of chlorine.
It may not always be possible to find natural alternatives, but if there is an eco-friendly cleaning option, use it.
Aquarium Home Accessories
When shopping for eco-friendly accessories, you’ll notice many items available are plastic. AVOID PLASTIC AT ALL COSTS!
Get the point? Plastic is not a green item. And there are plenty of natural alternatives that can do the job even better.
Check out these green aquarium ideas for home.
Living Breathing Eco-System
Rather than those cheap looking plastic plants, use real, living, breathing plants instead. Not only do they provide a little shade for the fish, but they can help clear algae from the tank. Some plants also provide the fish with something extra to nibble on.
If you have a saltwater home aquarium, you should use specific plants that create an ideal eco-system. For example, Halimeda or cactus algae. You could even add macro algae or a shaving brush plant to encourage your fish to keep the tank clean.
Growing plants will also make your aquarium home an ever-evolving one. You and your fishy friends will never get bored!
Fish Friendly Substrate
Fill the bottom of your tank with 2-3 inches of substrate. Gravel and sand are eco-friendly options.
Make sure you choose a substrate that is fish friendly. Some rocks and synthetic substrate contains dangerous minerals and metals. These chemicals can kill off your tank fish by fish.
On the Rocks
Add some rocks…and not those faux plastic rocks you can find!
Rocks are a basic aquarium accessory that is 100% natural. You can arrange them into little arches or teeny caves so that they have places to hide and spawn.
Shipwreck Hideout
A nice piece of driftwood is also another cool accessory. Not only does it create an excellent hiding place for fish, but it can give a rugged ‘sunken pirate ship’ look to your natural aquarium home.
Choosing Coral
For a saltwater home aquarium, you may also want to add some coral. It keeps the water clean and can provide a natural habitat for some species.
But with so much coral destroyed in the wild, you need to choose your options carefully. Instead of buying live coral, buy farmed coral that is grown in tanks. Or buy cultivated rock instead.
Before you start buying coral through any old company online, you should learn more about coral farming and aquaculture.
Finding Your Nemo
Now your tank is ready, what about your home aquarium fish? You may think this is the end of your eco-friendly phase, but it’s not. It’s important to buy fish in a way that doesn’t affect mother natures plan too.
Follow these aquarium ideas for home when buying fish:
- Choose a variety of fish that can live together in harmony.
- Adopt fish if someone is shutting down their tank (this will save them from being unnecessarily killed).
- Don’t overcrowd your tank.
- Bigger is not always better.
- Don’t buy endangered species.
- Buy from reputable sources.
- Shop at stores who acclimatize the fish to their new habitat before selling.
- Find out how they caught the fish and what their transportation was like. Many fish die when transported long distances in poor conditions.
One last thing you may not know is that some terrible companies paint or dye tropical fish so that they look brighter and more attractive. This can cause irreversible damage to the poor creatures. Always learn and know the natural color before you buy.
“The Earth Is a Fine Place and Worth Fighting For”
Since this quote was written, the condition of our beautiful planet has declined immensely. We all have a part to play in fighting for this planet, and you can start by making sure your home aquarium is eco-friendly!
Now you’ve gone green with your aquarium, what about the rest of your home? Click here for 10 warning signs you are wasting energy in your house.
