| You can never buy an aquarium that is perfectly | | | | almost everybody, a reason why this is the most |
| set up. Actually, the best aquariums are the | | | | used among the three substrates. |
| products of one's own designs and ideas. With the | | | | - River Rocks. These big substrates from the |
| personal touch of selecting fishes, plants, and | | | | river come out rarely in aquariums. Only few |
| valued additions, a unique aquarium is being | | | | people uses it and sometimes, only as a cover on |
| conceived to be born. However, this activity is | | | | the bottom part of the aquarium. Due to their big |
| actually as complicated as building one's home. To | | | | sizes, when food sinks in, they lock them down |
| come up with great ones, you need to have a | | | | and may cause the contamination in the aquarium, |
| keen eye for detail. | | | | specifically the water. This can actually hurt the |
| For sure you already have your tank ready. And | | | | fishes. |
| whatever look you want to give your aquarium, it | | | | Yes, there can be a large selection of attractive |
| all depends on the kinds of things you will be | | | | substrates. However, you need to be sensitive |
| placing inside it. The most important detail that | | | | enough about the life of the pet fishes. In the |
| you need to carefully consider is the substrates. | | | | end, the fishes are actually the most important |
| These are the substances that can be seen in the | | | | components in the aquarium. With this, you need |
| bottom of the tank, which appears like a | | | | to perfectly know your fishes and from then, you |
| powdery thing in your aquarium. | | | | need to decide which substrate will work best for |
| Though a small detail as it might seem, they need | | | | the fishes. |
| to be carefully selected. There are three different | | | | Examples of attractive yet dangerous substrates |
| kinds of substrates. Depending on your | | | | include geodes, onyx, granite sandstone, |
| preference, you may select one of the following: | | | | limestone, shells, quartz, dolomite, and slate. These |
| - Small rocks and Sands. These are common | | | | substrates need to be avoided. |
| examples of small substrates. They are very | | | | To help you check whether a substrate is |
| much easy to find and if wanted, you can get it | | | | beneficial or not, you need to test it with vinegar. |
| free from some beaches. In terms of the effects | | | | Drop a small amount of vinegar on top of the |
| of this kind of substrate, these smaller ones are | | | | object. In cases where it fizzes or changed into |
| deemed to be more advantageous for most | | | | something far from the original quality of the |
| fishes. This is especially true because fishes like to | | | | object, then it doesn't have any place in your |
| nest on small substrates. These can also appear | | | | aquarium. Another thing to help you determine the |
| artistic on a tank. | | | | quality of a substrate is to place it inside a |
| However, small substrates can be easily picked | | | | container with water and let it there for a week. |
| and moved by fishes through the use of their | | | | If after that time, nothing major happens on the |
| mouth. This can often lead to irritation of the | | | | object, then it is safe for your fishes. |
| fishes' mouths. | | | | The lesson here is that the aquarium needs not |
| - Medium-sized rocks and Pebbles. Literally, these | | | | be too extravagant. It can remain as plain and as |
| examples of moderately-sized substrates comes | | | | simple as possible so long that the fishes inside it |
| average on their sizes. It is quite suitable for | | | | are safe and sound. |