The decorations in the tank seem fascinating. But do you think Flowerhorn needs decorations in their tanks too? Yes, they do need a decoration in their tank. But, Flowerhorns prefer minimal decorations. How To Insert New Decorations In Flowerhorn Tank?
Decorations not only add beauty to the surroundings but also are healthy for Flowerhorn fish. You should be careful while inserting decorations in a Flowerhorn tank. Decorating a Flowerhorn tank is not like decorating other fish tanks. As Flowerhorns are unique fish with unique characters, the decorations in the Flowerhorn tank are unique. You need to focus on the Flowerhorn type, size, and size of the tank to add decorations to the tank.
Let’s see what decorations can be added to the Flowerhorn tank and how to insert them.
Choosing A Decoration For Flowerhorn Tank
First, you need to know the size of your Flowerhorn tank. Do you want to add plants? Live plants or plastic plants? What happens if you keep live plants in your Flowerhorn tank? What type of substrate will you choose? You need to have proper knowledge of decorations you can keep in your Flowerhorn tank.
Some people choose the size of decorations that do not fit the tank or the type of decoration that does not suit Flowerhorn fish. Since Flowerhorns need more space to swim around, the decorations should be as minimum as possible.
Here is the list of decorations you can choose for your Flowerhorn tank.
- Plants
- Substrate
- Driftwood
- Hiding Spots
- Lighting
Plants
Flowerhorns love to dig plants and substrates. It is a bit tricky to add decorations to the Flowerhorn tank. Keeping a live plant in the Flowerhorn tank might not be appropriate since Flowerhorns might destroy the live plants.
Most of the live plants get easily destroyed by Flowerhorns. However, if you want to add plants to the Flowerhorn tank, you need to be very careful. Some plants can withstand the wrath of Flowerhorns. I recommend you to keep Java Fern, Anubias Barteri, and Java Moss.
How To Add Plants To The Flowerhorn Tank?
You can anchor the plants in the tank in different ways. You can arrive at the plants with superglue, thread, or fishing lines.
Using Thread
Anchoring plants using thread is one of the options you can use. To anchor the plant, you can also use thread. Anchoring plants with thread do not work every time. When Flowerhorns get aggressive, they tend to wiggle the plants. Unfortunately, the thread starts to deteriorate after some period.
Using Superglue
First, you need to decide how to put the plant on the object. Then, put the superglue in the rhizome of the plant to be added to the tank. After adding the superglue, place the plant to the object and hold them together for a few seconds. Finally, you can add the plant to the tank when the superglue becomes white.
Using Fishing Line
Wrap the fishing line around the rhizome of the plant. Make sure to not wrap it very tightly as it may cut the plants. The use of fishing lines is as same as using thread. But thread often deteriorates.
Plastic Plants
An alternative to living plants is plastic plants. Plastic plants cannot easily be destroyed by Flowerhorns.
Plastic plants are safe for keeping in the Flowerhorn tank. The most crucial thing while adding a plastic plant to the tank is to check for exposed wires. Make sure not to keep the plants with exposed wires which may hurt your Flowerhorn. Keeping plastic plants in the aquarium is considered safe since they do not sterilize.
Before adding the plastic plants to the Flowerhorn tank, you can clean the plastic plants using water. It is better not to use tap water since the tap water introduces chlorine that may harm your Flowerhorn fish. Plastic plants have to be dried before adding them to the aquarium. You can also clean the plastic plants using aquarium water as well. The aquarium water has less chlorine and is not harmful to your fish.
The most crucial thing to check in plastic plants is exposed wires.
Some of the best plastic plants for the flowerhorn tank are:
- MyLifeUnite Seaweed Plastic Aquarium Plant
- Otterly Plastic Aquarium Plants
- CousDUoBe Plastic Aquaraium Plants
Cleaning Plastic Plants
You will see algae formation in the plastic plants after some time. You can even notice the plants turning darker in color.
For cleaning, I recommend you use the boiling method. Boil the water and pour the water into the container. Put the plastic plants into the boiled water and let them sit for 10-15 minutes.
Scrub the plants and let the dirt off the plants. After cleaning, let them dry.
You can also use a bleach solution. Put 1 part of bleach in 10 parts of water to make a solution. Soak the plants in the solution for 10-15 minutes to remorse algae and dirt. Take clean water and throw the plants in the clean water. Let them sit for 10-20 minutes. Dry the plants, and they are ready to be added to the Flowerhorn tank.
Substrate
You might think that the Flowerhorn tank is better without any substrate. But the substrate gives Flowerhorn a better orientation.
However, a thick layer of substrate is not a good idea. The substrate with a height of 2 -2.5 inches is appropriate for your Flowerhorn tank. If you keep a deeper substrate, the food particles will enter inside the substrate and form Hydrogen sulfite, which is very toxic for Flowerhorn.
Add large pieces of tiles and rocks as a substrate for the Flowerhorn tank. Remember to not keep a deeper substrate that may harm your fish.
Suggestions:
- WAYBER 1 Lb/460g Natural Pink Quartz Crystal Stones Irregular Aquarium Pebbles Rock Sands for Turtle Tank/Succulent Plants/Vase Decoration (Fill 1 Cup)
- Carib Sea ACS05820 Super Natural Moonlight Sand for Aquarium, 5-Pound
- Carib Sea ACS05840 Super Naturals Crystal River Sand for Aquarium, 5-Pound
Hiding Spots
Hiding spots are essential for Flowerhorn fish. They can also be seen as a part of the decoration.
Flowerhorns tend to need hiding spots when they are stressed or due to the changing environment. Hiding spots give them a place to reduce their stress.
You can make some hiding spots using large stones and driftwood. Before adding the stones and driftwood, make sure to clean them. Hiding spots play a huge role in the health of your Flowerhorn.
Lighting
Lighting is very essential for the health of Flowerhorns. In places where natural lighting is not sufficient, you can provide artificial lighting for Flowerhorn.
However, direct sunlight in the Flowerhorn tank should be avoided. Cool fluorescent lamps can be used as a source of lighting. Many aquarists prefer light-pink lights since pure white or light-blue lights are too bright and might cause discomfort. Bright lights may lead to scared and timid Flowerhorns.
For keeping the Flowerhorn fish healthy, an average of 12 hours of illumination is enough. This will help Flowerhorns rest.
However, artificial lighting is only used for decoration purposes. It is not good to use these lightings as a primary source of lighting in your Flowerhorn aquarium.
MingDak LED Aquarium Plant Light is a good choice for the flowerhorn tank if you are looking to set up a LED aquarium light.
Light Position
Lights should be positioned 6-inches above the tank water level. The gap in lighting prevents Flowerhorns from getting too bright lights that stress the fish. Moreover, place the lights carefully in such a way that it is unlikely to fall into the water when they accidentally bump while feeding.
Aquarium Background
Many hobbyists prefer to keep an aquarium background either outside of the tank or inside the tank.
Choosing the theme of the background is the first step in installing the aquarium background. Whatever theme and art you choose, you need to focus on the view of the fish. If you plan to add the background inside the tank, you surely need to clean the tank first. You need to be sure that the material will not produce toxins and harm your Flowerhorn.
If you choose to place the background in the outside part of the glass, start from one corner and gently press the material against the glass. Use a straight-edged object to smooth the picture.
Keeping the background picture either inside or outside of the tank glass both are preferable.
Benefits Of Having A Fish Tank Background
Background in the fish tank can have a huge difference in the decoration of the tank. The background also adds a theme to the aquarium.
Fish tank background can influence the color and behavior of your Flowerhorn. You can keep the backgrounds on all three sides of the tank as it will reduce the stress in Flowerhorn due to the reflection on the glass.
3-D backgrounds are also available that provide your Flowerhorn a bit of dimension and create hiding places for your fish. Additionally, it provides a filtration system that naturally comes to the tank.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can You Add Background Inside Your Fish Tank?
Yes, the background can be added to the fish tank. If you choose to place the background in the outside part of the glass, start from one corner and gently press the material against the glass. Use a straight-edged object to smooth the picture. Keeping the background picture either inside or outside of the tank glass both are preferable.
Is Driftwood Good For Flowerhorn?
Yes, driftwoods are good for Flowerhorns. They provide hiding space for Flowerhorns, which reduces the stress on Flowerhorns.
Conclusion
Adding decorations to the Flowerhorn tank is very simple, yet you have to be very careful. Furthermore, Flowerhorns are unique fish, and they require very minimum decorations.
While adding any decorations, you need to ensure not to let any bacterias that will infect your Flowerhorns. In a nutshell, add the decorations after understanding the use and benefits before you add them into the Flowerhorn tank.
