How important is aquascaping?

[thecoolguy]

ok, so this debate is a constant struggle of mine and i wanted to see what others are going through....

are rocks/driftwood/realfake plants/etc....necessary in your average monster setup?

disclaimer: given that none of the species require driftwood for diet(plecos) and rocks for breeding/cover --- granted the environment is a stress free living area where each single fish is not predated up by the others

the reason i struggle is because i have seen SO many tanks that have absolutely nothing and the fish seem 100% healthy and color up nicely.....and i actually prefer the super simplistic setup but don't want to negatively affect the lives of my fish because the tank is so plain.....

any opinions?

 

[greenterra]

I think in most cases ,it is a matter of personal likes.I have had bare tanks before which also seem to reduce aggression.I believe the fish had nothing to argue or compete over.It also works the other way.I have one tank that has a Jardini with cichlids which is not the norm or even recomended.In my case I think it works as the tank is aquascped in a way that allows the cichlids shelter when they sleep.The Jar has never shown aggression to the others .

If fish compatibility is not a problem,go with what you think looks best.IMO a bare tank with the right fish still looks amazing.

 

[thecoolguy]

I think in most cases ,it is a matter of personal likes.I have had bare tanks before which also seem to reduce aggression.I believe the fish had nothing to argue or compete over.It also works the other way.I have one tank that has a Jardini with cichlids which is not the norm or even recomended.In my case I think it works as the tank is aquascped in a way that allows the cichlids shelter when they sleep.The Jar has never shown aggression to the others .

If fish compatibility is not a problem,go with what you think looks best.IMO a bare tank with the right fish still looks amazing.

agreed......i am not a firm believer in what pairs work/don't work....just a matter of the right tank, and sometimes the impossible is possible....

on a side note - cuz i don't wanna start yet another thread....

when i go back to the states, my home is in cali - if i go to the beach and pick up rocks/driftwood - is that safe to use? probably been asked a 10000 times....but again.....

PS - i need to learn how to take better pics...cuz my Gt looks likes trash compared to yours.....

 

[greenterra]

agreed......i am not a firm believer in what pairs work/don't work....just a matter of the right tank, and sometimes the impossible is possible....

on a side note - cuz i don't wanna start yet another thread....

when i go back to the states, my home is in cali - if i go to the beach and pick up rocks/driftwood - is that safe to use? probably been asked a 10000 times....but again.....

PS - i need to learn how to take better pics...cuz my Gt looks likes trash compared to yours.....

All rocks I use I just boil and scrub.Driftwood I usually hit with the high presure gernie.Soak it in hot water in the bath for a while with a lot of salt.I have never had any problems.I know some use a bleach solution for thier wood but I don't fancy that idea.If it's a small enough piece use boiling water.

 

[CTU2fan]

I've heard of running it (wood) through a dishwasher also, without soap.

I look at aquascaping the same way I do re: landscaping reptile habitats...basically personal preference, but cleanliness first. So, if you have substrate/decor that tends to collect lots of hidden crap, it needs to go. There are probably certain species that need some aquascaping though. Personally I like something in there, a thin layer of sand/gravel, and a bit of rockwork or a large wood. Bare just isn't enjoyable for me, but I'm not sure the fish care.

 

[hle_81]

I try to keep the aquascaping in my tank to a minimum. I just add a nice piece of driftwood as a centerpiece with a few plants and rocks. This give my fish more room to swim and also makes the tank easier to clean.