| Create an environment mix in your aquarium | | | | shaped rock, or branch out of your garden, or |
| decor for maximum flexibility in the types of fish | | | | roadside, desert, forest, or camping area, or the |
| species you may decide to keep. That means | | | | Ocean, or a nearby Lake, may introduce |
| setup your rocks, plants, sand, or gravel, so that | | | | chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline, |
| there are caves, nooks, and tunnels, that fish can | | | | oil, detergents, or parasites, and fungus, that will |
| explore, inhabit, and seek refuge in when feeling | | | | wreck havoc in your aquarium, and could kill most |
| threatened, while still leaving lots of free | | | | fish species, after spending lots of time and |
| swimming space for those fish that prefer wide | | | | money trying to find, and eliminate, the cause. |
| open spaces. | | | | Don't use metals in your fish tanks. Don't use wire |
| Position the rocks, aquarium plants, etc., away | | | | to secure aquarium decorations such as Live Rock |
| from the sides of the fish tank so that you can | | | | or Driftwood. Use glues, or plastic ties designed |
| clean off any algae that may grow there, without | | | | for an aquarium environment to secure your rock |
| interference from rocks, plants, or decorations. | | | | walls, driftwood, or tank decorations, as metal is |
| Leave sufficient space between fish tank plants, | | | | toxic to fish and will slowly kill them. |
| and aquarium ornaments to permit vacuuming up | | | | You should consider the habitats of the types of |
| any debris that will accumulate on the bottom. | | | | pet fish species that you will be keeping in your |
| Be sure to use only decorations, rocks, and | | | | fish tank before beginning the aquarium design. |
| plants, specifically made for fish aquariums as | | | | These suggestions apply for saltwater fish tanks |
| they are made of specific materials free from | | | | or freshwater fish tanks alike. |
| toxins that harm fish and corals. Using a uniquely | | | | |