Boring black foils are a thing of the past: Plant the back wall of your aquarium with mosses or epiphytic plants. This gives your pool a fascinating and unique look. This can happen in many different ways. If you want to plant plants on the back wall of your aquarium, you will find a few tips and tricks here.

Different types of backgrounds in the aquarium

The back wall in the aquarium can be designed in different ways. The “classics” include:

• Foil for the back wall, which is applied from the outside on the back
• Black or milky white foil, cardboard etc. behind the aquarium
• Structural or 3D back wall that sits inside the aquarium

The third type, the structured background, is ideal for planting in the aquarium.

There is also the option of building an aquarium background yourself. Hobby hobbyists get their money’s worth here. Polystyrene, synthetic resin, stones, slate or bamboo – there are countless ideas. The internet is full of ideas and guides on the subject. 3D backgrounds, which are attached inside the aquarium, are given the icing on the cake by planting. Especially practical with the self-made version: the planting of the rear wall can be planned for when crafting.

Planting a 3D background in the aquarium: this is how it works

If you want to plant the back wall of the aquarium to get an impressive jungle look, it is best to use plants that do not need too much light. An exception are pools that are sparsely planted overall. Here, at least in the upper areas, enough light falls on the back wall of the aquarium and the plants that are supposed to grow there.

There are different ways to attach the plants to the back wall of the aquarium:

Glue the plants that you want to attach to the back wall of the aquarium with underwater glue. This method is quick and easy. However, the decision must be made quickly, because the glue hardens quickly. Subsequent redecoration is also not possible.

Carefully clamp the aquarium plants in columns on the 3D back wall. Be careful not to crush the plants as you may damage them.

Plants do not have to be planted or glued directly to the back wall in the aquarium. They can also be tied to a root with wire or string. You can find out how to do this in our article Attaching epiphytes. The root is then leaned against the back wall. Such a great layout can be created especially with several roots.

Plant the back wall in the aquarium: make a thicket of plants yourself

We introduce you to three great options for planting the back wall in the aquarium if you don’t have a structured back wall in your tank.

Glue plants to a plate with underwater glue

A completely overgrown back wall gives the pool an enchanting appearance. The easiest way to attach mosses for the aquarium. They can be glued directly to the subsurface with underwater glue. We recommend not sticking the plants directly onto the aquarium pane. It is easier for later removal to stick mosses on a thin styrofoam plate or something similar. Then it is either attached with suction cups or glued to the pane with a few dots of glue or aquarium silicone.

Buy aquarium plants on a mat and attach to the pane

A particularly simple solution: aquarium plants on a mat. For example, you can buy java fern on a mat that already comes with clips and suckers. This gives you a simple but effective decoration for the back wall of the aquarium or the side windows.

Since the mat is already densely overgrown, you don’t have to wait long: you can have larger areas of the aquarium greened in no time at all. The mat is also great for wrapping around roots.

 Attach the homemade mat to the back wall of the aquarium

A popular solution is also to attach a thin filter mat or pond mat to the back wall of the aquarium. Here the plants can be attached in different ways. Mosses, but also plants such as anubias or java fern find a good hold on it. After some time, depending on the species, the plants grow into a dense green wall.

A few ways to give the plants support on the back wall of the aquarium:

• Stick on with underwater glue
• Secure with homemade plastic clips
  To do this, cut a piece of the plastic part of a cotton swab. Cut the ends to a point. Crease it in two places. You will receive a clip that can be used to attach plants to the mat on the back wall. Later they grow tight and the clip can be removed.
• Sew with nylon or fishing line
  You can attach aquarium plants to the back wall with a thin fishing line. Just sew them in place with a few rough stitches. This method works very well on filter mats and pond mats.

With these tricks, you can easily create an individually planted back wall in the aquarium yourself. We hope you enjoy the planning and implementation.

Do you have any questions or suggestions about planting aquarium backgrounds? We appreciate your comments!

A varied planted aquarium is fun and offers the fish places to retreat. But it doesn’t always have to be green. Red aquarium plants set visual highlights, loosen up the aquarium landscape and also take on important functions in the aquarium. Like their green relatives, they generate oxygen and absorb excess nutrients. With a mixture of green and red aquarium plants, you not only exploit the variety of different aquarium plants, but also create exciting contrasts.

How do aquarium plants turn red? Care tips for red aquatic plants

It is not uncommon for red aquarium plants to be bought, but they are then presented in the aquarium in orange-brown tones rather than bright red, despite good lighting conditions and optimal nutrient supply. However, images from social networks in particular show that things can be different have to go. With a bit of instinct, you can easily achieve the right shade of red aquarium plants:

The right lighting

On the one hand, this includes the right lighting. In addition to a white light, you can use blue or red light sources, for example. They visually emphasize the inherent color of different objects in the aquarium, such as plants or fish. Red stem plants such as Althernanthera reineckii rosaefolia, red parrot leaf, shine particularly beautifully with the use of suitable LED lamps.

The right nutrient ratio

In order to develop healthy growth, plants need a balance of carbon, micro and macro nutrients. However, red coloring in plants often only occurs as a reaction to a lack of nutrients. If, for example, there is a shortage of phosphate and/or nitrogen, this can already lead to the desired effect. If the nitrate level in the water is high, the leaves usually remain green or brownish. If the nitrate supply is reduced, intensive red tones are usually seen.

But beware: The nutrient supply should only be reduced so much in exceptional cases, otherwise the deficiency will lead to growth disorders in the plant.

Red plants in the aquarium: successful breeds

Another factor for a high-contrast aquarium is choosing the right plants. There are red colored breeds of many aquatic plants, such as Echinodorus. This is usually a red variant of green plants. The original purpose of developing variegated leaves was to attract insects and encourage insect pollination. Strictly speaking, these are mutations in the context of evolution.

Water-soluble plant pigments, the so-called anthocyanins, are responsible for the colorful coloring. They occur in the cell sap of many plants and give them a red, violet or blue color. They protect the plant from too much sunlight and UV radiation – and thus also from sunburn. The anthocyanins absorb the radiation and convert it into thermal energy. In this way, cells, proteins, cell nuclei and also DNA are effectively protected.

The TOP 5 most popular red aquarium plants

Choosing the right plant is crucial for a red color dress. There are often different colorings of an original plant. We have summarized the most popular red aquarium plants for you:

 Althernanthera reineckii rosaefolia – the red parrot leaf

The particularly colorful stem plant, the upper and lower sides of the leaves and the stems have a brown-red to cherry-red color. In order to keep its intense color, this plant needs a sufficient supply of Co2 and good lighting. A pruning should be done every six to eight weeks. The red parrot leaf is particularly suitable for discus aquariums in combination with sword plants.

Rotala rotundifolia – the round-leaved Rotala

Despite its name, this aquarium plant only develops round-leaved leaves in the swamp form; in the aquarium they are elongated and thin. Rotala rotundifolia is quite undemanding, but needs a lot of light to turn its leaves red. It is vigorous and quickly develops a dense, bushy shape. In order for the lower leaves to get light, this aquarium plant has to be cut back frequently. Easy-care

Echinodorus Red Flame – sword plant flamed red

Echinodorus Red Flame, the red-flamed sword plant, is not only very popular because of its high-contrast leaf coloring, but also because of its undemanding nature. Its leaves are bright red with green markings. While they are rather inconspicuous in emersed culture, they provide a high-contrast look in the aquarium.

Nymphaea lotus Red – Red Tiger Lotus

The bulbous plant is also known under the name “red tiger lotus” and comes from the tropical latitudes of Africa. There it is mainly found in lakes and ponds. The growth of this aquarium plant, which is popular with aquarists, can be controlled by lighting and pruning. Easy-care

Ludwigia repens – Burgundy Ludwigia

The wine-red Ludwigia belongs to the evening primrose family and impresses with its intense red leaves. Emers cultivated, the aquarium plant from Central America has dark green leaves. If they have grown under water, they are dolg brown on top and bright wine-red on the underside. Easy-care

Create variety in the aquarium and set visual eye-catchers with red aquarium plants. We will be happy to advise you when it comes to choosing the right plants. We are happy to help you with words and deeds.

Do you have any questions or comments on the subject of “red aquarium plants”? We look forward to your comments!

Regular maintenance of the aquarium also includes cleaning the substrate. You can read about what you should consider when caring for the aquarium floor in order to optimally support the growth of the aquarium plants in this small guide on the topic of aquariums: “Cleaning the floor”.

Cleaning the floor in the aquarium: tips for a clean tank

The substrate in the aquarium is normally cleaned during the water change as part of regular aquarium maintenance. This kills two birds with one stone: while the old aquarium water is drained out of the tank with the hose, sludge, plant residues, uneaten food and other remains that contaminate the bottom of the aquarium also get out. Many aquarium owners simply clean the bottom of the aquarium by vacuuming it with the hose. Others use cleaning aids such as B. a Mulgglocke.

Whichever method you use to clean the aquarium floor, make absolutely sure that you do not accidentally discard any animals with the rinse water when cleaning the aquarium floor. For this we give the following tips:

1. Use a light-colored bucket for cleaning and water changes
   With a look into the bucket you will see that animals have accidentally gotten into the changing water. If in doubt, wait a moment until suspended matter has settled, then you will have a clear view.
2. Watch out for offspring or small animals
   If there are many small animals in the aquarium, cleaning with a hose is often difficult. In very critical cases, pull a net or women’s stocking over the hose and do not vacuum the floor. Only plant parts and coarse dirt are removed with plant tweezers or a landing net.

Clean the bottom of the aquarium: with the hose

If you want to clean the substrate in the aquarium without going too deep, it is sufficient to hold the hose close to the bottom so that the debris is also sucked up. Make sure that no aquarium plants are caught – the leaves are easily bent. Smaller plantlets can be accidentally uprooted. You should also be careful not to accidentally remove the substrate. Should this happen, carefully pour away the changing water, take the substrate out of the bucket and put it back into the tank.

Tip: Use the hose to create a kind of whirlpool with circular movements. Lighter parts are whirled up and sucked up, while the heavier substrate sinks and remains in the aquarium. This often makes cleaning the bottom of the aquarium easier.

Clean the floor in the aquarium: with the sludge vacuum cleaner

If the substrate is to be cleaned very thoroughly, we recommend using a mulm vacuum cleaner.

It works by tumbling up the substrate inside a plastic dome, releasing the dirt that has sunk into the substrate. This gets into the hose while the pebbles or sand on the ground sink down again. This makes it possible to clean the substrate in the aquarium particularly intensively. However, pay attention to a few points:

Don’t overdo it with cleaning.

You want to clean the substrate but not turn it into a clinically clean zone. It is quite normal and desirable that sludge sinks into the deeper layers. In a normal community tank, you don’t have to tweak the mulch until the water you’re stirring up is clear. Only remove the coarsest dirt.
Keep your distance from the aquarium plants.
A sludge vacuum is ideal for pools or areas that are not planted. Where a ground cover or a lawn in the aquarium covers the ground, it is of no use. But even plants that form widely branched roots in the aquarium can be uprooted by careless use of the sludge vacuum cleaner. Cryptocorynes, for example, form rhizomes that spread below the soil at some distance from the parent plant. Proceed carefully and if you come across a root, simply cover it carefully with substrate again.

Mulm in the aquarium: how often to clean the bottom?

The most common question on the subject of “cleaning the substrate”: How often is cleaning necessary? It is best to clean the substrate in the aquarium as part of the water change that takes place every one or two weeks. It is perfectly fine if parts of plants or sludge remain on the aquarium floor during these intervals: They form a valuable basis for the growth of bacteria, a source of food for microorganisms and often for the aquarium inhabitants themselves, such as fish and shrimp.

Basically, you should not be too meticulous when cleaning the substrate in the aquarium. But on the contrary:

Many animals love corners where Mulm is located. If you want to set up an aquarium for shrimp in which the animals feel particularly comfortable, you may even plan to have a few queasy corners. The offspring in particular will find sufficient food here. So, as long as there is no larger organic waste in the aquarium, wait until the next water change and do not clean every corner of the aquarium.

Clean the aquarium floor from time to time – clean the substrate without changing the water

Sometimes it is necessary to clean the substrate in the aquarium even though the water is not being changed. However, if there is too much organic waste at the bottom of the aquarium, cleaning the aquarium floor from time to time is definitely advisable. Above all, if the feeding was incorrectly calculated and leftover food collects on the bottom of the aquarium, it should be removed as soon as possible – otherwise there is a risk of the water parameters deteriorating. Fish and plants can be damaged and algae in the aquarium can be encouraged. There are various options for quick cleaning in between:

Cleaning the bottom of the aquarium with a thin hose
A very thin hose, as used for filter technology and the like, does a good job here. Small particles, such as the remains of flake food, can be easily sucked up with its help without losing too much aquarium water that has to be replaced.
Cleaning the aquarium floor with a cleaner
In the aquaristic trade, cleaners are offered that absorb the water, pass it through a filter and then return it to the aquarium. These electrically operated handheld devices are not essential, but are an additional way of keeping the bottom of the aquarium clean.

How do I start my fish tank gravel cleaner?

How do you completely clean aquarium gravel?

How often should you use a gravel cleaner?

If you have a healthy and well-balanced fish tank, you may be able to go for several months without cleaning the gravel. However, even with a highly efficient tank, it is a good idea to clean gravel at least once every two to three months.

How do you clean gravel without removing fish?

To clean the river gravel, simply put 2 cups of vinegar in a bucket with the gravel and fill it with water. Leave it for 1-2 hours and then empty the water from the bucket. By this time, most of the harmful bacteria and parasites should have died. Rinse the gravel a couple of times and it is ready to go in the tank!

Should you clean aquarium gravel?

Along with installing the proper filtration systems to maintain water quality, it’s also important to clean the gravel at the bottom of your tank to keep conditions healthy for your fish.

How often should I vacuum my fish tank gravel?

At least once a month you should use an aquarium vacuum to clean the gravel and a sponge or scraper to remove excess algae from the sides of the tank. In addition, you should also test the ammonia, nitrate, and pH levels and keep a log to make sure they are steady from month to month.

How do you remove fish poop from gravel?

Vacuum the Gravel Fish feces, shed scales, uneaten food, dead bits of plants, and other debris will settle to the bottom of your tank. Vacuuming the gravel every week will remove much of this debris and refresh the tank, brightening the gravel and keeping the tank healthier.

Do you leave fish in tank when cleaning?

It’s best to keep your fish in the fish tank when you clean. Removing them causes unnecessary stress for your fish, and you run the risk of accidentally hurting them. It is possible to keep your fish in the tank while you clean because you don’t need to remove all the water to clean the tank properly.

To clean a goldfish tank, we have to change about a third of the water once a week and clean some of the gravel with a siphon.

How to clean the fish tank?

• Unplug all electrical elements.
• Take the fish out of the fish tank.
• Prepare clean water.
• Get all the objects out of the fishbowl.
• Clean the objects.
• Clean the stones from the fish tank.
• Replace the stones and put your aquarium back together.
• Add the treated water.

How to clean the fish tank without taking out the water?

You can use bleach to clean thoroughly. In this case, leave the tank exposed to sunlight, empty, for no less than 4 hours. Sunlight neutralizes chlorine, making it harmless to fish. Refill the tank with clean water, as indicated in point 6 of cleaning without removing the fish from the aquarium.

What to do so that the water in the fish tank is crystal clear?

Make changes of between 15 and 25% of water per day (between one and two times depending on the severity of the problem). Do not even think about putting more fish or any live animals in the aquarium during this period, you will only make the problem worse.

How should a goldfish be cared for?

Goldfish need enough space to constantly swim. For this reason, it is advisable to acquire a fish tank of no less than 100 liters. This should be decorated with small stones and coarse sand. As far as aquarium plants are concerned, this should not interfere with the free movement of fish.

How many times do you have to feed a goldfish?

A good rule of thumb is to feed your goldfish no more than it can eat in a minute or two. Goldfish can eat as much as they can until they die, so be very careful not to overfeed them. Feeding him up to three times a day will suffice.

What kind of water does a goldfish need?

Before buying a goldfish make sure you have space for the fish tank and consult with the store specialist to help you with some basic recommendations. They are freshwater fish that need an average of 40 liters of water for each fish. With less quantity they could not mature or grow correctly.

How do goldfish sleep?

Precisely because they spend all day swimming, the fish need to rest and recharge their batteries from time to time so as not to end up exhausted. Of course, they do not sleep like mammals, we close our eyes and dream of little angels. When they sleep, what aquarium fish do is “reset”, like a computer.

How to know if the fish are stressed?

If we observe any notable change in the attitude of the fish, it will be a great alarm sign. Like any stressed being, under a period of disturbance, the breathing rate and rhythm increase considerably. If you see that swimming activity has increased or decreased, it can be a clear symptom of stress.

How many times are goldfish fed?

At higher water temperatures your goldfish or koi may lose their appetite. -Feed no more than 2 times daily (for goldfish or small koi, no more than 4 times daily). -Feed small amounts of an easily digestible food if the fish are in good condition.

How is lettuce fed to fish?

Herbivores in the aquarium will love well cooked lettuce or spinach leaves. Do not forget to remove the remaining leaves after two days, maximum; otherwise, the decomposition process can upset the biological balance of the aquarium.

How long can a goldfish go without eating?

How long can you go without eating a fish? This question is just as important as how many times do the fish eat. An adult fish can go without food for one, two or three days. After that time you will notice that it begins to move less and will hide more and more frequently.

How to know if a goldfish is male or female?

You can determine the sex of a fish by inspecting its gonads (reproductive organs), which are located toward the top of the intestinal cavity. Mature females will have orange ovaries and males will have white testicles. That would be, so to speak, the easiest way.

How do fish fall asleep?

Fish do not have eyelids so they sleep with their eyes open. They have a membrane that covers their eyes, preventing light from passing through them and disrupting their sleep. While the fish sleep they move their fins very slowly to stabilize themselves in the water and are always alert to any danger.

How to know if a fish is happy?

Balanced and coordinated swimming.
Quick reactions.
Their skin and scales are healthy and lively.
Balanced appetite: if your fish is healthy, its appetite is normal and it will eat regularly at certain times.
His body has no alterations in appearance or shape.

How many times is the water changed for the fish?

For a better quality of life for our fish, we should change the water every 3 or 4 days maximum. This water that we change can be tap water rested for 24 hours so that the chlorine evaporates and it is of higher quality; or bottled mineral water.

How many times are the fish fed?

In addition, the remains dirty the water, favor the proliferation of bacteria and is a waste. How many times a day should a fish eat? The ideal is to feed it between one and two times a day, in very small quantities.

How many times do you have to feed the fish?

It is recommended to add fresh food so that the animal does not lack any nutrients. “Ideally, feed the base diet once or twice a day every day in small amounts at a time (just as much as the fish eat in 2 minutes) and add fresh food 2-3 times a week.

How do you change the water in the fish tank?

• Clean the crystals.
• Add conditioner.
• Turn off filter and heater.
• Siphon or vacuum.
• Fill the aquarium.
• Turn on filter and thermo-heater again.

How do I set up a goldfish aquarium?

You should calculate around 50 liters of water per goldfish, whereby the smallest tank size should not be less than 200 liters for species-appropriate keeping. Bigger is always better, not just to give the goldfish enough room to move.

What do you need for a goldfish aquarium?

What do you need for a goldfish aquarium?

Which water parameters are optimal for keeping goldfish?

How much space do 2 goldfish need?

The aquarium dimensions depend on the size of the adult goldfish. The minimum size of a tank for smaller goldfish is 100 centimeters (tank length) with a capacity of 200 liters. A volume of 50 liters must be calculated for each goldfish.

How do you keep a goldfish in a jar?

The minimum volume for an aquarium for the permanent keeping of adult fish is 54 liters – which corresponds to an aquarium size of 60 x 30 x 30 cm. In order to accommodate this volume in a glass sphere, it would have to have a diameter of almost 50 cm (46.89 cm to be exact).

Can you keep goldfish without a pump?

Is there a filter with a circulation pump? Goldfish can live in standing water without a filter – if the basic conditions are right: This includes sufficient oxygen in the water, which aquatic plants ensure during the day. Shallow water zones are important because oxygen becomes scarce at night.

How long do small goldfish live?

Goldfish can live 20 to 30 years! Interestingly, the color of goldfish only develops over time. They only turn golden when they are 8 months old, before that they still show the gray of the gable.

How often does a goldfish need to be fed?

A realistic solution is to feed all fish goldfish food at least once a day and otherwise feed them koi food. If the same number of goldfish and koi live in the pond, you can feed them twice with goldfish food and twice with koi food.

How do you tell if a goldfish is male or female?

Females tend to be slightly smaller and thicker, while males are longer, more streamlined, and slimmer. Whether male or female can also be determined from the cloaca. Males have an incurved, narrow, and elongated cloaca, while females have a protruding cloaca.

How long does it take for a goldfish to mature?

After a year, the young goldfish have reached an impressive size of four centimetres.

How big do goldfish get in the aquarium?

Goldfish grow to around 30 cm and therefore need a tank with 500 liters of water volume or, even better, a pond.

How big do little goldfish get?

Fish Goldfish small 4 – 7 cm – Carassius auratus.

What do I need to set up a fish tank for goldfish?

To set up a fish tank for goldfish, choose an aquarium that holds at least 20 gallons. Use smooth gravel as your substrate, and decorate the tank with plants, rocks, and other decor. Goldfish produce a lot of waste, so include a filtration system in your tank.

How long should you wait before putting goldfish in a new tank?

In the beginning, only add a couple of small hardy fish. Wait until both the ammonia and nitrite levels have risen and then fallen to zero before adding more fish. It usually take about 3-6 weeks for a new aquarium to go through the initial nitrogen cycle, so fish should be added only a few per week during this time.

Can you put goldfish in a new tank straight away?

Introducing a New Goldfish to a Tank. The best way to transfer a new goldfish into its new home is to leave the fish in the oxygen and water filled bag that the pet store employee put your new pet into. Simply place it directly into the goldfish bowl or tank and wait until the water temperatures are equal.

Do and don’ts for goldfish?

Can I use tap water for a goldfish?

Tap water is the most commonly used water in goldfish tanks. So YES, goldfish can live in tap water as long as it’s been treated with a water conditioner first.

How do you take care of a goldfish for beginners?

Does goldfish need air pump?

A goldfish needs to have enough oxygen in the water which comes from the bubbles and movement on the water surface that is provided from an air pump. An air pump is needed by goldfish in some specific water cases to create more oxygen, but not all cases.

What kind of water do you use for goldfish?

Goldfish are cold water fish, meaning that they do not require a heater. Goldfish prefer their water between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, goldfish do well in soft water, meaning its alkalinity is higher than its acidity. A goldfish thrives when their water’s pH is between 7.0 and 7.4.