Have you ever found yourself becoming weirdly calm and chilled out while gazing into a fish tank?

It’s not only you who feels that way. Research shows that gazing into aquariums can enhance your mental and physical well-being.

But while aquarium fish produce a tranquil underwater oasis for us to enjoy, there are some environmental side effects. Does that mean you have to give up your mesmerizing aquarium for home?

No, it’s possible to make eco-friendly decisions that are kind to the beautiful planet. Don't leave it to “salmon” else. It’s time and energy to start saving the earth tank by tank.

Are you ready? Let’s help your house be aquarium just a little greener.

Building Your Eco-Friendly Home Aquarium

When building your aquarium for home, make it simple. Follow this informative guide below. And you’ll be able to keep your fish friends healthy and comfy without disrupting nature (and your utility bill!)

Size Matters

When you are looking at your aquarium for home, don’t overload. Think small , choose a tank that fits the quantity of fish you would like. But don’t forget to take into consideration how large they will grow.

The Right Tool for the Job

Even in case your aquarium is eco-friendly, you will still use energy to help keep it running. However, you can choose smart options that will you to employ minimal quantity of energy as you possibly can.

Use green lighting to lessen energy consumption. For example:

• Fluorescent lighting
• LED lighting
• T5 lighting
• Plasma Lamps

Whether you’re making a freshwater or saltwater home aquarium, you will need a filter to manage natural water movement. Cheap filters generally consume high stamina. But if spent a bit extra with an eco-filter your tank is going to be green and your utility bill lower!

Whatever equipment you choose to buy, be sure to ensure that it stays in tip-top condition. When devices are poorly maintained, it can start to use more energy.

Let There Be Light

If you decide to add living plants, it’s a great idea to place your tank somewhere where it gets natural sunlight. Having natural sunlight for some hours within the day allows the plants to perform photosynthesis.

Keeping your aquarium in direct sunlight can also keep the tank warm. Which means you can use less energy to heat the tank. Obviously, you should closely track the temperature to help keep it within the ideal range.

Additives and Alternatives

When creating your aquarium for home, there are chemicals you can use to keep the fish in good condition.

For example, if you fill your aquarium with plain tap water, you will have to treat it to remove the chlorine. This is because fish cannot survive because of the higher level of chlorine.

It may not always be easy to find natural alternatives, but if it comes with an eco-friendly cleaning option, use it.

Aquarium Home Accessories

When looking for eco-friendly accessories, you’ll notice many items available are plastic. AVOID PLASTIC No matter what!

Get the purpose? Plastic isn't a green item. And there are plenty of natural alternatives that can do the job better still.

Check out these green aquarium ideas for home.

Living Breathing Eco-System

Rather than those cheap looking plastic plants, use real, living, breathing plants instead. Furthermore they offer just a little shade for that fish, but they can help clear algae from the tank. Some plants also provide the fish with something extra to nibble on.

If you have a saltwater home aquarium, you should use specific plants that induce an ideal eco-system. For instance, Halimeda or cactus algae. You could even add macro algae or a shaving brush plant to encourage your fish to help keep the tank clean.

Growing plants will even make your aquarium home an ever-evolving one. Both you and your fishy friends won't ever get bored!

Fish Friendly Substrate

Fill the foot of your tank with 2-3 inches of substrate. Gravel and sand are eco-friendly options.

Make sure you choose a substrate that's fish friendly. Some rocks and artificial substrate contains dangerous minerals and metals. These chemicals can get rid of your tank fish by fish.

On the Rocks

Add some rocks…and never those faux plastic rocks you'll find!

Rocks really are a basic aquarium accessory that's 100% natural. You can place them into little arches or teeny caves so that they have places to hide and spawn.

Shipwreck Hideout

A nice bit of driftwood can also be another cool accessory. It doesn't only create an excellent hiding place for fish, but it can give a rugged ‘sunken pirate ship’ look to your natural aquarium home.

Choosing Coral

For a saltwater home aquarium, you may even wish to then add coral. It keeps water clean and can offer an all natural habitat for some species.

But with so much coral destroyed in the wild, you need to choose your choices carefully. Rather than buying live coral, buy farmed coral that is grown in tanks. Or buy cultivated rock instead.

Before you begin buying coral through any old company online, you need to find out more about coral farming and aquaculture.

Finding Your Nemo

Now your tank is ready, how about your home aquarium fish? It may seem this is the end of your eco-friendly phase, but it’s not. It’s important to buy fish in a manner that doesn’t affect mother natures plan too.

Follow these aquarium suggestions for home when buying fish:

• Choose a variety of fish that may live together in harmony.
• Adopt fish if a person is shutting down their tank (this will save them from being unnecessarily killed).
• Don’t overcrowd your tank.
• Bigger isn't necessarily better.
• Don’t buy endangered species.
• Buy from reputable sources.
• Shop at stores who acclimatize the fish to their new habitat before selling.
• Find out how they caught the fish and just what their transportation was like. Many fish die when transported long distances in poor conditions.

One last thing you may not know is the fact that some terrible companies paint or dye tropical fish so that they look brighter and more attractive. This could cause irreversible harm to the poor creatures. Always learn and be aware of natural color before you buy.

“The Earth Is a Fine Place and Worth Fighting For”

Since this quote was written, the health of our beautiful planet has declined immensely. Everyone has a component to experience in fighting for this planet, and you can start by making sure your home aquarium is eco-friendly!

Now you’ve gone green together with your aquarium, what about the rest of your home? Click here for 10 warning signs you are wasting energy in your house.