Relaxing atmosphere bubbles up from aquariums

In scientific studies, it’s been shown to relax patients at the dentist’s office, reduce blood pressure in busy people, and calm Alzheimer’s disease patients. A new wonder drug? Hardly. This universal feel-good medicine is the tried-and-true aquarium.

Something magical happens when we watch tropical fish gliding effortlessly through the water of an aquarium. All our troubles seem to lift off our shoulders like air bubbles drifting up to the water’s surface.

No wonder the number of households with aquariums has increased by 14 percent since the beginning of this decade, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

“We’re seeing more new aquarium customers all the time,” said Joe Fucini, a spokesman for the Pet Supplies “Plus” chain of stores. “People look at an aquarium as a way to bring a small piece of nature into their homes. Good tank decorations will highlight the natural beauty of your fish, making them more enjoyable.”

Before you start decorating your tank, it’s important to know your fish.

“We want Pet Supplies ‘Plus’ customers to learn all they can about the species of fish they’re going to keep before they do anything else,” said Fucini. “All fish are not created equal, so they’re going to have different requirements in terms of water chemistry, tank size and even the kind of decorations you use. For example, with shy species, your tank decorations should offer plenty of secluded spaces where a fish can hide.”

The “foundation” of any good decorating plan (quite literally) is the substrate material on the bottom of your tank. This will usually be gravel and in some cases sand.

Gravel is available in a rainbow of colors, but many experienced aquarium hobbyists prefer the darker shades. Most fish seem to feel more relaxed swimming over a dark area, since this resembles the color of the river and lakebeds found in nature. Plus, from an aesthetic standpoint, your brightly colored fish will standout more against a dark background.

When choosing substrate material, avoid gravel with sharp edges, since this can cut fish, especially bottom dwellers that like to burrow in the ground. Substrate material should be rinsed thoroughly in running water to remove particles that can cloud water.

Your aquarium will have more visual depth if you slope your substrate so it’s higher in the back of your tank, and lower in the front, said Jeff San Souci, a spokesman for the Rolf C. Hagen Corp., which makes the Aqua Clear line of aquarium products.

Live plants make aquariums look more natural and attractive, and most fish feel more comfortable swimming in areas with plenty of good vegetation. An underwater garden of hearty and healthy plants will also help oxygenate aquarium water and inhibit the growth of algae.

But before you start trying out your aquatic green thumb, learn how compatible different plants will be with your fish. In some cases, a plant may have different water temperature or pH requirements than your fish, so it will be difficult for both to do well in the same tank. Also keep in mind that some fish species will chomp down leafy plants faster than a hungry teenager devours pizza.

Once you’ve found compatible plants, draw up a “landscaping plan” that mixes foliage of different shapes and sizes to create a more varied and interesting visual effect. Tall slender plants should be positioned in the back of your tank, thicker solitary plants work best in the middle, and small, densely clustered plants should go in the front.

Rocks and specially treated wood also will contribute to your aquarium’s decor and provide territorial markers as well as hiding places for your fish. Be sure to obtain these products from a pet store or aquarium dealer to ensure that they’re safe

Pre-made decorative objects bring a fun element to an aquarium, in addition to performing a useful function. The air bubbles that rise from these decorations help increase the flow of oxygen into the water.

Regardless of how you decorate your aquarium, you should show off your creation with plenty of light. The fluorescent lighting available with most tanks is essential to maintaining the health of fish and plants.

This is why it’s important to change your bulbs regularly, says San Souci. He points out that a fluorescent tube loses 50 percent of its lighting output quality in one year. As a lighting tube ages, its spectrum becomes distorted, affecting the health of fish and dulling their once vibrant colors.

Soon you will have created an underwater wonderland that lets you peer in and observe another world. It is no small wonder having such magic and beauty in our living space makes people feel relaxed and alive.