Dive into Awesome: The Coolest DIY Aquariums
There’s a lot to love about aquariums — not only are the fish fascinating to watch, but it’s clinically proving that doing so soothes your soul!
And today’s aquariums look fantastic. While even a traditional tank can put a smile on your face, what’s currently on the market is lightyears from the murky tanks of our youth. Take a look at these five options that will inspire you to bring some serenity and nature into your home.
Nature, Iwagumi and Dutch aquascaping styles (Credit: theaquariumguide.com)
1. Aquascaping
Think of aquascaping as creating an underwater Zen garden, arranging your tank flora in a visually pleasing fashion. The plants take center stage in lush and colorful scenes that are quite different from the traditional aquarium setup. Some of the most popular styles include Jungle, Dutch and Japanese. But the possibilities are endless, so feel free to experiment and find your own style!
(Credit: youtube.com)
2. Zero Edge
This is an awesome new take on the aquarium. The water flows over the edges of the tank into a moat surrounding the bottom, and is then sucked back into the system. It’s a beautiful and unique way to keep your fish happy and the water flowing smoothly through your tank. While they can be pricy to purchase, you can make one yourself for a fraction of the cost. And on top of looking great, the flowing water makes a wonderful relaxing background sound.
(Credit: youtube.com)
3. Self-sustaining ecosystem
Are you interested in an aquarium but put off by all the maintenance? Then a self-sustaining ecosystem is perfect for you. These set-it-and-forget-it tanks take advantage of a perfectly balanced nutrient cycle consisting of sunlight, algae and shrimp. The EcoSphere pictured above is just one of many options out there, so with a little research you should be able to find one that’s right for you. Or if you’re feeling industrious, you can even build your own.
(Credit: reddit.com)
4. Desktop Betta Pond
Reddit user publichobbyaccount came up with this gorgeous DIY project that isn’t all that hard to get up and running. The tank is a silicone-lined steel tub filled with gravel, rocks, some riparian plants, a Zebra Nerite snail and a Betta fish. This experimental aqua habitat will require more frequent water changes than a regular tank, plus a full spectrum light, but the result is worthwhile.
Related story on Yahoo Makers: Jump on the Hot Terrarium Trend With These 10 DIYs
(Credit: cubicaquarium.com)
5. Desktop Jellyfish Tank
While we’re on the subject of your desktop, if a Betta doesn’t quite float your boat, how about some jellyfish? This setup is actually easier to care for than traditional fish and plant environments. The jellyfish’s pulsating bodies and hypnotic flow are sure to help you relax, and is definitely a conversation starter. While you can certainly set up your own jellyfish tank, the ones made by Cubic Aquariums (like the one above) come with a specialized filtration system, remote-controlled LED lights and sport some really slick modern designs.
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