Have you ever...

[Sarkazmo]

... thought about or set up a tank that's totally the opposite of what you'd normally do with a tank? I'm not talking about filtration or salt vs fresh or any of the basics of keeping fish and keeping them healthy. I'm talking about the look of the tank. Normally I try keep my tanks as natural as possible. I use natural coloured substrates, driftwood, rock, and live plants to 'decorate'. But lately I've been seeing a few fake ornaments that've sorta sparked an idea. Make a tacky tank. Well, not clown puke gravel tacky but fake tacky (and yes I know I'm a fish snob :P) There's some interesting ceramic ornaments, some LED ornaments and bubblers, and artificial wood pieces I've been noticing. I also have many DIY ideas for underwater LED lighting and such. This isn't trying to spark a 'which is better: natural or fake?" argument or anything of the sort. I'd really like to hear from the purists on this as well. :)

Sark

[KatzeSlaugen]

very interesting idea. i personally will only have tanks that are all natural because it really fits my taste. my girlfriend on the other hand likes the ornaments, and i do too as long as its not in my tank ;).

there are definitely some really cool things ive almost considered buying for my tanks though

[skullduggery1]

I have a tacky tank in my daughters room.She decorates it and I put my growout fish in there.Rainbow gravel,glow in the dark car.lighthouse.Thats how I get away with having so many aquariums.Thank you my beloved daughter for showing interest in dad's obsession.

[CassieLEO]

I wouldnt want to waste the tank on something that I am guaranteed to end up hating LMAO!!!! AND spend the money on it...nooooo

[Rue]

I prefer natural as well, but I'm not opposed to the odd ornament...it can be cute and tasteful....

...and ultimately it's YOUR tank. It needs to give you pleasure.

As long the fish-keeping is good...the rest is 'eye-candy'. To each his own.

The only time I comment on decor is when individuals don't even think of doing a 'natural' tank and somehow feel it HAS to be filled with coloured gravel and ornaments.

[Honey Badger 1]

when i first inherited my current 30g it was so dirty i didn't want to reuse the gravel. i also needed to get it set up again quickly for the fish's sake. they were pretty stressed from the move and didn't want to take the time i thought it would take to clean the gravel, (it came out of the tank in chunks). i asked my daughter to please run to the store and get some new gravel while i continued to clean and set up the tank, handed her the money and said, just get any natural looking gravel, not blue or anything like that. i raised this child from the day she was born and knew my mistake as soon as i made it. the sparkle in her eye as she left confirmed my fears. even though i also like the look of a natural tank best, i suffered with the blue gravel she brought me. but, as soon as i felt the tank had matured enough and i had the time to devote, i converted to sand.
i think this is the closest to setting up a tank in a way that is unusual to my tastes as i have ever gotten.

[skullduggery1]

I prefer natural as well, but I'm not opposed to the odd ornament...it can be cute and tasteful....

...and ultimately it's YOUR tank. It needs to give you pleasure.

As long the fish-keeping is good...the rest is 'eye-candy'. To each his own.

The only time I comment on decor is when individuals don't even think of doing a 'natural' tank and somehow feel it HAS to be filled with coloured gravel and ornaments.
well said...

[dragoonwoman]

I normally prefer a "natural" tank with only plants, rocks, wood and non-colored gravel (not blue, pink, purple or glow-in-the-dark).

However, I found this ornament and had to have it. My betta doesn't mind.

[VoidParadigm]

Most of my tanks are at about half and half with natural and fake.

As a quick example;
My (guppy) fraternity tank has natural colored gravel, real rocks and shells, but fake plants.
My sorority tank has several mismatched leftover gravel collections, fake wood and rocks, but real plants.

[Mrs.JayMay23]

I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would want to change it to a spongebob squarepants theme! lol! Yes, I know it seems childish but I thought it would be a cool switch up. BTW, still waiting for weather to heat up a little more so that I can lay the marine epoxy on it. :)

[MCHRKiller]

My SO's tanks are enough for me, they are full of random fake things. Every trip to petsmart pretty much ensures we end up bringing some oddity home just because it was screwed up in some way. My "fav" tank is a 29G which has a large volcano...a palm tree(which is taller than the volcano) and a small sunken pirate ship. The volcano erupts bubbles to make it better. There are all sorts of various bubbling skulls, dead fish heads, and whatever else. To make it even more odd the tanks also have natural gravel, real wood and rock as well as live plants. :hmm3grin2orange:

As far as setting up a tank for myself with fakes...probably wont ever happen.

[kingkarter]

Ive thought about doing this many time:)

[Bearitone]

I kind of secretly want a sunken pirate ship tank. Ship, skeleton pirate with whiskey bottle, treasure chest that opens to release bubbles... the whole 9 yards..

[waternewb]

I have that very ornament as well, and my betta seems to like it too

[flydustydawg]

I kind of secretly want a sunken pirate ship tank. Ship, skeleton pirate with whiskey bottle, treasure chest that opens to release bubbles... the whole 9 yards..

haha that is what I would do if I made a tacky tank. I think it would be pretty nice looking if done right. Other than the fake jelly fish in my 125 I have not one tacky thing in my tanks (I didnt buy it either). It was the fiances doing. Honestly I hate it but she likes it so Ill deal with it.

I like natural looking tanks, but some day I think Ill have 40 breeder tank with only fake decorations but I think ill still do sand. Maybe white or black sand though.

Sarkazmo I almost posted a thread very simalar to this when I read your responce to my 125 thread. If I was not at work and on my phone I would have lol.

Great idea for a thread. I think it is good for people to get these dirty little secrets out of the way haha.