Should ornamental rocks or other ornaments be used?

Let taste be your guide when coming to decide whether ornamental rocks or other ornaments be used. Today many aquarium stores feature rocks of all types, as well as glass chunks. Many of these have sharp edges, but there is little reason to believe that the fishes ever cut themselves on them. Mineral or lime-bearing rocks, of course, should be avoided.

When in doubt as to the danger of a particular rock or type of rock, test it first, placing it in a tank with a few inexpensive fishes for about two weeks. Rocks serve no particular purpose in the community aquarium (unless it’s a community of African cichlids), but many of them are decorative and can be arranged into caves, grottoes, ledges and walls within which or on which some fishes will spawn.

Almost the same could be said of other aquarium ornaments. Bamboo huts, castles, bridges, figurines, frogs, treasure chests, turtles, etc., are available. If you like them and their material and style does no harm, use them to beautify your aquarium.

A word of caution: be sure that all the rocks and ornaments used are set well into the gravel. Do not leave areas under which dirt can drift and accumulate beyond reach. Make sure that such areas do not exist in the ornament itself. And beware of the ornament that has narrow, closed-end passageways. A fish is quite likely to swim up into it and, being unable either to turn or proceed, to die there. Not only will you lose the fish, but its body is likely to be hidden and can pollute the water before being discovered. Many seashells fall into this category.

Coral as well as seashells is composed of lime. A small piece or two of coral or a few small shells probably do no harm. In excess, they certainly tend to make the water hard, if it is originally of the soft, slightly acid type. Coral and seashells should be boiled and scrubbed thoroughly with a stiff brush before use.