Hardscape

Generally:
Sand down sharp bits!  
Don't touch any hardscape to the aquarium walls.

Wood nurtures "biofilm," is a safe place for beneficial bacteria to grow and food source for aufwuchs grazers. 

Do not put dry wood tightly touching walls of aquarium. Dry wood expands slightly as it absorbs water, which can create enough pressure to crack the glass.

Recommended: Soak or boil wood before adding any wood to tank. Wood will become waterlogged and this removes some "Tannins" from turning water brown- tannins will still leach a bit.

Tannins- are actually good for some fish, antibacterial properties, brown tint makes them feel more calm, "Blackwater" is a style of aquarium. Tannins will lower pH but you need a LOT of sticks to achieve the smallest change. Research!

Check out these different looks!
Mopani, Spider, Manzanita  and Chola wood can be bought at your local fish store(LFS) or online-$$$$ 

Find your own wood! Look up what is safe and available in your area. No redwood, pine, fir, ceder, eucalyptus, etc.

Go to nature rather than near polluted roads, chemically treated lawns(pesticides/fertilizers.)

Look for fully dried, dead hardwood with no bark—such as Madrone, Manzanita, Oak, or Driftwood. 

Naturalists say don't scrub off algae before adding because there is beneficial bacteria and having a wide micro ecosystem is highly beneficial for water, fish and plants.

Online some people say anything from nature has a risk of weird fungus, parasites, disease or rot. Do not collect from stagnant nasty pools, roadside runoff or obvious gross areas. 

Generally:
Sand down sharp bits!  
Don't touch any hardscape to the aquarium walls.

If using heavy rocks, first place a hard plastic grid on the bottom glass of the tank to distribute weight more evenly.

Fish love caves!  Use rocks to make a stable chill spot for them to rest.

Aufwuchs grazers and algivores love to eat Aufwuchs, biofilm and algae off of smooth stones.

Porous rocks host beneficial bacteria that convert NHO & NO2 to NO3. *Adding ceramic rings/ Seachem Matrix/ porous rocks to your HOB or canister filter also host beneficial bacteria that convert NHO & NO2 to NO3.

Check out these different looks!
Seiryu Stone, Dragon Stone, Ryuoh Stone, Manten Stone, Pagoda Stone, Black Mountain Stone, Elephant Skin Stone, Lava Rock, Texas Holey Rock, Slate can be bought at your local fish store(LFS) or online-$$$$                   

Find your own rocks! Look up what is safe and available in your area. 

Go to nature rather than near polluted roads, chemically treated lawns(pesticides/fertilizers.)

Naturalists say don't scrub off algae before adding because there is beneficial bacteria and having a wide micro ecosystem is highly beneficial for water, fish and plants.

Online some people say anything from nature has a risk of weird fungus, parasites, disease or rot. Do not collect from stagnant nasty pools, roadside runoff or obvious gross areas. 

Leaves are a great surface to nurture "biofilm" a safe place for beneficial bacteria to grow, filter water and feed some types of fishes.

Many fishes like to hide under them for comfort, move them around, look for food.

Magnolia, Indian almond, Maple. Can be bought at your local fish store(LFS) or online-$$$$

Boil for 45mins if you do not want "Tannins" in the water.

Tannins- are actually good for fish, antibacterial properties, brown tint makes them feel more chill, "Blackwater" is a style of aquarium. Tannins will lower pH but you need a LOT of leaves to achieve the smallest change. Research!

Find your own leaves! Look up what is safe and available in your area. 

Collect fully dried out brown leaves- greenish leaves will rot.

Go to nature rather than near polluted roads, chemically treated lawns(pesticides/fertilizers.)

Research the types of leaves before putting in your tank.

Some say collecting leaves from natural water sources is great way to introduce a variety of beneficial micro and macro species to the tank ecosystem. That means bugs! All kinds of bugs are great for fish to chase and eat, also good for the soil and plants. Bloodworms, mosquito larvae, Scuds, detritus worms etc.

Cautious- anything from nature has a risk of disease, parasites, dragonfly larvae & diving beetles that eat small fish/shrimps and flatworms which kills shrimps. Do not collect from stagnant nasty pools, roadside runoff or obvious gross areas.

FUN: "Resurrection jars"
Gather leaves and sticks (not mud) put it in glass jar, cover with plastic, pokes holes for air. Set by partial sun window and see what life happens.🪲🪱🦠

FUN: take a ceramics class and make your own fish house!

+ buy a terracotta planter from store or other premade cave tubes online
+ porous surface houses beneficial bacteria
+ fish love privacy and tubes!
+ light weight
- make sure no scratchy edges or holes too small for fish to get stuck

Make sure it's aquarium safe material.
+ smooth edges easy for fish to navigate + fish love privacy
+ light weight
- does not house as much beneficial bacteria

Make sure it's aquarium safe material.
+ fun
- must make sure that oxygen can get in there or it create a dead zone C02 x_x

Driftwood

Leaf Litter

"Caves"

Smooth Stones

Pebbles

Sandy Area

Tall Plants

Dense Vegetation

Floating Plants