Black lights anyone??

[chinnp]

IMO,a natural looking tank always looks nice, and any wild caught fish you may have in your tank will feel more at home with this kind of decor. Another reason I also prefer to have my tanks look natural is that I read once that blue gravel and other supernatural decor for your tank can shorten the lifespans of the fish. However there was no info to back this up, but I would rather be on the safe side here. Also, it's cheaper, for a natural tank you can go and find a rock for your tank and test it with an acid (for lime), versus going to walmart or petsmart and paying $20 for a bright orange ceramic cave. Within my knowledge there is no proof that a natural tank is better, but it's what I prefer.

I know what you're saying and I agree with you up to a point, but I don't think the fish really care. Half the plants in my tank are plastic and half are real. The rock cave I have is plastic instead of real rock. The big tree stump taking up the middle of the tank is plastic. The driftwood I have in there is attached to a piece of slate. The gravel is dark black and the background is a mirror. None of this is very realistic, but the fish don't seem to mind IMO. The plastic plants offer just as much shade as the real ones do and the plastic cave offers just as much cover as a real one would. I honestly don't think the fish really care if they're hiding in a real cave made out of real rocks or a sunken ship decoration.

I try to decorate all of my tanks to look natural, but half the decorations I have are plastic. Also, I'm tempted to put together a rather garish gold fish tank just because I can.

 

[shaunakadub]

I read once that blue gravel and other supernatural decor for your tank can shorten the lifespans of the fish. However there was no info to back this up, but I would rather be on the safe side here.

Smoke crack much?

Not to be offensive, but comon'.

 

[DeputyChiefJR]

I have heard that certain colored gravels can stress a fish out if they're close in color to the fish or drastically different than the faish's normal environment...The explanation is that fish often use color to express a wide range of feelings, ie. when they color-up during feeding...Colored gravels and such can cause the fish to feel a need to compete with its habitat rather than blending in or feeling normal...That's just my 2 cents...