Frugal decor ideas anyone!

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Pugwinkle

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Feb 25, 2004
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Hi! I'm new to fish keeping and I have just been given a 30 gallon tank. I am finding that the decor items at the pet stores are just outrageously priced. I have read where people have used the clay pots for caves.

I'm wondering if anyone else has some clever things they have used to decorate their tanks without spending an arm and a leg?

I saw a very cute plastic frog at Walmart today. It's actually one of those things that have a vial so you know how much it rained. I think it would look awesome in my tank especially since I want to have African Dwarf Frogs. Is there any good reason why I can't use this?? Many of the decor items at the petstores are just made of plastic as well so I can't see why I cannot use this??
 
I have to agree that finding a place that sells rock by the pound can be very helpful to build up a tank. I've never had lava rock, but I do like using slate. Check your LFS also as some will sell bulk rock for a reasonable price. You already mentioned the clay pot thing many of us use. As for items that don't say they can be used in an aquarium I tend to error on the side of caution myself. If its practical you can also look into some of the lesser expensive live plants.
 
Some people use PVC pipes from plumbing store to make hidouts for larger fish like Knives or Plecs.

If you're anywhere near the Canadian Shield you can find great rock out by the roads. In Northern Ontario you will find places where engineers blasted through small hills to make a straight road. There are piles of rocks all around there. Just clean it off first. Just make sure you don't get carbonite rocks. A guy I work with told me if you put some vinegar on a rock and it fizzes its carbonite and you schouldn't use it.

Craft stores also are loaded with things that can be used or made into decorations.
 
Well I've never been to Canada, so I don't know what your landscape looks like. I love the way stacked rocks look, and I'm fortunate to live near the coast. So if I ever want to build up my rock piles, I take a drive to the beach and pick out my decor, for free!
 
If you're anywhere near the Canadian Shield you can find great rock out by the roads. In Northern Ontario you will find places where engineers blasted through small hills to make a straight road.
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I was already thinking this, what part of Canada are you from, I have been in much of Canada Blasting, and it's always seems to be brutally hard granite which is great rock for your tank. If you are far west (B.C.) You'll have to watch out for heavy metals as most of the West coast north and south is laced with ore rock, but Basalt and Granite are still very prevalent. You just have to watch out for shiny stuff, unless of course you happen upon gold in which case collect a bunch and go buy wahtever decor you like

Driftwood along lakes can be used with some preparation (cleaning and boiling)
 
I'm in Winnipeg which is known for its lack of everything. If I drive East for about half an hour I'll be in the Shield area and can pick up a trunkload of great rocks.

I haven't been out to local lakes for a driftwood search yet. I'm waiting until I've got money to be a big tank and then I'll need some of it. Right now my tanks are looking good and I don't want to load them down with a lot of stuff.
 
Just one quick word of caution. many plastic items are painted, and paints often break down and flake off--not a good thing. Some paints will leach toxins as well.

For clay--use NEW pots. Used pots often will leach contaminants into your water.

Rocks/shells that fizzle with vinegar can be used, they just will modify your water paramters, increasing the buffer (raising KH) and the pH.
 
I'm in Winnipeg which is known for its lack of everything
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I had to laugh, because when I was posting my reply earlier, I kept thinking, winnepeg would be the only place in Canada where you couldn't just go out in the yard and grab what you need.
I worked with a guy from Winnepeg once, he always said it was the only place in the world where it was so flat you could sit on the front porch and watch your dog run away for four days.

Please don't take this wrong, I have nothing against Winnepeg, just thought you'd find some humor in my thoguhts.
 
I like bricks personally. They're unreactive and hold up well in an aquarium. Plus I like the look of a pile of bricks stacked up to make a nice big reef area where my fish congergate and hide. Also, bricks are pretty cheap 25-50 cents (US) a piece. So it's cheap to go wild and get a nice big reef with tons of holes your fish love.
 
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