The imitation of natural habitats is an important requirement for ideal aquaria. Prototypes are provided by nature itself and there are almost no limitations in designing an aquarium. It is important to know which organisms out of which habitat have to be cared for. Schools of fish need a big swimming space, morays and lobsters live in grottos and cracks and flatfishes need big lying surfaces and a soft underground to dig in. A nearly naturally designed aquarium shall furthermore show to the visitors how the natural habitats of the animals look like.

In the MEERESMUSEM different methods and materials are applied to create the aquaria. Models are used - similar to stage scenery - to design the decoration and change it as long as it matches the concept. When building up the decoration elements of laminated hard foam or ceramic as well as travertine stones are used. After a few weeks different algae species will start growing, which will enforce the natural appearance of the decoration and serve as a hiding place for many animals. All technical parts, like water in- and outlets, or dynamic pumps are - for the visitor invisible - hidden in the decoration.

When taking all the effort to design an optically impressive aquarium, which will be an aesthetic enjoyment for the visitors, one should never forget to create optimal living conditions for the organisms.