How Do I Get My Aquarium to Glow?

A glowing aquarium can be an awe striking addition to your home or business. Glowing fish were originally bred to assist in detecting environmental pollutions, but are available for purchase for domestic freshwater fish tanks. If you are not a fan of glowing zebra fish but still want to achieve the effect of a glowing fish tank, there are other techniques that you can apply. Glow in the dark accessories are widely available from pet stores, as are specialty lights that can make fish and tank accessories appear to glow.

Things You'll Need

  • Glowing zebra fish (optional)
  • Black light
  • Glow paint
  • Glow in the dark aquarium pellets
  • Glow in the dark aquarium accessories (i.e. coral, buildings)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place glowing fish or fish that have light, shiny colors that reflect well in your freshwater aquarium.

    • 2

      Use a black light for periods of time where you want your aquarium to really glow. Do not use a black light all the time with your fish as they also require periods of darkness alternated with brighter light sources. You can use a black light in conjunction with glowing fish, or alternatively with fish that have light colors that will be brought out by the lighting and light colored accessories.

    • 3

      Place glow in the dark accessories throughout your aquarium so that the aquarium lights up at night. Glow in the dark accessories are available in many forms such as rocks and pebbles, castles and coral.

    • 4

      Use non-toxic glowing acrylic paint to make your aquarium glow. This can be achieved either by painting specific accessories that you want to light up or by applying the glow paint in a design along the outside, back glass of the fish tank. Alternatively, you can apply an even layer of glow paint to a piece of paper cut to fit the back side of the tank that can be used as a backdrop when you want your tank to glow. Acrylic glowing paint can be found in most craft stores.