How to Design Fish Aquarium Decor

If the main reason you have an aquarium is that you like to share your living space with fish, it's likely that the second reason you have an aquarium is because you like to ponder and arrange the way your aquarium looks, i.e. the decor.

Whether you want your aquarium to permanently enhance and reflect the rest of the room or you want a different look for every season, there are some things to keep in mind when designing aquarium decor.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish
  • Rocks
  • Plastic aquarium plants
  • Live aquarium plants
  • Ceramic decorations
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consider aquarium size before buying anything. There are some fish that look beautiful in any aquarium but need something larger than the standard 10-gallon tank in order to thrive. Live plants add oxygen and a bit of realism to any aquarium decor, but consider how fast they will grow versus the size of your tank.

    • 2

      Choose a theme. If you are interested in, say, shipwrecks, Buddhist art, pirates, Greek temples or moonscapes, you can find items at pet stores and other curio shops to put in your aquarium to create a themed decor.

    • 3

      Think about aquarium maintenance. A cluttered tank is hard to clean. Spare and sparse are easier to clean around than full and lush.

    • 4

      Test "natural" products. Driftwood and rocks look great in any aquarium decor, but check with the seller to determine the cleaning and preserving process. It's best to quarantine any questionable items in a separate tank and monitor the water in that tank for weeks before adding it to your primary aquarium.

    • 5

      Research plants thoroughly. Fake plants are great and easy to clean, but often look like the plastic replicas they are. Research live plants completely before adding them to your tank -- they may end up being from a species you don't want.