DIY Aquarium Ornaments

Creating your own beautiful decor for an aquarium is very rewarding. Not only do ornaments make the tank look great, but they will also keep the fish healthy and happy by providing a place to hide. Ornaments do not need to be expensive; there are plenty of inexpensive and found objects that can easily be made into aquarium decorations.

  1. Found Rocks and Shells

    • One of the easiest ways to add some appeal to an aquarium is with decorative rocks and shells. Many people collect objects like this as souvenirs. Clean the rocks and shells with aquarium disinfectant before putting them in the tank. Try gluing small snail shells to a large rock with aquarium safe silicone adhesive. This will give the appearance of decorative snails, without the worry of actual snails getting eaten or over-populating.

    Caves

    • Fish love to hide and breed in caves. Terra cotta is a safe material to use in an aquarium and cichlids love it. Soak a terra cotta pot in water to soften it, then cut it in half using a hacksaw with a carbide saw blade. Sand the edges to prevent sharp edges from injuring the fish. Using an aquarium-safe silicone adhesive, glue gravel, rocks or plastic plants to the pot to make it appear like a cave protruding from the aquarium substrate. If the substrate is deep enough, bury the pot at an angle in the gravel instead of using adhesive, then place aquarium plants around it.

    Decor in a Bottle

    • Take a clear or light colored glass bottle with a plastic cork, such as a wine or rum bottle. Use a large or small bottle depending on tank size. Thoroughly wash the outside of the bottle and the cork, making sure to remove any adhesive left by labels. Since the contents will never be exposed to the aquarium water, the bottle can be be filled with just about anything. Try filling the bottle with a substrate that is a contrast color to the aquarium's substrate. If the aquarium substrate is a creamy orange or brown orange, fill the bottle with deep blue gravel. Maybe use crushed shells for a natural look or colorful neon gravel for children. Lean the bottle against a large rock so the fish may swim through or hide under it.