Ideas for Fish Tank Decor

A fish tank is more than a home for your fish; it's part of your room decor. Whether you have saltwater fish or freshwater, your tank style is determined by not only the breed of fish you have, but the type of tank decorations and "furniture" you place as well. You can express your personal style and interests in your fish tank. Fanciful or realistic, there is something for any size tank and anyone's style.

  1. Natural Decor

    • Stones and wood come together to create a natural-looking home for your fish. Although saltwater fish tanks usually have coral or living plants in them, a freshwater tank does not demand as much architecture, so creating a natural-looking habitat for your fish requires some extra thought and planning.
      Don't use found rocks and wood in your tank, as they may have parasites and other germs that will kill your fish. Purchase wood or wood replica pieces and place larger tank stones over your regular gravel to add depth and create a more natural look. Place a variety of live plants toward the back of the tank to finish off the natural look and provide places for fish to hide and rest. If you don't want to deal with the extra algae that live plants create, purchase life-like plastic tank plants in natural colors.

    Classic Pirate Decor

    • Pirate chests and pirate ships are classic fish-tank decor and are perfect for a fish tank in a boy's room. Start with a deep-blue and purple gravel then add a piece of pirate-ship wreckage to build up your design. For a small tank, add plants around the ship wreckage and you are done. In a larger tank, 20 to 40 gallons, there is room for a few more pirate-themed items. Place a pirate chest toward the front of the tank or a skull ornament and put some plants around each piece to allow them to peek out at the viewer.

    Architectural Pieces

    • A great style for your living room or den fish tank, architectural tank decorations can be expensive but worth it. Whether it's the Great Wall of China, Egyptian ruins, Stonehenge pieces or Asian and Mayan-inspired structures, architectural pieces add depth and interest to your fish tank. Start with sand-colored gravel then place your biggest piece toward the back of your tank. Place additional pieces in various sizes in front of the largest piece to create layers of decoration, but remember, don't mix styles. For example, don't use a replica of the Parthenon and then a piece of the Wall of China. Add a few tall tank plants and your fish tank will be ready for guests.

    Cartoon Themes

    • SpongeBob or Little Mermaid decorations are perfect for a fish tank in a child's room. You can create a scene with all the characters from SpongeBob or have the LIttle Mermaid sitting in the middle of a small tank with plants around her. Use a bright yellow gravel for SpongeBob and a sea-blue gravel for Little Mermaid. Always use pieces approved for fish tanks and do not use other dolls or action figures in your tank, as they could leach chemicals into the tank water and kill your fish.