Do-It-Yourself Fishtank Decor

Decorating a fishtank is one chance to express your creativity while creating several unique features for your fish to interact with. There is no need to run out to the local pet store and purchase overpriced resin decorations. Chances are you have everything you need to decorate your tank sitting around your house and yard. After you take a few precautions, almost anything you find in your house can become a fishtank decoration.

Things You'll Need

  • Bleach
  • Water
  • 5-gallon bucket
  • Driftwood
  • Rocks
  • Shells
  • Plastic toys
  • Clear bottles
  • Dish strainer
  • Old towel
  • Aquarium-safe glue
  • Foam brush
  • Toothpick
  • Coconut
  • Oven
  • Dremel tool or hacksaw
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Instructions

  1. Household Items

    • 1

      Prepare a mixture of 10% bleach in water in a 5-gallon bucket.

    • 2

      Place any driftwood, rocks, shells, plastic toys or clear bottles in the bucket for between 10 and 15 minutes. This will kill off any harmful bacteria that may be residing on the potential fish decor.

    • 3

      Remove the materials from the bucket and set them in a dish strainer or on an old towel to dry. Because the solution they were sitting in contains bleach, it may ruin any clothing or other material it comes in contact with.

    • 4

      Place driftwood or plastic toys directly into the tank to add instant decoration. For glass bottles, add a different-color substrate into the bottle before placing it in the tank. This will add visual interest. Contrasting colors have the most impact.

    • 5

      Glue shells and rocks together to create caves or mounds to add to the tank. Use aquarium-safe sealant; several glues contain chemicals that are harmful to fish and plants. The glue can be applied with a foam brush, or a toothpick for very small areas.

    Coconuts

    • 6

      Split a coconut in half along the natural joint. Use a Dremel tool with a rotary blade or a hacksaw.

    • 7

      Drain the coconut milk, and then put the two halves of the coconut, face up, in an oven at 150 degrees for three to four hours. Do not do it hotter or faster than that -- if you use a higher temperature, the coconut meat will swell and crack the outer shell.

    • 8

      Remove the coconut from the oven and scrape out the meat. It will have dried and should come out quite easily.

    • 9

      Cut openings about the size of the fish that will be using the coconut as a home in both the front and top of the shell halves.

    • 10

      Place the coconut halves in an area near the front of your tank or near a selection of plants.