Decorating your aquarium is often as enjoyable as stocking it with tropical fish. The key to designing a professional-looking saltwater fish tank is to start with a theme and a plan. It’s also important to make sure the fish you keep are compatible with your design elements.

Decorating Your Tropical Fish Aquarium

Having a tropical fish aquarium can be relaxing, enriching, and rewarding and designing your own is especially fun. For many hobbyists, designing and decorating your aquarium is as enjoyable as stocking it with colorful tropical fish.

Do Your Research

Before you begin your design, it is beneficial to research the types of fish that you will be putting in your tank as this decision will affect the types of design elements you choose. Here are a few questions to answer before you design your tank.

Are you going to have a freshwater or saltwater tank?
Is your tank big enough for the varieties of fish you want to stock it with?
Do your fish need shelter pieces or places to hide?

Aquarium Decorations

The design elements that go into your fish tank can either be manufactured or natural and both types of decorations are used in freshwater and saltwater tanks. Many types of tropical fish use these decorative items as shelter or for hiding. Here are a few items that people put in fish tanks to make them aesthetically pleasing:

Rocks or gravel
Driftwood
Shells
Novelty items such as castles, pirates or mermaids
Artificial plants
Live plants

Decorating Tips

The key to decorating your fish tank is to start out with a theme and a plan. Then decide on your background which can add a professional touch to your design. There are many attractive backgrounds available for purchase. Alternatively, you can simply paint the outside of the back wall of the tank with appliance paint.

Another important consideration is what substrate you will use. Material such as sand, gravel, or rocks are often used as suitable substrates. Your choice will largely depend on the type of fish you will include in your tank. It’s also important to remember that the type of substrate you choose can affect the tank’s pH levels.

If you’ve decided to design your own aquarium, you will get the best results by starting out with a design plan that is well laid out. And don’t forget to go over your plans with a professional to make sure that your design elements are compatible with the type of fish you will be keeping.