Getting your fish tank’s decoration right is important, as it can affect the fish as well as you. Overcrowding the tank with decorations will stress the fish out, and make it harder to clean, so you should think about the way you want to decorate your tank before you commit to anything.

Tailor It to Your Fish

If you already have fish, or you know which ones you want, then decorating your tank becomes a little easier. Different fish do have preferences to how their tank is decorated, which usually coincides with their natural habitat. For instance, fish that are from shallow ponds or lakes with lush plant life are likely to like plant life or other flexible decorations in their environment. Fish from fast waters or open areas are more likely to enjoy hard objects like rocks or logs. A fish in its natural environment is more comfortable, and therefore it’ll be less stressed and healthier.

However, just because your fish might tend towards one type of decoration doesn’t mean that they won’t like the other.

Toxic Decorations

Ideally, stick to items that have been specifically designed for aquarium use, as you don’t know how other decorations will affect the water. Stone, for instance, might release a chemical that could reduce the water’s ability to carry oxygen for the fish to breathe. Similarly, ceramics with glazes not designed to aquarium use may contain soluble lead.

Making the Fish Comfortable

Remember that decorating your tank serves two purposes, to make your fish feel comfortable, but also so it is pleasing for you to look at too. However, you can make your fish feel comfortable by providing them with some cover.

Put larger plants and decorations at the back of the tank and the shorter ones at the front. Use the taller ones to obscure ugly but necessary features of the tank, such as aquarium heaters. Ideally, use a background. This provides the fish with a dark or solid wall, which will make the fish feel more comfortable. Some tanks come with a background already installed.

Don’t go overboard with the colours and types of decorations you go for, using fewer varieties will make the tank look natural and calm.

Make a focal point of a larger decoration, such as a volcano or rock. Place it off-centre and place small plants around the edge to make it look as natural as possible.