10 DIY Fish Tank Decor Ideas You Can Do Make Today (With Pictures)
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An aesthetic fish tank not only houses your pet fish but also adds flair to your home décor. Finding the perfect decorations for your aquarium can be challenging, and if your standards are highly specific, they may even be impossible. So why not create your own DIY fish tank décor?
Whether you are a craft novice or a DIY veteran, this list has a project for everyone. It contains simple designs, complex artistry, and everything in between, so take a look at the options below and see which ones inspire you.
The 15 DIY Decor Ideas for Your Fish Tank
Please be mindful and careful when working with scissors, cement, hot glue, and paint. Children should be supervised whenever such objects and materials are involved in the DIY project. You should not scrape the walls of your aquarium with scissors or other sharp objects (such as a knife or a razor), as this can compromise the structural integrity of the aquarium. Major tank decor and aquashape projects should be done before fish are added to an aquarium.
1. Artificial Grass Aquarium
| Material: | Artificial grass mat, stones, driftwood, white sand |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
First-time DIYers will love this artificial grass aquarium. While simple, this plan is stylish enough to turn heads and impress other aquarium enthusiasts. All you will need to complete this DIY design is an artificial grass mat, some stones, a medium to large piece of driftwood, and white sand.
Your only required tool for this project will be scissors; however, you may also need a measuring tool and a marker if the artificial grass mat you purchase exceeds the size of your tank.
To complete this DIY plan, you can place and organize the decorative pieces to your specifications.
Because artificial grass is usually quite sharp, this setup is not compatible with bottom dwellers or fish that like to burrow. Examples of such fish include all the corydoras, most loaches, plecos, and burrowing snails. Grazing fish may disrupt the artificial grass by pulling onto it. In addition, please note that the artificial grass would periodically have to be removed to thoroughly vacuum the floor of the aquarium, as fish poop might get lodged under the grass and missed by your filter.
2. Grassy Aquarium Backdrop
| Material: | Artificial grass mat, white aquarium sand, stones, LED lights, decorative statue of choice |
| Tools: | Clear duct tape, double-sided tape, scissors |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
This grassy aquarium backdrop is not only a gorgeous decoration but is also a fun project. DIYers with more experience will enjoy this project, as it requires simple tools but careful precision. Adding a grassy background to your fish tank will give your aquarium the appearance of a private, natural alcove.
While the original plan uses a decorative statue and stones, you can alter the design however you like. One of the best qualities of this DIY plan is how much freedom there is for personalization!
3. Lava Rock Decoration
| Material: | Lava rocks, PVC pipes, all-purpose silicone |
| Tools: | Rinsing water (for the lava rocks), measuring tape, glue gun |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
When making this lava rock decoration for your fish tank, you’ll need to be prepared to deal with a lot of dust. That is why the original plan for this DIY project recommends that you have rinsing water available to wash off the dust from your creation.
With all-purpose silicone, you will attach lava rocks around a PVC pipe. While relatively simple, the process can be delicate and time-consuming, so prepare to spend at least one full day working on this project.
Many people are drawn to lava rocks because of their ability to naturally remove nitrates (the end product of the nitrogen cycle in most aquariums) from the water. Please be mindful that, much like aquarium plants, while lava rock might be able to remove some nitrates from your aquarium, it isn’t a solution or a replacement for water changes.
4. Simple Cave
| Material: | Plastic container, stones, air stone, pipe, artificial plants |
| Tools: | Hot glue gun, scissors |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
This simple cave project is much like the lava rock decoration from before. By taking a plastic container and stones, you can glue the stones to the container to create a cave for your fish to swim through. You can add a little extra flair to your creation by attaching artificial plants to the cave.
While not shown in the original video for this project, we recommend having scissors or a cutting tool on hand. There is a good chance that your plastic container will be closed, so you must cut it in half to form a cave-like shape.
This is an easy project and is an ideal DIY option for beginners. As long as you can use a hot glue gun, you’re all set. Remember to follow all safety protocols whenever you work with hot glue. Though most hot glues are safe for aquariums, the best option is to use a glue made of cyanoacrylate gel. Such glues are often sold under the name “super glue.”
5. Black Backdrop
| Material: | Black vinyl background, white aquarium sand, LED light, air filter, soapy water, driftwood, aquatic plants of choice |
| Tools: | Cleaning brush, tweezers |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
This black backdrop plan is a simple, sleek option for DIY beginners. The most challenging piece in this project is securing the black vinyl background, which will require patience and a high-level attention to detail. After that, the rest of the project is relatively easy, and you will simply place different objects where you desire them.
This is another DIY project with an excellent opportunity for personalization. While the original project chose to be somewhat minimalistic with the driftwood and aquatic plants, you could add more if that is your preference. Just keep in mind that the more you add, the more difficult this project will be.
It is important to note that the constant presence of a dark background can change the color of some fish, as fish tend to instinctively morph their colors based on their environment.
6. Simple and Beautiful Aquarium
| Material: | White pebbles, white stones, artificial plants, glowing stones, sponge filter, LED lights |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
This simple yet beautiful design is perfect for a new DIYer. While you will need several materials, you do not need any tools to complete this project. All you need to do is place the decorations where you want them, and you’ll have a fantastic display.
You can customize the fish tank plan to make it as simple or as complicated as you want, but we think you’ll find that there’s a certain beauty to its simplicity. This project could be completed in one day, so it’s a great option if you are budgeting your time. Please note that though this process can be completed in a day, your tank would still need to be cycled before you can add fish to it.
7. Decorative Bridge
| Material: | Ceramic decorative bridge, brown substrate, blue substrate, medium stones, small stones, aquatic plants of choice |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
Some decorations are meant to be repurposed. If you have a ceramic decorative bridge that you aren’t getting any use out of, take a look at this decorative bridge design. You only need two differently colored substrates, medium and small stones, various aquatic plants, and a decorative bridge.
You’ll start by placing your regular substrate inside of the tank and then placing the bridge inside. Line both ends of the bridge with the medium-sized stones, then continue to arrange the substrate. Once you’ve placed enough, you will scatter blue substrate beneath the bridge to look like a flowing river. Line the blue substrate with the smaller stones, and you have a picturesque bridge scene for your fish tank.
8. Sand Waterfall
| Material: | Sandstone, sponge, driftwood, tissue, air pump, plastic tubes, moss (or plant of choice) |
| Tools: | Cyanoacrylate Super Glue |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
If you want a more challenging DIY project, this sand waterfall could be the perfect fit for intermediate DIYers. The sand waterfall is a spectacular decoration that will make your fish tank stand out. You’ll need several materials (such as stones, sponges, and driftwood), but the only tool you’ll need is cyanoacrylate super glue.
This project requires you to glue the stone, sponges, and driftwood together, which can be complicated. The instability of these pieces will force you to glue them slowly and give them plenty of time to dry and settle. Ultimately, your patience will be rewarded with a dazzling sand waterfall, unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
9. 3D Rock Background
| Material: | Styrofoam sheets, gray paint, black paint, white paint, artificial plants of choice |
| Tools: | X-Acto knife, Sharpie marker, measuring tape, white glue, paintbrush |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
DIY experts are going to have a field day with this one. This 3D rock background will test your skills in measuring, tracing, cutting, painting, and carving.
With this concept, you’ll need sheets of styrofoam that you can draw on to create the appearance of a rocky background. You’ll then cut out the image you’ve drawn, gluing other pieces of styrofoam to it to create a 3D image. You will chisel into the styrofoam block with a cutting tool to give it a rock-like dimension.
The different colors of paint will help to further the illusion. Once you’ve created your wall, you will place it behind your fish tank but not inside. The safest paint to use for this purpose is acrylic paint, with latex paint being a possible alternative.
This project can be taken a step further and into the realms of expert-level difficulty by treating the styrofoam so that it is made waterproof and then placing it inside your aquarium with a sealing glue that attaches it against the back wall of the aquarium without compromising the chemical integrity of the styrofoam. However, such projects can only be done with an empty aquarium. Such a setup also decreases the free swimming space for your fish, so it must be thought of and planned out carefully.
10. Fantasy Fish Tower
| Material: | Concrete, sealer, concrete fibers, non-toxic pigment, plastic tube, aquarium stones, aquatic plants of choice |
| Tools: | Concrete mixing materials, sponges, carving tool |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
If you have experience working with concrete, this fantasy fish tower may be the perfect way to show off your skills. With concrete, a sealer, and concrete mixing tools, you can place cement around a plastic tube to create a tower-like structure. With your hands, mold the concrete up top into decorative structures. You’ll need a carving tool to etch lines into the tower to make it look like it’s made of bricks.
Important: Cement mixtures that mention terms like “modified” or “polymer modified” should not be used for aquariums. Only portland cement should be used in aquariums.
A disadvantage of working with cement is that it must be cured for at least a month before it is stable enough to not cause changes in your water’s pH.
11. Castle
| Material: | Cube-shaped aquarium rocks, white cement, acrylic paint |
| Tools: | Pencil, hot glue gun, cement mixing bowl, paintbrush |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
For a magical fish tank decoration, check out this castle design. While the castle in the original plan is pink and gold, you can choose whatever colors you prefer. You will need paper, aquarium rocks, white cement, and non-toxic paint for this plan.
You will start by taking a pencil and drawing the blueprint for your castle grounds. Tracing a cup can help you to create the round towers on either end of the castle. Then, you will attach aquatic rocks around the perimeter with hot glue. You will continue to do this for every layer until you reach areas that require special designs.
After the base is made, you’ll cover it in white cement, allow it to dry, and then paint it. Once fully dried, you can place it in the fish tank and give your fish the royal treatment.
12. DIY Cave
| Material: | Rocks, polycarbonate board |
| Tools: | Flex glue, spray insulation foam |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
This DIY cave is a classic choice that will suit any fish tank. You will take rocks and attach them together with flex glue, letting them dry before you place the structure in the fish tank.
It is recommended that you create the cave on top of an aquarium-safe polycarbonate board so that you can transport the cave with ease. Otherwise, the pieces of the cave can break apart during the move.
13. Bamboo Aquarium
| Material: | Black background tint, black foam leveling mat, aquarium sand, topsoil, bamboo stalks, 50-watt preset heater, hang-on-back aquarium filter, porous filter media, aquatic plants of choice, stones |
| Tools: | Wallpaper smoothing tool, X-Acto knife, Sharpie marker, scissors, bucket, sifter, knife, cutting board, aquarium-safe super glue |
| Difficulty: | Expert |
If you want a DIY challenge and a beautiful fish tank decoration all in one, you have to check out this bamboo aquarium plan. You will need several materials and tools to complete this project, so ensure you have everything accounted for before diving in.
With a black backdrop and white sand, you can create a stunning environment for your aquarium. However, that’s far from the end of this DIY plan. The main feature is the bamboo, which you will place in the tank once the sand has settled.
14. Shipwreck Decoration
| Material: | Styrofoam block, cement, non-toxic paint, small wooden dowels |
| Tools: | X-Acto knife |
| Difficulty: | Expert |
This shipwreck decoration may be one of the most difficult projects on this list. With a styrofoam block, you will take an X-Acto knife and carve a ship out of the block. This requires patience, attention to detail, and carving skills, making this a project best suited for expert DIYers.
Once you have the foam ship, you will place wooden dowels diagonally toward the mast and cover the entire structure in cement. Next, you will use a non-toxic paint to color the ship. After painting it, all you need to do is let it dry.
15. Floating Rocks
| Material: | Small or medium pumice rocks, ultra-clear fishing line, stainless steel eye bolts, plastic egg crate, non-toxic spray paint, craft wood, aquatic plants, driftwood |
| Tools: | Metal filer, chisels, superglue |
| Difficulty: | Expert |
This is a contender for the most complex DIY plan on the list. With this floating rock fish tank decoration, you can amaze your friends (and fish!) with some remarkable environmental designs.
It’s recommended that you use very specific rocks for this DIY plan, as heavier rocks will not work. You will need to find pumice since it’s a light rock that can be easily dangled. This plan will take several days to complete, so make sure that you have set aside enough time to complete it.
Conclusion
Fish tanks are more aesthetically pleasing and vibrant when you add decorations. Personalizing your fish tank is a fun project, especially when you have the opportunity to create your decorations. No matter what your DIY experience is, aquariums allow everyone to practice their crafting skills. We hope this article inspired you for your next fish tank renovation!
Featured Photo Credit: huang yi fei, Shutterstock
