Aquarium Ornament Ideas

Aquariums are not just for decorating a room or filling up an empty space in the office.

They also promote harmony within the room, drive away any negative energy and bring good fortunes. One way of keeping up with the trends is by adding aquarium decorations to your fish tank.

The decorations are show-stoppers to look at besides being hideouts for fish making them desirable value additions to any aquarium.

In this post, we will go through some of the best aquarium decorations available on the market to save you the trouble.

We’ll also go through a few things that we think you should know about aquarium decorations.

Before moving forward we are aware that not all of this decorations will be to everyone’s liking. We wanted to include different options and try to offer something for everyone.

So with that said.

Let’s get started!

A Quick Look at the Best Aquarium Decorations Available on the Market!

In this section of the post, I’ll go through some of my top choices for the best aquarium decorations. Again this is my opinion and I tried to include something for everyone.

Take a look.

Aquarium Decorations

Features

Ratings

Price

Penn-Plax SpongeBob Krusty-Krab Aquarium Ornament

  • Non Toxic
  • Has openings where fish can hide
  • It is affordable

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Barrel Aquarium Ornament

Decoration Cave

  • Colorful and attractive
  • Opening for hiding out
  • Nontoxic and safe for fish and plants

Check On Am​​​​azon

Penn-Plax SpongeBob

Pineapple Home Aquarium Ornament

  • Colorful and attractive design
  • Space for fish to hide and play
  • Easy positioning and anchorage

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Marina Polyresin Cave Aquarium Décor

  • Provides hideout for fish
  • Non-toxic and environmentally friendly
  • Easy to clean

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Marina Mangrove Root Aquarium Décor

  • Natural look
  • Has space where fish can swim through
  • Smooth with no sharp edges and corners

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Fluval Chi Waterfall Mountain Aquarium Ornament

  • Attractive naturalistic design
  • Toxin-free and safe for fish

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Zoo Med Mopani Wood Aquarium Decor

  • All natural
  • No toxins
  • Has opening where fish can hide and play

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Sporn Tree Stump Aquarium Ornament

  • Natural looking design
  • No toxins
  • Offers openings for fish to swim through

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SubstrateSource Cholla Wood Aquarium & Terrarium Driftwood

  • Nature-inspired design
  • Generates algae food for fish
  • Nontoxic and safe for fish

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Penn Plax Cambodian Rock Faces Aquarium Figure

  • Sculptural design
  • Nontoxic and safe
  • Easy to sink

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Now, let’s review each of these in detail!

1. Penn-Plax SpongeBob Krusty-Krab Aquarium Ornament

Penn Plax Krusty Krab Ornament

The SpongeBob Krusty-Krab Aquarium from Penn-Plax is an enticing addition to any fish tank. This piece sports a colorful iconic Krusty-Krab shop design that is in line with the ornament that it is.

It will entertain, entice and captivate your visitors while igniting a retro mood. You can’t help but notice SpongeBob decorations that add to the good looks.

It is crafted of premium quality non-toxic resin that is safe for your fish, children and pets alike.

It’s reasonably sized at 3.6 x 2.25 x 3.1 inches (L x W x H)and offers plenty of space for both medium and small fish.

Thanks to its rugged construction and top quality material, expect a lifetime of dedicated service. The best part is that  it adds an underwater kingdom for your fish.

There are three openings with plenty of space for your fish to hide in the iconic Krusty-Krab shop and holes to swim through. The manufacturer intentionally made it with a thick base to make it easy for you to position and anchor it in your fish tank.

Penn-Plax SpongeBob Krusty-Krab Aquarium Ornament

What We Like

  • The resin is non-toxic and safe for fish
  • Can be used in aquariums, terrariums or as stand-alone desk displays
  • Doesn’t have sharp edges that can harm fish

What We Don’t Like

  • It is a bit small if you have a larger fish
  • It is too small for large tanks

On to the next one… 

2. Barrel Aquarium Ornament resin Decoration Cave – Fish Tank Decor

Set Of 4 Piece Barrel Aquarium Ornament resin Decoration Cave - Fish Tank Decor

This classy aquarium décor deserves to be seen. It is a decorative piece and will add a special charm to your aquarium and deliver a fascinating appearance that is a delight to watch.

Expect colorful details and beautiful scenery that resemble a real-life marine landscape.

The four pieces you get in the package are products of non-toxic polyresin plastic material that is safe for fish and plants and can hold up for ages.

Given their nature of hiding, the fish need will have a territory of their own to play and hide thanks to the included openings. The dimensions are 9 x 6 x 7 cm making it a decent investment if you own a large tank.

Barrel Aquarium Ornament Resin Decoration Cave – Fish Tank Decor

What We Like

  • Can be placed in both freshwater and saltwater
  • No sharp edge that can harm fish
  • You get four pieces of décor

What We Don’t Like

  • It is more costly than the competition
  • Requires a large tank to accommodate all four pieces

Moving on…

3. Penn-Plax SpongeBob Pineapple Home Aquarium Ornament

Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Small 6 Inch Pineapple House Aquarium Ornament from Penn Plax – Durable Resin Safe for All Fish - SBR10

If you love pineapple as much as we do, you may want to check out this entry. Penn-Plax sets new heights with the premium quality and striking appearance of the SpongeBob Pineapple home aquarium décor.  

This ornament comes with a unique and dazzling pineapple home design that is pretty appealing to the eyes. You won’t fail to notice the meticulous detail and fancy style while adding a conspicuous pop of color to the aquascape of your tank.

You are free to add other SpongeBob decoration if you want to create the magical Bikini Bottom world.

The manufacturer settled on non-toxic and environmentally friendly resin that is safe for your fish and plants. You will appreciate the reasonable 6.5 x 4.5 x 3.75 inches size if you own a small to a medium fish tank.

Your fish will have more than sufficient space to hide and swim through the available holes.

Penn-Plax SpongeBob Pineapple Home Aquarium Ornament

What We Like

  • It has no toxins
  • The bright color makes it easy to notice
  • No sharp edges or corners that can harm fish

What We Don’t Like

  • It is compact and limited to small to medium sized tanks
  • Cannot accommodate larger fish and crustaceans

4. Marina polyresin Cave Aquarium Décor

Marina Decor Polyresin Cave, Medium

This is your best bet if you want to add an enticing sculptural element that looks natural to your aquarium.

The contemporary rocky landscape design speaks sophisticated craftsmanship while the included mossy highlights and plastic Amazon sword plant evoke the feeling of real-time underwater vegetation.

It is a product of eco-friendly and non-toxic polyresin material that won’t tint or change the water chemistry in your aquarium.

Additionally, the makers used tough and durable material that can hold up for decades under both freshwater and saltwater.

The inner cave gives aggressive fish their own space and offers a hideout and swim-through area. The cave has been painted grey to make it look real and natural.

You can use this unit to decorate any medium size to large fish tanks courtesy of its medium size with measurements of 10 x 8.2 x 7.5 inches(L x W x H).

Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?

Marina Polyresin Cave Aquarium Décor

What We Like

  • It is large and perfect for small, medium and large fish
  • No rough edges that can harm fish
  • It is non-toxic and safe for fish

What We Don’t Like

  • It may not fit in small fish tanks
  • The cave has only one opening

5. Marina Mangrove Root Aquarium Décor​​​​

Marina Decor Mangrove Root, Medium

Add an elegant touch to your fish tank and delight your guests with the Marina Mangrove root Aquarium Décor.

The décor will catch the eyes of viewers with the boldly cut and rugged design, and the natural artistic style that adds distinction with twists and bends.

Marina carefully coined this piece from tough polyresin that is free from toxins and safe for your fish. It will make it through a lifetime of intense use under both salty and fresh water without affecting the water chemistry and clarity.

The natural looking fish tank decoration showcases sort of throwback quality that will certainly raise the standard of any aquarium. The root system provides ample hiding places while the nooks allow the fish to swim through.

The company made this piece 14 x 12.5 x 10.5 inches (L x W x H), so you can install it in any medium to large size fish tank.

Here’s a look at the pros and cons:

Marina Mangrove Root Aquarium Décor

What We Like

  • It has no toxins and safe for fish
  • Lacks sharp edges that can harm fish
  • It is weighted, so it will sink in water

What We Don’t Like

  • It is long and can’t fit in small fish tanks
  • The hideout will not completely cover and provide shelter fish

6. Fluval Chi Waterfall Mountain Aquarium Ornament

Fluval Chi Waterfall Mountain Aquarium Ornament

The Fluval Chi Waterfall Mountain Aquarium decoration is a unique and sophisticated piece for aquarium lovers who know what lights their candle.

This piece sports a natural looking architectural twist design which gives a lasting impression of a rocky seabed terrain. It is designed to We are almost certain that you will enjoy watching as the fish hide inside the green leafy part.

A great way to clear your tired brain after a long day at work!

As you’d expect, the manufacturer was careful not to include any toxic material in the construction to ensure that your fish remain safe. As rugged as it appears, you won’t find any sharp edges and corners that may harm your lovable fish.

The 6 × 6.5 × 5.6 inches is highly recommended for the 5-gallon Fluval Chi Aquarium and other small to medium size aquariums.

Here’s a peek at the pros and cons:

Fluval Chi Waterfall Mountain Aquarium Ornament

What We Like

  • It looks natural and real
  • Quick and easy installation
  • Can be placed on fresh and saltwater

What We Don’t Like

  • Doesn’t offer hiding spaces for fish
  • Works best with 5-gallon Fluval Chi Aquarium

7. Zoo Med Mopani Wood Aquarium Decor

Zoo Med Laboratories AZMMAM Mopani Wood, Medium, 10 to 12-Inch

Zoo Med managed to perfectly marry nature-inspired beauty and functionality to come up with the Mopani Wood Aquarium Decoration. This timeless product will forever feel current and add a splash of good looks to tanks.

Give the decor as a gift, or decide to keep it in your tank; it is stylish and elegant.

It is crafted from naturally grown hardwood that has been sanded to make the surface smooth and painted with a unique mottled color. As you’d wish, there are no harmful toxins in the wood, so it is safe for your fish.

The Mopani Wood tag attached to it will please and captivate guests and viewers of any age and also add some sense of style to space.

Wood naturally contains tannic acid so you will need to soak in water for three days to remove all the tannins. After that, you can place it in saltwater or freshwater tanks without having to worry about its color fading.

Time to weigh the pros against the cons!

Zoo Med Mopani Wood Aquarium Decor

What We Like

  • You are free to choose between Small and Medium sizes.
  • It sinks in water.
  • Blends well with live plants.

What We Don’t Like

  • Contains tannins that can discolor the water.
  • No hiding space for fish.

8. Sporn Tree Stump Aquarium Ornament

SPORN Aquarium Decoration, Tree Stump, Small

Sporn did a good job coming up with this tree stump aquarium decoration. This is certainly design at its best.  

This piece features a traditional yet functional and showy tree stump design and a colorfully hand-painted structure that will accentuate the vibe of your fish tank and complement the décor of the room.

Not just that, it has a timeless and attractive build design that makes it a perfect gift for aquarium lovers across all ages.

It was thoughtful of the manufacturer to use aquarium-safe and environmentally-friendly resin that is free from toxins and safe for your fish. This piece measures 10.2 x 8.3 x 5.1 inches making it a great choice if you have a medium to large size fish tank.

The cave-like opening provides ample space for your fish to hide and rest. There are two holes that allow the fish to swim through and hide.

Take a look at the pros and cons:

Sporn Tree Stump Aquarium Ornament

What We Like

  • Can be placed in saltwater and freshwater aquariums
  • It is slightly heavy and sinks in water
  • It is easy to wipe it clean

What We Don’t Like

  • It has some sharp edges and corners that can hurt fish
  • It does not fit in small fish tanks

Let’s take a look at the next one.

9. SubstrateSource Cholla Wood Aquarium & Terrarium Driftwood

SubstrateSource 2 Piece Cholla Wood Aquarium Driftwood

The Cholla Wood and Terrarium Driftwood Aquarium décor is like a slow song, doesn’t demand any attention to itself but creates a cozy, naturalistic and nuanced environment.

You get three hands selected pieces of nature-inspired fish tank ornament that is built from naturally dried husk extracted from the Cholla Cactus. 

You will not fail to notice this conspicuous porous structure that makes the pieces excellent bases for attaching aquatic mosses, java fern, and anubias.

The best part is that the wood generates biofilm algae which act as food for algae-eating fish and shrimp!

The wood is great if you have a small tank with the pieces measuring approximately 4 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter.

Wood is synonymous with tannic acid, and so you will be required to pre-soak for three days to allow saturation and remove tannins to avoid discoloring the water in the tank.

Here are the pros and cons:

SubstrateSource Cholla Wood Aquarium & Terrarium Driftwood

What We Like

  • Can be used to lower water pH
  • The pieces easily sink in water
  • You can place them on both freshwater and saltwater

What We Don’t Like

  • Requires pre-soaking before use
  • Lacks hiding spaces for fish

Moving on.

10. Penn Plax Cambodian Rock Faces Aquarium Figure

Pen-Plax RR966 Cambodian Rock Faces Aquarium Figure, 6" x 7.5"

Lovers of sculptural ornaments have a reason to be excited, the Cambodian Rock Faces Aquarium décor from Penn Plax. The enigmatic Cambodian structure design creates a hypnotic feel which enhances refreshment, peace, and relaxation.

It showcases stunning details and perfectly designed rock faces that will add significantly to the appearance of your aquascape. The makers recommend the 6 x 6 x 7.5 inches structure for 10-gallon fish tanks or larger.

 Additionally, the ornament provides opening and a cave-like interior where fish and crustaceans can swim through, hide and play.

In addition to that, the materials used are completely non-toxic and safe for the fish and plants!

Penn Plax Cambodian Rock Faces Aquarium Figure

What We Like

  • Doesn’t have sharp corner and edges which may harm fish
  • Easy to sink in water
  • Can be placed in both freshwater and saltwater

What We Don’t Like

  • It is large and can’t fit in small tanks
  • It is easy to break

Here’s a Look at the Benefits of Aquarium Decorations

Aquarium decorations are underrated ornaments. In this section of the blog, we’ll be going through some of the reasons why you need to add one to your collection:

Take a look:

  • The main benefit of aquarium decoration as the name suggests is for decoration purposes. These ornaments add some sense of style and good looks and elevate the décor of any space
  • Aquarium decorations with openings allow fish to hide, play and swim through. Naturally, fish have a nature of hiding beneath rocks and plants. These ornaments give lovely creatures their own space where they can hide and explore
  • Some sculptural ornaments will bring peace, harmony, and tranquility to your guests and viewers. Other pieces resemble iconic religious statues which evoke a feeling of spirituality within the viewer
  • Using wooden decorations releases tannic acid into the water and lowers the pH
  • Other act as an anchor where plants in the tank can get rooted. These plants take in Carbon Dioxide and give off Oxygen which helps the fish breath and mains a stable pH level

Hold on! Before we finish up let’s take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts related to decorating your aquarium!

Do’s and Don’ts of Decorating Your Fish Tank

For the best results with aquarium ornaments, keep in mind the following:

  • Check out the dimensions of the aquarium décor and the size of the fish tank you intend to place it in. Compare and ensure that the ornament you settle for can fit inside the tank
  • Wood contains natural tannic acid and releases it into the water which can actually lower the pH of water in your tank and discolor it. Ensure you pre-soak wooden ornaments or boil them in water for 20 minutes to sterilize before placing it in the tank
  • Apart from living plants, frequently clean the artificial ornaments with scrub brushes, soft scrub pads or gravel wash kits. This removes algae, gunk, fish poop, and detritus and keeps the ornament looking bright
  • Some ornaments are specific to saltwater or freshwater. Ensure you confirm if the option you settle for is compatible with the water in your tank
  • Shells and corals should not be put in freshwater tanks as they may add calcium and affect the water
  •  Ensure the ornament has no sharp edges and corners that may harm fish as they swim by

Summing Up: Taking a Look at 10 Aquarium Decorations for Your Fish Tank

If you own a fish tank and want to make a statement, then adding aquarium decorations is something you should look into.

In this article, we rounded up what we think are some cute, fun and functional aquarium decorations for your fish tank. We hope you can agree with us as well.

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