enhance your aquarium with these creative tank decoration ideas

[Lachlan]

Just finished cleaning Sushi's tank and I had to toss one of his decorations - the paint was chipping and I didn't want it to harm him. Been thinking of going for a more natural look, maybe change the colorful gravel too. If you guys have any suggestions for natural decorations or gravel, I'd love to hear them - what's worked for you? I've considered driftwood, just don't want any more fake stuff or chip paint. Aiming for a natural vibe.

You can get rocks and slate from pretty much anywhere, just make sure to scrub and boil them to sterilize, that's what I do.

[rollwave]

I just got the sand, thanks for the rec, it's supposed to arrive tomorrow.

[FishQueen]

I'm curious about the tank size, how big is it? One 10-pound bag was more than enough for my 5.5-gallon tank, I actually had some leftover.

[rollwave]

I completely agree with going for a more natural look, rollwave. I've found that adding live plants, rocks, and driftwood really makes the tank feel more authentic. You can usually find fish-safe options at local pet stores, they'll have a variety of live plants too. Some easy-to-care-for plants I've had good experiences with are Anubias, java fern, and Amazon swords - they're all pretty low maintenance. If you're looking for something a bit more versatile, stem plants like ludwigia or rotala are great too.

I've also switched from colorful gravel to a more natural substrate, and I think it's made a big difference. The paint on those gravels can chip off and harm your fish, so it's best to avoid them altogether. I've started using sand instead, it's great for plants and looks really nice. My Betta loves it too. I use AquaNatural Sugar White Sand, it's a great option - I've linked it below if you want to check it out.

My tank is 5 gallons