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Decorations. These can range from natural items that bring the outdoors in to your tank or that gaudy plastic stuff that will make you either smile or cringe!

This article introduces you to aquarium decorations. We'll first cover what is included in aquarium decorations and go over most types of them (divided between freshwater aquarium decorations and saltwater decorations). Then we'll foray into the pros and cons of whether to go with manufactured decorations or stick with organic decorations. Finally, we'll leave you with tips on decorating your tank and a list of online sources for you.

What are Aquarium Decorations?

Broadly defined, decorations include both manufactured (fake) and organic (living or was living at one time) decorations, used in both saltwater and freshwater environments. Aquarium decorations include both the substrate and backgrounds used with tanks. Usually, you'll find that people will use more decorations in fresh water or saltwater tanks that are FO or FOWLR. That's because with reef tanks, you wouldn't need any additional decoration. Before you decide you don't need decorations at all, (since the fish should be decorative enough), consider this:

• Many fish use what we call decorations for shelter.
• Live rock, while decorative, are invaluable in terms of the natural bioorganic filtering that they provide. Live rock isn't actually living rock, but rock that is teeming with bacteria and other microorganisms as well as macro-organisms that help clean the water.

Freshwater Aquarium Decorations

For freshwater aquariums, you have your choice of manufactured decorations plus organic decorations (both dead and living). Here is a list to show you want is available:

• Manufactured decorations:
  • fake plants (plastic or silk)
  • fake rocks (plastic or ceramic)
  • fake wood (plastic or ceramic)
  • novelty items (plastic or ceramic castles, divers, etc.)
• Organic (dead):
  • Driftwood
  • Real rocks
  • Substrates (gravel, beach sand, river sand, coral sand, and peat are popular choices)
• Organic (living)
  • Live plants

Saltwater Aquarium Decorations

For saltwater aquariums, you have your choice of manufactured decorations plus organic decorations (both dead and living). Here is a list to show you want is available:

• Manufactured decorations
  • Rubber / synthetic coral
  • novelty items (scuba diver, shells, pirate, mermaid, etc.)
• Organic (dead)
  • Dead coral
  • Real shells
• Organic (living)
  • Live corals
  • Live algae

PROS & CONS for Manufactured Decorations

Here are the pros and cons to using manufactured decorations for your aquarium. Pros for using manufactured decorations include:

• Fake decorations are long lasting. They won't rot.
• Fake decorations are easier to clean than living decorations.
• With fake decorations, you're not interfering with nature since you're not taking from the environment.
• With fake decorations, there's one less living thing you need to worry about in your tank.
• You'll have more choices as far as colors and sizes if you go with fake decorations.
• Fake decorations can be fun. It all depends on your personal sense of style.
• Fake decorations should not affect tank chemistry (You should always confirm what they are made out of).

Here are the cons to using manufactured decorations:

• Fake decorations can look cheesy.
• Fake decorations often do look cheesy.
• Depending on what you're getting, some fake decorations (manufactured corals or rocks) could actually be more expensive than the real thing!