Selling Aquariums: 14 Ideas to Make Your Fish Tanks Stand Out

It can be challenging to find creative ideas for small fish tanks. The standard glass box design may not attract buyers, and the decorations available at pet stores tend to be repetitive. Is there a way to create a distinctive and hassle-free small fish tank?

Let’s learn how to turn your aquarium into a beautiful work of art and make it more attractive to potential customers.

First, Make Your Aquarium Shine

Before adding the substrate to the aquarium, make sure to wash it first. This will get rid of any dust, dirt, and other unwanted particles, like loose dyes or contaminants. A mesh colander or cheesecloth can be used for gravel. Put in a small batch of the gravel and rinse it thoroughly with warm water. You can repeat this process several times instead of washing all the gravel at once.

Use Natural Sand

To create a natural look in your aquarium, consider using sand as the bottom layer. Sand requires less frequent cleaning and resembles the natural environment more closely. It also comes in different colors. Additionally, some fish enjoy burrowing into sand. Keep in mind though, that sand can clog filters more easily compared to other options.

Use Gravel

If you want to provide hiding space for your fish, consider using gravel. Though, it needs frequent cleaning as it accumulates more food particles and organic matter within its gaps. Remember, certain fish are sensitive to sand and gravel is necessary for them. So, pick the substrate type based on the type of fish you have.

Use Glass Marbles

To add a unique touch, opt for colored glass marbles or pebbles. Glass pebbles are visually appealing and are available in multiple hues, allowing you to showcase your creative side. While marbles may provide a hiding spot for small fish, they are more challenging to maintain than other substrates as they tend to accumulate food particles.

Use Artificial Plants

Consider buying artificial plants as a permanent decoration for your tank. Although they don’t offer any food for your fish, they won’t be consumed either. Artificial plants are low-maintenance and will last indefinitely. Additionally, you will have more color options available if you want to create a very colorful environment.

To make your aquarium more appealing to your fish, consider purchasing plants of various shapes and sizes. This will also create separate areas for your fish to explore.

Use Live Plants

To create a better living space for your fish, buy live plants. These plants are beneficial because they offer hiding places, food, oxygen, and extra filtration.

To keep live plants in your tank, you’ll need a nutrient-rich substrate as a base, covered by a layer of sand or gravel to keep the plants rooted. Without adequate nutrients, the plants won’t survive. While live aquatic plants need more care, they can help keep the tank clean and even serve as a source of food and oxygen for your fish.

Place Plants Naturally

To achieve a natural look in your aquarium tank, arrange the plants in an “X” pattern instead of straight rows. Keep in mind that the plants will eventually grow and take up more space. Arrange the same species of plants together for a more natural and attractive appearance.

Use Wood

Adding wood to your aquarium can serve as hiding space for your fish while also enhancing the aquarium’s appearance. Certain fish species can also feed on the algae that grows on the wood. Driftwood is especially preferred by many due to its unique shape, and you can further improve its look by attaching carpet moss onto it, creating a more natural underwater environment.

To ensure that your aquarium is safe, boil any structure that you wish to add to the tank in water before introducing it. This will sterilize your rock or wood and make it safe for your aquatic pets. Boiling wood will eliminate any bacteria and get rid of tannins that may stain the water.

Use Rocks

To make the bottom landscape of your tank more attractive and provide a hiding place for fish, add rocks. Select rocks of different shapes and colors that match your desired theme and personal style.

To prevent any potential damage to the glass, refrain from placing large rocks in direct contact with it. This can cause stress fractures or cracks to form over time.

To remove loose particles from boiled rocks, soak them overnight and then brush them.

Use Artificial Decorations

To give your tank a more magical feel, try adding some artificial decorations like castles or treasure. You could also get creative and add more unique decorations. Varying their sizes will give your fish different areas to explore and hide in. Structures not only provide hiding places for your fish, they can also add extra oxygen to the water.

It is important to exercise caution while purchasing decorations that have small spaces or holes. Although they may serve as perfect hideouts for smaller fish, larger fish can get trapped and face injuries or even death while trying to escape. Ensure that any archways or holes are considerably bigger than your largest fish. If you have young fish, consider their size when they are fully grown before choosing such decorations.

Use a Background

To improve the overall look of your aquarium display, you can buy a background. If one side of your aquarium will be facing a wall, you can consider attaching a background to it. These sheets of plastic are available at any pet store and have beautiful printed pictures, such as undersea plants or deserts.

Adding a black background to your aquarium can create a professional and polished appearance by concealing cords and hoses and bringing out the colors of your plants. To create a more lush environment if your aquarium appears empty, consider using a background depicting plants or coral reefs.

If you desire a more distinct theme, you can opt for a space-themed background. However, if you prefer a natural setting, choosing an image of a coral reef would be suitable.

Before heading to the store, measure your tank and purchase a piece that is at least 1 inch longer than your tank to accommodate for uneven edges. Upon returning home, trim the piece down to the appropriate size and attach it to the outside of the back of your aquarium using tape.

Use Tank Covers

You can use a tank cover to transform the aquarium of your pet fish into a warm log cabin, a van or even a television set. The cover can be designed with ports to suit your lighting and filtration cords.

Make Your Aquarium a Part of an Interior

To create a captivating focal point for your home, consider turning a fish tank into a coffee table. You can achieve this by adding decorations, lighting, bubbles and fish, resulting in a stunning centerpiece that will fascinate and impress visitors.

If you want to get more creative with your aquarium furniture, you could transform it into a sink for your bathroom. With tasteful and minimalist decoration, along with a few small fish swimming inside, this contemporary look will be so appealing that everyone will want to buy it!

Let Your Fantasy Fly

You can turn anything that can hold water into an aquarium, so there are no limits to your creativity! Have an old TV set? Why not turn it into an aquarium! Or a gumball machine? No problem! A jellyfish lamp? Absolutely! You could even make an aquarium art piece by turning an entire wall into a huge aquarium.

In Conclusion

Anything can be turned into an aquarium, from a small box to large interior elements, and there are people willing to buy them. Instead of selling the aquarium itself, focus on selling the emotions and unique interior design that comes with it. Consider presenting fish tanks as a form of art that can be appreciated by anyone.

But remember that fish tanks are designed for fish. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the individual needs of the fish for a better quality of life. After all, customers won’t be satisfied if they see dead fish, right?

• 14 Ideas to Make Your Fish Tanks Stand Out
• 9 Top Places to Sell Your Aquariums Online and Offline