Decorating an aquarium is one of the most interesting tasks, as it can transform the fish tank into a real magical land. However, care must be taken when choosing the right decoration, as not every colour is suitable for an aquarium. 

Placing brightly painted objects in the aquarium may look very pretty, but if the decoration is painted with an unsuitable colour, toxins can be released into the water and endanger fish and plants. The longer the water is contaminated with toxins, the more the organisms will become ill and eventually die. 

Often forgotten are coloured stones and sand, which are not always suitable for a fish tank.

Acrylic paints are one of the safest colours for an aquarium, as they are not water-soluble and therefore do not release any chemicals into the water; acrylic latex paint is particularly recommended. You can also paint over existing colourful decorations with an acrylic paint to seal the underlying colour so that the aquarium water cannot reach it, but it is of course important that the paint is completely dry before it enters the water.

If you prefer to avoid colours in the aquarium altogether, you can find pretty, natural decorations such as basalt stones, quartz or petrified wood. Glass, fabric and metal should be avoided in the tank as they can pose a danger to fish. When using shells as decoration, care should be taken not to use shells with sharp edges.

Colourful decoration in the terrarium

Even if there are decorations that are not or only partially submerged, they can be a danger to the reptiles in the terrarium. Salamanders, lizards, frogs or snakes spend part of the day out of the water and like to lie on the objects in the tank. This brings their bodies into direct contact with potentially toxic colours and they can become ill over time. It is therefore also important to use acrylic colours or natural decorations in the terrarium.