The beach is one of the most popular vacation destinations, and rightfully so. Some people are so obsessed with the beach that they want a piece of it at home. A great way to do this is with a beach themed aquarium. Therefore, I have dedicated this article to listing out the best beach themed aquarium decorations.
Beach Themed Aquarium Decorations
The best beach themed aquarium decorations are the seashell lighthouse, palm trees ornament, beach chair umbrellas, and exotic seas shells.
The best substrates for a beach themed aquarium are sand and crushed coral.
Seashell lighthouse
This lighthouse is an absolute must if you want a beach themed aquarium. The lighthouse is coated with sand and sea shell. This decoration has a nice round, circular base that helps it stand upright when it is underwater.
While the lighthouse only stands at 4 inches high, there are two larger versions that are 8 and 10 inches high. Smaller fish are still able to swim into the opening of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse is made of resin which is safe for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. It is a good central piece for your beach themed aquarium. You can purchase it on amazon for around $15.
Palm trees ornament
Palm trees are abundant at the beach, so it makes total sense to add some to your beach themed aquarium. While you can try to grow live plants, I prefer face ones because they don’t affect the color of your aquarium water. If you do want to try out live plants, you can check out my article on the best plants for turtle tanks.
This set of two palm trees only costs $15 on amazon. They are 6 inches tall, which make them a good addition to both small and large aquariums. They rest on a large flat base which makes them stand upright when they are underwater.
If you have a strong filter in your aquarium, the leaves will move around and resemble a light breeze. Your smaller fish will probably use the leaves as a little hideaway spot.
Beach chairs and umbrellas
While they do look a little cheesy, there really isn’t a better way to portray a beach than adding a couple umbrellas and chairs. You can purchase this set on amazon for around $15.
It comes with 5 different umbrellas and 5 beach chairs. While the umbrellas might initially float to the top, they have a round base that you can dig into your substrate to keep the umbrella down.
The umbrellas are about the size of a toothpick, so these beach decorations are better for smaller aquariums.
Seashells
Seashells are also an absolute must for a beach themed aquarium. While you can use your own seashells, there are a couple of precautions you should be aware of.
You must thoroughly wash the seashells with warm water. Do not use any soap as it can be harmful to your fish. It is important that you make sure there are no small insects or creatures inside the shell, as they can cause harm to your aquarium’s ecosystem. If you have a freshwater aquarium, I suggest that you soak the seashells in water for at least one day in order to remove all of the salt.
If you don’t want to clean the shells yourself, I suggest you check out this 70 piece seashell set on amazon. It only costs $10, and they come already washed and ready for your aquarium. I still recommend that you give them a quick rinse before you put them in the aquarium.
The 70 piece set includes an assortment of shells including starfish and other bright shells. The shells range in sizes from 0.5 inches to 3 inches. The only downside with this product is that some of the shells might get broken up when it ships to you. Shells could also be a good addition for a SpongeBob themed aquarium.
What substrate should you use for a beach themed aquarium?
When it comes to the substrate for your beach themed aquarium, I suggest you either use sand or crushed coral.
While sand might seem like the obvious choice, there are some stipulations you should keep in mind. For starters, sand be very dusty and cause the water of your aquarium to turn milky. Also, if you have a strong filter, the sand will easily get pushed around. This can be annoying aesthetically, and it can also be a nuisance for your turtle or fish.
For those reasons, I suggest you look into crushed coral. It has the beach aesthetic, but it has more weight to it and stays at the bottom more than sand. While crushed coral can also be dusty, you just need to wash it one time before you put it into your aquarium and then it is good to go.
Conclusion
I hope this article gave you some good insight into the best beach aquarium decor. A beach themed aquarium will give you the allure and relaxation of a beach in your own home. If you want to check out other aquarium themes, you should read my article on alien themed aquariums.