Skip to main content

How to make your own awesome aquarium backgrounds

Your aquatic habitat can easily be spruced up with the addition of some artistic flair. Even if you don’t consider yourself a naturally talented artist, with these simple instructions you will be able to pull off something special. Putting your own personal touch on the background of your aquarium will make your home even more special.

Top benefits of creating an aquarium background

Your aquarium already looks pretty cool. You’ve taken time to select the right flora and fauna species. You’ve added some landscape architectural features. Everything looks great, but there’s just something that keeps bothering you. Maybe you can see the wires in the back of your aquarium. Perhaps, you don’t like the look of your painted wall or wallpaper as it reflects through the glass of your watery habitat. You might just want to add a bit more of your own personal style to your fish tank. You might just want to look into some DIY aquarium background ideas for a splash of creativity and uniqueness.

Frantisek Czanner/Shutterstock

It doesn’t matter why you are interested in creating a new aquarium background. It’s a fun and easy process that you will enjoy. Just think about it. You love spending time enjoying the movement of life in your tank. Wouldn’t it take things up a notch if you created a unique background for your fish? We definitely think so!

A new background will add depth to your landscaping and ensure that none of the unsightly wires of your fish tank show through. Creating a new background is a great DIY project that you can do alone or involve the whole family. This is your chance to get as creative as you like. Express yourself and bring your own sense of style to your aquatic habitat. Who knows? Your fish might even like the change of scenery, too!

Designing your new background

The design you choose will dictate the steps you need to take to make your new background. You could do something simple such as a single color background. You could use something like a drawing your child made. You could also choose to use a printer to print a photorealistic background or one that uses a piece of existing artwork. You are only limited by your  imagination here.

If you are really unsure what kind of background you want, you could always work with a few different designs and then see which one looks best with your fish tank. This should be a fun and experimental process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t love your new background. Making one is really quick and easy as you will see in the following steps.

Frantisek Czanner/Shutterstock

Constructing your fish tank background

Start by measuring your aquarium. You will need to know its height and width. Knowing this information will allow you to create a background that is just the right size. Consider designing your background slightly larger than the actual size so you can cut it down to the perfect fit.

  • Decorate your background. As mentioned previously, you can be as simple or elaborate as you like here. You can custom draw, paint, or create a collage. You can also choose to print out a picture of your choice. Be as creative as you like. If you are struggling, consider using colors, shapes, or designs that match or accent the colors you already have in your tank. You might even want your background to match a piece of furniture or some decorative object in the room.
  • Test out your design. Using a piece of lightweight tape, place your design in the back of your tank. If you decided to use multiple test designs, now is the time to compare them. If you don’t like how your background looks, get back to the drawing board and consider creating or printing another option. It doesn’t take that much time. When you are happy with the results, then you can move on to the next step.
  • Protect your background. Using a piece of clear contact paper over your design will help protect it from the moisture in your fish tank. Simply place the contact paper over your design and smooth out any air bubbles. You can use a flat surface such as a ruler to assist you here.
  • Attach your background. Now it’s time to put your masterpiece in place. Attach it to the tank with double-sided tape. You will probably need to periodically replace the tape. It’s a very simple process. You might also decide to rotate a few of your favorite designs instead of sticking to just one. The choice is really up to you. You can even create different backgrounds for the seasons or special ones for holidays. Have fun and get creative with this exciting new project.

Isn’t that much cooler?

Custom creating items for your pets is a fun and rewarding process. It can take some trial and error, but many people find it more enjoyable than simply going out and purchasing something ready-made. Plus, making a background is pretty inexpensive. Your new DIY aquarium background is a fun and easy project that you and your whole family will enjoy. Children are especially excited about opportunities to be creative like this. So, look around for some inspiration and get to designing!

Editors' Recommendations

PawTracks
What fish can live with bettas? These are your best bets for fish buddies
These are the 6 fish that do well living with bettas
Blue betta fish staring at the camera

Betta fish are known for being territorial, feisty, rather combative, and therefore not great tank mates in general. This reputation, however, only holds true in particular situations and with certain fish friends. Male betta fish are aggressive, but only with other male bettas so it is important to never put two males in the same tank. It will lead to tail nipping and other aggressive behavior. So what fish can live with bettas?

Happily, there are several other fish that will keep your betta company in a safe and non-aggressive environment. Many colorful, friendly fish cohabitate well with bettas. This is our guide to finding the perfect fish companion (or companions) for your betta.

Read more
Are bubbles in a fish tank a problem? They just might be
5 reasons bubbles in a fish tank might be there (and what to do)
Fish tank with healthy bubbles coming out of filter

Where there's water, there are bubbles. It's unavoidable and you'll be chasing an impossible dream if you try to eliminate them from your aquarium entirely. For starters, the filter produces a continuous stream, and that's a good thing! It means the system works. But some bubbles may reveal underlying problems with your water or with your inhabitants. So, why are there bubbles in your fish tank, and how do you know if those little oxygen sacks indicate an issue or a healthy ecosystem? Here's how to tell where they're coming from and figure out what to do about it.
Why are there bubbles on plants?
Like we said, bubbles are often totally normal — no action required. This will especially hold true if you have live plants, which produce oxygen naturally and sometimes hold on to it in the form of bubbles. Of course, those eventually dissipate, at which point the gas inside seeps into the water. That's good! Fish need to breathe just like the rest of us and do so through their gills by pulling oxygen from the water in the tank. These types of bubbles go on the good to neutral list.

Why are there bubbles covering the surface?
So, what happens when there's not enough oxygen for your fish to function happily? When they can't get it from the water, they'll make their way to the surface and breathe the air. Some fish do this frequently, as do aquatic frogs and other non-fish aquarium dwellers, so don't take that act alone as an immediate cause for concern.

Read more
Can you make a profit breeding your bearded dragon?
Does breeding your bearded dragon make you money? Read on to find out
Two bearded dragons sit on a rock

The first step in getting a new pet of any species is research. You want to make sure you're adopting or purchasing your pet from a reputable breeder who uses ethical sourcing techniques to acquire their animals. While veterinarians suggest that all pet parents spay and neuter their companions, some animals can be bred without causing distress to you or your pet.

One of the easiest pets to breed is the bearded dragon. With that being said, we recommend having experience under your belt before you embark on your journey as a breeder. Here's what you should know about breeding bearded dragons.
Is my beardie male or female?
When they're babies, it's really difficult to tell the sex of your lizard. Wait until he or she reaches maturity before making that determination, which is actually a good thing for breeding. You don't want to start your female reptile before 18 months for health reasons. In order to look at the little beast, you need to get comfortable enough to feel the underbelly, so give it a few days after bringing your beardie home.

Read more