Aquascaping a small tank so it does not look crowded

Small tanks are harder to lay out than large ones, because every piece takes a visible share of the space.

Decide where the open water is first

Choose the swimming space before choosing the ornaments. Everything else is arranged around that, not the other way round.

Most crowded tanks were furnished first and swum in afterwards.

Back and sides, not the middle

Decor along the back and sides gives depth and leaves a clear channel through the centre. It also gives fish somewhere to be out of sight.

This single habit does more for a small tank than any individual piece.

One feature piece

A shipwreck, a castle or a distinctive cave works as the focal point. Two competing features in a small tank cancel out.

Support it with planting rather than with a second ornament.

Vary height, not just position

Tall planting at the back, mid-height hardscape, low foreground. A tank where everything is the same height reads as flat.

Height variation is what creates the illusion of depth in a short tank.

Leave the front glass clear

A strip of open substrate at the front gives the eye somewhere to rest and makes the tank feel larger.

It also makes cleaning the front glass considerably easier.

Consider the filter and heater

Equipment is part of the layout whether you plan for it or not. Planting or hardscape placed to screen it is the cheapest improvement most tanks can make.

Just keep flow and access clear.

Change things slowly

A complete rearrangement disorients fish. Move one element at a time over a few weeks if you want a different layout.

It is also easier to tell what actually improved.

Questions that come up with this

Is everything aquarium-safe?
Yes. What we list is sold for tank use and is inert in water. Rinse before placing, and never use soap.

How fast do orders go out?
One to two business days to pack, then two to five business days across the United States.

What is the postage?
Flat $3.95 per order, and free once the basket reaches $29.00.

The FAQ page covers the rest.

Where this sits in the shop

Pacific Aquarium & Plant Inc. groups its range into 5 sections, so it is usually quicker to start from the group than to scroll the whole shop. These are the ones with stock on the shelf right now:

Caves and Hideouts — 11 items
Shipwrecks and Castles — 7 items
Ornaments — 2 items
Artificial Plants — 1 item
Substrate and Stone — 1 item

If none of those is obviously right, the full shop lists everything on one page.

Coming in instead

Pacific Aquarium & Plant Inc. is at 46 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002, open Mon–Sun: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. If you would rather look at something before buying it, call +1 212-995-5895 and we will put it aside for you.

Anything already ordered can be followed on the order tracking page.

Four products that show the range

The least expensive way in: Wonfly Pink Floating Diver Aquarium Ornaments, 2-Pack Resin Fish Tank Decoration at $5.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.

A step up from the basics: EMUTOL 5″ Aquarium Underground Tunnel, Dual-Entrance Fish Tank Cave for Betta & Shrimp at $8.59. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.

A middle-of-the-range option: Litewoo Blue Ceramic Shell Hideout for Betta Fish & Small Aquariums at $13.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.

The most substantial option: FISHNOSH 1-Count Aquarium Cave Decor, Natural Wood-Like Fish Hideout for Tanks at $19.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.

What it costs

Across the 22 items currently listed, prices run from $5.99 to $19.99, with the middle of the range around $9.98. That spread is worth knowing before you start comparing, because the cheapest and dearest options here are usually not the same kind of product at all.

Shipping is a flat $4.49 per order and free once the order reaches $29.00, which is set out in full on the Shipping Policy page.

In short

Small tanks are harder to lay out than large ones, because every piece takes a visible share of the space. If you want to talk it through rather than read about it, +1 212-995-5895 reaches the shop during opening hours, and the contact page has everything else.