Now you have your aquarium and perhaps your fish it's time to liven things up with a few aquarium ornaments. So, what are the most important considerations when deciding what to get?

1) Are the aquarium ornaments made from safe materials? 2) Would such additions improve the environment for your fish as well as your pleasure? 3) What type or ornaments are there and how much do you need to spend?

If you keep Betta fish for example, then ornaments are a really good idea given their innate fighting habits, as they will provide them some chance of escape! Placing plants in the tank are useful for fish (such as Betta) who need to surface for oxygen because they can use the plants to lean on for support. If you fish breed, then plants will also give the fish a place to lay their eggs. They are also useful to hide the tank plumbing that is not renowned for being particularly attractive!

Aquarium ornaments are made from several different materials such as driftwood, gravel, coral, plants (natural and artificial), ceramic and rock. However, to be safe, you must make sure that anything you put in the tank is marked as suitable for aquariums so you don't pollute the water and harm the fish. Make sure there are no sharp edges on any ornaments and aim to cover around 50% of the aquarium and keep smaller items to the front to get the balance right.

You must consider the size of the aquarium ornaments in relation to the size of the receptacle and the number of fish you have. Please also remember that when cleaning your aquarium you'll need to deal with the ornaments as well and must use special aquarium cleaners.

OK, that said, the choice is yours. Perhaps you'd like to get a background for your aquarium, a Disney ornament, maybe some coral, a sunken ship or Greek architecture. You can decorate your aquarium from just a few dollars so that your fish are happier and you will have a superb visual treat in store for you.