People interested in setting up an aquarium will find a lot of accessory items available to use. The fish tank decorations are as diverse as the personalities of the people setting up the tanks. Synthetic plants can fall into this category, because they are used to enhance the visual appearance of the tank. These are different from live plants, but can be made to replicate the look of the natural products. Synthetic plants can come in different heights and widths to fit inside different sizes of aquariums. They provide spaces where fish can hide or sleep without being disturbed by other fish in the tank.

Another category for decorations includes statues. These items are usually made of ceramic and can come in an array of objects. People can choose to create a theme for their tank by selecting specific types of ceramic pieces. A sunken pirate ship can be used in combination with a chest full of treasure and an array of logs. An oriental bridge can be a nice addition to a tank containing exotic or tropical fish. Colored pieces of ceramic coral can accent the bridge as well as multicolored stones.

There are also a number of character statues available to purchase. These include various poses for the deep sea diver as well as many types of mermaids. There are also whimsical characters based on popular children’s shows, that can be fun additions to tanks used in homes with children. Fish can also be found as sculpted pieces, which can add an interesting effect to some types of tanks. Some character images are used in combination with signs to create a humorous piece, such as the goldfish placed next to a sign stating No Fishing. Pirates, skeletons and skulls can be found in settings with boulders, logs or cliffs.

Buildings are also available to use as decorations in aquariums. The classic building is the castle. This item can be made to look like a fairytale item or one made out of sand. The entrance to the castle is usually made large enough to allow most small to medium sized fish to enter. A building can also be designed as a hut or a cliff side dwelling found on islands. These structures are available in different sizes and can be enhanced with the addition of small island statues. The buildings are created to give fish somewhere to hide or rest just like the artificial plants.