Aquarium Design isn’t easy. Pros often have dramas getting the look and feel they are after, for their aquarium design. It’s a little wonder people struggle when first starting. This is especially true if your trying to grow a lush underwater garden with your first aquarium design.

As beginners, it’s enough to try to keep the fish alive. So much to learn about the chemistry of the water in the tank. The nitrogen cycle. The nuances of the different fish species you’re trying to learn. There are feedings to get right, amounts of light and strength to be aware of. No wonder plants often melt quickly in these times.

Fear not my friends. We have your back. In this post we are giving you the quick fix guide to aquarium design. By the end, you will know how to transform your aquarium design, to as good as pro level, with just one main thing to change the entire game.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aquarium Design

1. What is the best way to design an aquarium?
The best approach is to start with a theme. Once you know the “look” you want—whether it’s natural, modern, or fantasy—you can add a background to set the tone. From there, match plants, substrate, and ornaments to create harmony. Always keep fish health first: safe materials, proper filtration, and lighting make or break your design.

2. How do aquarium backgrounds improve design?
Backgrounds hide cords, pipes, and the bare wall behind your tank. They also reduce unwanted reflections and give your fish a sense of security. Most importantly, a background ties the whole design together, making your fish and plants stand out instead of blending into the room behind them.

3. Should I choose black or blue for my aquarium background?
Both are great choices, but they create very different effects. Black offers maximum contrast and really makes bright fish colors pop. Blue, on the other hand, feels calm and natural—perfect for a “deep water” look. Pick whichever suits your style and complements the fish you keep.

4. What’s the easiest background to install?
Static vinyl backgrounds are the quickest option. You simply spray the outside glass lightly with water, place the vinyl picture-side toward the tank, and smooth it out with a card to remove bubbles. It’s fast, reusable, and gives a clean, professional look without messy adhesives.

The quick fix guide to disappointing aquarium design

In this guide on aquarium design, we’ll explore how to quickly transform your fish tank with the help of a background. You’ll discover the key problems backgrounds solve, why they’re an essential part of aquarium styling, and how to choose the right one for your setup.

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Why Aquarium Design Starts with a Background

A well-designed aquarium isn’t just about the fish—it’s about the whole environment. A background is one of the simplest, most effective ways to change the entire look and feel of your tank in minutes.

Aquarium backgrounds

• Stop the wall from showing through the back of the tank
• Hide messy cords and equipment
• Create a theme or natural habitat look
• Support biotope replication
• Block sunlight to reduce algae growth
• Make decorating easier by tying the whole design together
• Provide privacy for your fish
• Highlight your fish by acting like a “stage backdrop”
• Come in 100+ designs, 33 standard sizes, or custom sizing from fishtanks.store

Whether you want natural landscapes, colorful patterns, or even a custom print of your own, a background sets the tone for your aquarium design.

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Who Are Aquarium Backgrounds For?

No matter your experience level, aquarium backgrounds can help:

• Beginners – Instantly achieve a professional, stylish look without effort.
• Intermediate fish keepers – Experiment with themes and biotopes.
• Advanced aquascapers – Add depth and realism to highly designed setups.

From 20cm nano tanks to 2.5m showpieces, fishtanks.store backgrounds are scaled perfectly to size—not stretched or distorted.

Before you go on why not take a quick look at our Aquarium Design short video. It features before and after transformations and beautiful fish tank design that will truly blow your mind.

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How to Apply Your Aquarium Design Background

Applying your background is simple:

1. Spray the outside glass with a little soapy water.
2. Peel back the top corner of the protective layer.
3. Stick the image side to the glass and smooth it out with a plastic card.
4. For larger tanks, backgrounds come pre-cut into easy-to-handle numbered panels.

These static backgrounds are reusable and removable. No glue, no mess—just peel and stick.

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Why Paper Posters Don’t Work for Aquarium Design

You may have seen cheap paper posters marketed for aquariums—but they simply don’t work:

• They rely on sticky tape and quickly fall off.
• Dust builds up between the poster and the glass.
• They crease, warp, and ruin the aesthetic.

If you’re serious about aquarium design, avoid posters. A static cling background is clean, professional, and built to last.

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Sizes, Styles, and Custom Aquarium Design

• Sizes: From 30cm to 2.2m wide, with custom sizes available.
• Categories: 11 main styles with 100+ designs (and new ones added weekly).
• Custom images: Send us your design, and we’ll turn it into a background.

From lush jungles to minimalist patterns, there’s a style for every aquarium design.

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Ordering and Delivery

• Measure your tank’s back glass (width x height).
• If your exact size isn’t listed, choose the closest smaller option—no cutting required.
• Shipping and taxes are included in the price.
• Once ordered, your background is printed by our partner nearest to your location.
• Printing takes up to 7 days, and then it’s shipped directly to your door with tracking.

This print-on-demand system allows us to offer such a wide range of sizes and designs without compromising quality.

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Subscribe and Save

Our backgrounds are reusable, so why not save on your first one?

• Subscribe to our newsletter and get $10 off your first background.
• Receive updates once a month with new designs, aquarium design tips, and exclusive discounts.

👉 [Join our mailing list today and claim your $10 discount coupon]

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Final Thought

Aquarium design doesn’t need to be complicated. By adding the right background, you’ll solve multiple problems at once while instantly upgrading your tank from drab to stunning. Take a look at our range of aquarium backgrounds at fishtanks.store and find the perfect match for your setup.

Please Subscribe or reach out and contact me if you have any questions, or if I can help in any way with your aquarium design.

When you subscribe to our newsletter, you get a $10 discount, coupon code in your welcome email. After that you will get our guides, important information about your fish tank set up. About water, about the Nitrogen Cycle, cloudy water and a maintenance schedule for you to download and use to keep up with water changes, cleaning your filter as well as solving any problems like cloudy water.

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After the sequence of 7 emails, you will only hear from us once a month. This email will have any important industry news along with any new important scientific findings. Finally you will get the first look at our newest aquarium backgrounds for the month. Only important info and we will never spam you or sell your details, that’s a promise.

So fill out the form below to subscribe, and get your $10 off coupon code. Thanks for reading our post on aquarium design, we look forward to seeing you next time. Regards Sharon xx