🛠️ How to Secure Aquarium Ornaments Safely and Effectively

🐠 Keep It Steady: Why Securing Ornaments Matters

Imagine a cave tumbling over or driftwood floating to the surface—unstable décor doesn’t just mess with your aquascape, it can stress fish, block equipment, or even injure tank mates.

Whether you're working with rocks, driftwood, ceramic pieces, or themed ornaments, here's how to secure aquarium decorations properly for a safer, cleaner, and more stable tank.

🧱 Common Reasons Ornaments Move or Float

• Hollow ornaments that trap air

• Lightweight pieces that shift with water flow

• Burrowing fish that dig under bases

• Cleaning or maintenance disturbances

• Curved tank glass that makes items lean or roll

🔨 How to Secure Ornaments in 5 Easy Steps

1. Rinse and prep:
Clean your ornament thoroughly and dry the area you’ll secure.

2. Test placement first:
Check how it sits in the tank, and whether fish can safely swim around or through it.

3. Anchor with gravel or silicone:

• For driftwood: bury part of it or use suction cups

• For rocks: use aquarium silicone to glue them to one another or a slate base

• For caves: wedge gently between other objects to limit movement

4. Avoid blocking water flow:
Ensure your decorations don’t interfere with filter intakes or water circulation.

5. Monitor over time:
Fish may dig or shift things—check stability during weekly tank checks.

⚠️ What Not to Use

• Regular glue or silicone with mildew inhibitors

• Metal fasteners, screws, or nails

• Anything not labeled aquarium-safe

• Heavy glue layers near plant roots or fish entrances

🧠 Bonus Tip: Pre-soak Driftwood

Real wood may float unless waterlogged—soak it for several days or attach it to a base like a tile or stone slab using glue or screws (coated in epoxy).