Best Artificial Coral and Tank Decor

[Terri Caton]

There has been some interest lately in artificial coral on here. I though I'd list my favorites and if anyone else has any put them below.

Please don't post if you have anything negative to say about artificial things in a tank!!!
Every tank is up to the individual who owns it. If you love it, do it.

I personally like to use artificial and live coral in my tank. Ease of care with some motion from the live corals.
It's also important to me that they are high quality that will not harm my tank inhabitants and will last a long time.

These are my top 2 favorites.

Artificial Coral Reef Insert | Ontario, CA | West Coast Creations Inc

West Coast Creations provides custom aquarium services, artificial coral reef inserts, artificial coral, custom mold making and public aquarium exhibits

www.westcoastcreationsinc.com

Tank Decor replicating habitats,original rock,coral & artifacts

Replicating a near natural environment, ATL specialise in creating in tank decor from durable non toxic materials including rock,coral and replica artifacts

www.aquariumtechnology.com

I have corals from here as well. Not quite as natural a look but still nice.

OCEAN AQUARIA ARTIFICIAL CORAL AQUARIUM INSERTS

Ocean Aquaria designs realistic custom artificial coral inserts & reefs for high end residential aquariums, commercial aquariums and public aquariums worldwide.

www.oceanaquaria.com

 

[Copingwithpods]

Not sure why anyone would have anything negative to say about it other than a childish "just do the real thing" remark. I think these pieces are extraordinary.

I do have a question simply out of curiosity for you as a decoration expert. How do you keep them clean? It seams that in my tank anything that isn't alive is covered in some sort of algae or organism. How would one keep these structures looking clean and vibrant in a marine environment?

 

[JCTReefer]

I wonder if ATM sells inserts or makes custom inserts for the general public. Not just celebrities on Tanked. Some of those inserts have looked pretty impressive.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I wonder if ATM sells inserts or makes custom inserts for the general public. Not just celebrities on Tanked. Some of those inserts have looked pretty impressive.

I'm sure they do but I suspect their price point is what keeps them out of the hands of the average Joe.

 

[JCTReefer]

I'm sure they do but I suspect their price point is what keeps them out of the hands of the average Joe.

You’re likely right on the price point. There’s no telling what some of those cost!

 

[Copingwithpods]

You’re likely right on the price point. There’s no telling what some of those cost!

If they are like everything else price closely follows quality, they are very high quality pieces so I would suspect very high prices. With that said I think what ever they charge is worth it as they are truly stunning displays. All the other budget options just end up looking cheap. I have no experience with artificial decor but you can definitely tell from a glance the quality expensive pieces from the cheap ones.

 

[fish farmer]

Not sure why anyone would have anything negative to say about it other than a childish "just do the real thing" remark. I think these pieces are extraordinary.

I do have a question simply out of curiosity for you as a decoration expert. How do you keep them clean? It seams that in my tank anything that isn't alive is covered in some sort of algae or organism. How would one keep these structures looking clean and vibrant in a marine environment?

I had the same problem with my artificial corals, they get encrusted with things. I went and bought several different pieces through Amazon/Ebay for a FOWLR tank. Some were polyurethane and a couple were silicone. The silicone ones were very realistic, but floated. I had to attach them to a rock. I tried bleaching one of the silicone ones and it really messed it up. It would look fine out of the water in the sun, but once I put it back in the tank is wasn't translucent and looked really bad. The polyurethane ones I could bleach/put in the sun, but still would need a good scrubbing. I have small limpets and vermetid snails that would find their way into the crevices.

 

[Terri Caton]

Not sure why anyone would have anything negative to say about it other than a childish "just do the real thing" remark. I think these pieces are extraordinary.

I do have a question simply out of curiosity for you as a decoration expert. How do you keep them clean? It seams that in my tank anything that isn't alive is covered in some sort of algae or organism. How would one keep these structures looking clean and vibrant in a marine environment?

Strangely enough I use this trick and it works like a charm. Before the first time you ever put them in your tank run them through the dishwasher with only Dawn liquid. For some reason this prevents the algae from growing on them quickly and they stay nicer longer. Since I don't take mine out of my tank I use a scrub brush and also run some Hydrogem Peroxide in the tank for a few days. This seems to take care of it.

I know someone else who has insert pieces that come with everything attached. He takes it out about twice a year, scrubs it, and puts it back in.

 

[Terri Caton]

If they are like everything else price closely follows quality, they are very high quality pieces so I would suspect very high prices. With that said I think what ever they charge is worth it as they are truly stunning displays. All the other budget options just end up looking cheap. I have no experience with artificial decor but you can definitely tell from a glance the quality expensive pieces from the cheap ones.

That is exactly true. However, they don't cost anything compared to live coral!

 

[Terri Caton]

I'm sure they do but I suspect their price point is what keeps them out of the hands of the average Joe.

Considering you can get a large coral for about $30 (and I'm talking the high quality ones) it is a great value. You'd spend $200-300 for the same piece if it was alive.

For instance:

This coral is 7.5 x 6.25 inches

Two tone color $47 (your choice of colors)

 

[Copingwithpods]

Considering you can get a large coral for about $30 (and I'm talking the high quality ones) it is a great value. You'd spend $200-300 for the same piece if it was alive.

For instance:

This coral is 7.5 x 6.25 inches

Two tone color $47 (your choice of colors)

That's actually not that bad for a single piece.

That is exactly true. However, they don't cost anything compared to live coral!

No joke lol

Strangely enough I use this trick and it works like a charm. Before the first time you ever put them in your tank run them through the dishwasher with only Dawn liquid. For some reason this prevents the algae from growing on them quickly and they stay nicer longer. Since I don't take mine out of my tank I use a scrub brush and also run some Hydrogem Peroxide in the tank for a few days. This seems to take care of it.

I know someone else who has insert pieces that come with everything attached. He takes it out about twice a year, scrubs it, and puts it back in.

This doesn't harm anything in the tank?

 

[davidwillis]

I have used some artificial corals from petsmart in my 29 gallon for the last 2 years, and have never had to clean them. But I have never put anything in with algae on it (live rock, etc). I get a thin layer of film algae on the glass (probably some on the coral, but I don't notice it.

I am not going to be setting up a 300 gallon tank, and need better artificial coral than the petsmart kind.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I wonder if these can be used in a QT to create a calmer environment instead of stark white pvc. I’ve never had any artificial coral, I didn’t realize they made really nice ones!

 

[Terri Caton]

That's actually not that bad for a single piece.


No joke lol



This doesn't harm anything in the tank?

No, it will be well rinsed off. Just like if you were washing your hands before putting them in the tank.

A good CUC is a must too.

 

[Terri Caton]

I wonder if these can be used in a QT to create a calmer environment instead of stark white pvc. I’ve never had any artificial coral, I didn’t realize they made really nice ones!

I've never tried that. Interesting idea though. They are porous so might soak up meds?

 

[Terri Caton]

I have used some artificial corals from petsmart in my 29 gallon for the last 2 years, and have never had to clean them. But I have never put anything in with algae on it (live rock, etc). I get a thin layer of film algae on the glass (probably some on the coral, but I don't notice it.

I am not going to be setting up a 300 gallon tank, and need better artificial coral than the petsmart kind.

I think that's the difference. I do have live rock, sand and some live corals. A good CUC helps a lot just like in any tank.