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Mason Jar Aquarium

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Author by Amanda Davis on May 23, 2025 Updated on May 23, 2025

Create a fun miniature under-the-sea world to put on your bedroom shelf, display in the bathroom, or use as a night light!

plastic jar with aquarium gravel, plastic fish, and plastic plant, in blue water

Kids can create their own make-believe fish aquarium using a plastic mason jar. These darling mason jar aquariums are great bedroom decorations, and with the addition of submersible lights, make fun night lights too!

mermaid and seashell inside a jar with water and aquarium plant

Why this project is a hit

Less mess and maintenance than a real fish tank, these mini mason jar aquariums are fun to make and look awesome.

Kids can pick aquarium plants in their favorite colors and decide on fun fish or even a mermaid. The sky is the limit! If you’d like to skip the water aspect of this project, check out our dinosaur nightlights made in a mason jar.

Craft supplies you will need

You can make your aquariums with clear water, or add a few drops of blue food coloring for that deep blue ocean feel!

Also, I do suggest using clear plastic mason jars instead of glass, for safety reasons!

labeled supplies for mason jar aquariums

Helpful Project Information:

Age Level: 5 and up – smaller children may need help.
Mess Factor: Medium – water spillage
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time to Complete: 30 minutes
Cost Estimate: Less than $6.50

How to Make a Mason Jar Aquarium

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

First, if you want your aquariums to be night lights, attach a submersible light to the inside of the jar lid using E6000 glue. Set aside to dry while you build your aquarium.
Place plastic aquarium plant into the jar.
Use a spoon to add gravel around the bottom of the jar, covering the base of the plant.
Place figurines, fish, seashells and any other items in the jar.
If you would like your water to be blue, add a couple of drops of food coloring to the water first and stir. Slowly pour water into the jar.
Screw the lid in place.

To turn on the light, carefully remove the lid, turn on the light, and replace the lid.

mason jar aquarium night lights all lit up

Expert Tips & FAQs

You can trim the top off the plant with scissors if it’s too tall.
If you are just making aquariums and do not plan to use these as night lights, you can glue the lid on to deter young children from opening them up.

little boy holding mason jar aquarium he made

Kids will love making these adorable mason jar aquariums! Shopping for the creatures, plants and other additions is one of the best parts of this project!

Be sure to check out our dinosaur nightlight and our fairy and unicorn nightlights too!

More Ocean Crafts

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Mason Jar Aquarium

Create a fun miniature under-the-sea world to put on your bedroom shelf, display in the bathroom, or use as a night light!

Age Group: Kids Crafts

Project Type: Crafts

Supplies

16- ounce plastic mason jar with lid
Filtered water tap water works, but may be cloudy
Plastic aquarium plants
Aquarium gravel
Plastic fish and/or figurines like mermaids
Seashells starfish, etc
Submersible candle lights optional, if you want these to be night lights
Blue food coloring optional

Instructions

First, if you want your aquariums to be night lights, attach light to the inside of the jar lid using E6000 glue. Set aside to dry while you build your aquarium.
Place plastic aquarium plant into the jar.
Use a spoon to add gravel around the bottom of the jar, covering the base of the plant.
Place figurines, fish, seashells and any other items to the jar.
If you would like your water to be blue, add a couple drops of food coloring to the water first and stir. Slowly pour water into the jar.
Screw the lid in place.
To turn on the light, carefully remove the lid, turn on the light, and replace the lid.

Expert Tips & FAQs

You can trim the top off the plant with scissors if it’s too tall.
If you are just making aquariums and do not plan to use these as night lights, you can glue the lid on to deter young children from opening them up.

This post originally appeared here on June 10, 2020.

Author
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Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.