How to Create an Aquascape

Watching fish swim through a well-designed aquascape can be a mesmerizing experience. In aquariums, an aquascape is created as an aesthetically pleasing mix of rocks, wood and plants -- an environment that is also an ideal home for fish. When planning your aquascape, consider how you will arrange its components to achieve an attractive color scheme and overall theme. A carefully arranged aquascape will be enjoyed by you, your guests and especially your fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape
  • String
  • Plants
  • Substrate
  • Rocks
  • Wood pieces
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Instructions

    • 1

      Using a few pieces of tape and two pieces of string, separate your aquarium into thirds. This should help you to think of where you want to place specific items, and how you may want the aquascape to look. You may separate the tank's thirds however you want, and based on the design you would like to use.

    • 2

      Add a substrate, such as gravel or sand, to the aquarium. When adding the substrate, create the illusion of depth by piling it higher in the back of the tank, then sloping it downward as it reaches the front.

    • 3

      Pick out the plants you want for your aquarium. Plants with small leaves tend to do well in an aquascape, making it look larger than it is. Several plant types you may consider include Riccia, Mayacca, Anubias and Christmas Moss. Select plants with different colors and textures to create an eye-catching scene.

    • 4

      Pick out rocks and wood for the aquascape. These elements are called the hardscape. You may use rocks to create a scene of caves or mountains. The hardscape should not be so large that it overpowers the plants. Do not, however, pick hardscape that is too small, as it may become completely covered by the growing plants.

    • 5

      Place your hardscape in the aquarium. To create an open, balanced look, put some of the hardscape on the left and some on the right, leaving the middle area of the aquarium open. Consider placing an odd number of objects in your hardscape groupings. This seems more natural to a viewer.

    • 6

      Place your plants into the aquarium where they will complement the design of the substrate and hardscape. As with the hardscape, setting plants on the left and right sides of the tank creates a balanced appearance, but you may put the plants anywhere that you like.