Aquascaping basics: hardscape, plants, and the rule of thirds

Short answer: a good aquascape comes down to a few simple ideas. Build your hardscape — driftwood and rock — first, because it is the skeleton everything else hangs on. Use the rule of thirds: place your main feature off-centre, about a third of the way across, rather than dead centre, for a more natural look. Plant in layers, with low carpeting plants at the front, mid-height plants in the middle, and tall stems at the back. Choose a substrate that supports your plants and lighting that suits them. Start simple, leave open space, and let it grow in.

Start with the hardscape

Hardscape is the wood and stone that gives a tank its structure. Lay it out before you add plants or water, and take your time — this is the stage that makes or breaks the final look.

• Driftwood creates natural lines and height and gives a home to mosses and epiphyte plants. Browse our driftwood. New wood often floats until it waterlogs, and it can leach tannins that tint the water a harmless tea colour at first.
• Rock adds mass, caves and structure. Browse stone and hardscape in aquarium décor. Build stable stacks resting on the glass base, and group rocks of a similar type for a cohesive look.
• Odd numbers of pieces, and varied sizes, tend to look more natural than matched pairs.

The rule of thirds

Imagine the tank divided into three, both across and top to bottom. Place your focal point — the tallest piece of wood, the main rock — roughly where those lines cross, about a third of the way in, rather than in the exact middle. Leave some open space, whether that is open substrate at the front or open water above. A common beginner mistake is filling every inch; restraint reads as calm and looks more professional.

Planting in layers

Think in depth, front to back:

• Foreground: low carpeting or small plants that keep the front open.
• Midground: bushier plants and epiphytes like Anubias and Java fern tied to wood and rock.
• Background: tall stems and grasses that hide equipment and give height.

If you are new to plants, start with the hardy species in our guide to easy live plants, and browse stock in the live plants collection. Fine tools — long tweezers and scissors — make planting and trimming far easier; you will find aquascaping and maintenance tools in aquarium maintenance.

Substrate and lighting

Your substrate is both the foundation for planting and, in a planted tank, a source of nutrients — see our guide on choosing substrate and browse the gravel and substrate range. Lighting drives plant growth, so match it to the plants you choose: easy plants are forgiving, while carpeting species and red stems demand more. Browse lighting and canopies, and remember that more light without matching nutrients and care usually just grows algae.

Let it grow in

A fresh aquascape looks sparse; a planted one fills out over weeks and looks its best once plants settle and spread. Plant a little more densely than feels necessary, be patient, and trim to shape as it grows. Come in and we will help you pick wood, stone and plants that work together.

Written by the team at Tropical Fish Imports in Lethbridge, Alberta. Last reviewed August 2026.

Planning a scape and not sure where to start? Bring us your tank size and the look you are after — visit the shop, call 403-380-4506, or send us an email.