Basic Aquascaping Shapes (Click images to full view)
The Triangle This shape shows a simple and well structured shape which gives enough space for placing plants and hardscape. Important is the increase in substrate to get the depth effect. The substrate should increase towards the back. Smaller plants should be placed in the foreground, larger ones in the background. The increasing shape is not only to realize from front to back but also from left to right or right to left.
The U-Shape With the U-Shape you can simply realize an effective layout. Plants and hardscape will be positioned at the sides of the tank so there will be free space in the middle of the layout. It’s better not to place the free space in the exact middle but in 1/3 & 2/3 of the tank. Symmetries are to be avoided.
The Hill Shape In this challenging variation plants and hardscape will be placed in the middle of the tank and set with high growing plants and decorative stones and roots. The focus is clearly set so the Hill must have an appealing look. Foreground and sides will be planted with small plants. On free space on the substrate small stones or roots are suitable.
Shape with perspective This shape is supposed to increase the perspective of the tank. In the foreground at the sides high growing stem plants are used. In the middle of the foreground ground covering plants are the best choice to keep a clear view at the middle- and background. In the background a highly increasing ground will be planted with small plants. Therefore the illusion of a distant hill framed by woods is formed.
