Aquarium Hardscape

Give your layout a natural structure

Hardscape is what you build a layout around before a single plant goes in. Rocks create height, caves and slopes, wood adds flowing lines and shade, and leaves and twigs finish the look of a riverbed or forest floor. Whether you prefer a tidy, minimal arrangement or a tangle of roots, plan the hardscape first and add aquarium plants afterwards.

What is hardscape?

Hardscape is the non-living structure of an aquascape: stones, rocks, wood and natural botanicals. Everything here is sold for use underwater, but natural materials can slightly change your water, so it helps to know what each one does.

Why should I add hardscape to my aquarium?

Fish and shrimp use rocks and wood as shelter, hiding places and territory, and mosses and ferns can attach to them. Hardscape also sets the shape of the whole tank, so you can plan focal points and water flow before choosing plants or a substrate.

What are the main types of hardscape?

Our range is split into categories to make it easy to find what you need:

• Rock and Pebbles: Natural stones such as Seiryu, dragon stone, slate, zebra rock and lava rock, plus quartz, for cliffs, caves and slopes.
• Bogwood and Driftwood: Bogwood, Mopani and other natural wood for height, shelter and a natural look.
• Leaves and Twigs: Catappa and other leaves, seed pods, cones and bark that add tannins and a woodland feel.
• Aquascaping kits: Aquascaping essentials to help you get set up.

What should I look for?

Choose pieces in proportion to your tank, as a few larger items usually look better than many small ones. Check whether a rock may raise water hardness, and soak or boil wood before use.

Our step-by-step hardscaping guide covers rock safety and layout, while How To Aquascape A Freshwater Aquarium and 10 Aquascaping Ideas are good places to start.