Aquascaping Starter Guide: Create Your First Planted Aquarium

Nathan Walsh
Jul 29
3 min read

Aquascaping is the art of designing a beautiful underwater landscape using aquatic plants, rocks, wood and carefully chosen livestock. Whether you want a simple nature-inspired aquarium or a dramatic aquascape, creating a planted tank is one of the most rewarding areas of the aquarium hobby.

The good news is that you don't need expensive equipment or years of experience to get started. With the right plants, hardscape and a little planning, anyone can create a thriving planted aquarium.

This guide covers everything you need to know to build your first aquascape, from choosing the right aquarium and plants to maintaining a healthy underwater ecosystem.

What Is Aquascaping?

Aquascaping is much more than simply adding plants to an aquarium. It combines aquatic gardening, design and fishkeeping to create a natural underwater landscape.

Many aquascapes are inspired by rivers, forests, mountains or nature itself, using carefully arranged rocks, driftwood and live plants to create depth, balance and perspective.

The goal is to create an aquarium that is not only beautiful but also healthy for fish, shrimp and aquatic plants.

Choosing the Right Aquarium

For beginners, larger aquariums are often easier to maintain than very small nano tanks because water conditions remain more stable.

When choosing your aquarium, consider:

Tank size
Lighting
Filtration
Available space
Maintenance requirements

A simple rectangular aquarium provides plenty of room for planting and is ideal for learning basic aquascaping techniques.

Selecting Your Hardscape

Hardscape forms the foundation of every aquascape.

The two main materials are:

Driftwood

Driftwood creates a natural appearance and provides excellent attachment points for plants such as Java Fern and Anubias.

Rocks

Aquascaping rocks add structure, contrast and depth. They can be used to create mountain landscapes, valleys or natural river scenes.

Before planting, experiment with different layouts until you're happy with the overall composition.

Choosing Aquarium Plants

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is choosing difficult plants.

Start with hardy species that grow well without specialised equipment.

Excellent beginner plants include:

Java Fern
Anubias
Amazon Sword
Cryptocoryne species
Java Moss
Water Sprite

These plants are forgiving, attractive and suitable for most freshwater aquariums.

Foreground, Midground and Background Plants

A balanced aquascape uses plants of different heights.

Foreground

Short carpeting plants placed at the front of the aquarium.

Midground

Medium-sized plants that connect the foreground with the background.

Background

Tall plants that create height and hide equipment.

Using plants in layers creates depth and makes even small aquariums appear much larger.

Do You Need CO₂?

No.

Many beautiful aquascapes are created without adding CO₂.

A low-tech aquarium using hardy plants, good lighting and regular fertilisation can produce excellent results.

CO₂ becomes more beneficial when growing demanding carpeting plants or aiming for rapid plant growth.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential for healthy plant growth.

Most beginner planted aquariums perform well with 6–8 hours of lighting each day.

Too much light without adequate nutrients or plant growth can encourage algae.

Using a timer helps maintain a consistent lighting schedule.

Adding Shrimp

Freshwater shrimp are one of the best additions to a planted aquarium.

Species such as Amano Shrimp help control algae and biofilm, while Red Cherry Shrimp add vibrant colour and fascinating behaviour.

Shrimp also encourage a healthier aquarium by consuming leftover food and organic waste.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes when starting your first aquascape:

Choosing difficult plants
Adding too many fish too quickly
Leaving lights on for too long
Skipping regular water changes
Overfeeding
Constantly moving plants

Patience is one of the most important ingredients in successful aquascaping.

Recommended Beginner Plants

If you're starting your first aquascape, we recommend:

These plants are hardy, attractive and suitable for low-tech planted aquariums.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aquascaping suitable for beginners?

Yes. By choosing hardy plants and simple layouts, anyone can create a beautiful planted aquarium without specialist equipment.

What are the easiest aquarium plants?

Java Fern, Anubias, Amazon Sword, Cryptocoryne and Java Moss are all excellent beginner choices.

Do I need CO₂?

No. Many stunning planted aquariums are successfully grown without CO₂ using low-maintenance plants.

Are shrimp good for planted aquariums?

Yes. Amano Shrimp and Red Cherry Shrimp are excellent additions to planted aquariums, helping control algae while adding movement and colour.

How long does an aquascape take to establish?

Most planted aquariums begin to settle within a few weeks, while a mature aquascape usually develops over several months as the plants grow and fill in.

Start Your Aquascaping Journey

Creating your first aquascape doesn't need to be complicated. By choosing hardy aquarium plants, natural hardscape and compatible livestock, you can build a beautiful underwater landscape that becomes more impressive over time.

Explore our range of aquarium plants, freshwater shrimp and aquascaping essentials to start creating your own planted aquarium today.