How rock, wood and substrate choices define both the look and the water chemistry of a planted aquarium.
The skeleton of an aquascape is its hardscape; the choice of rock, wood and substrate shapes both the aesthetic and the water chemistry.
Match the rock to the style
Seiryu and Ohko (dragon stone) give the sharp lines suited to Iwagumi, while lava and pagoda offer softer textures. Remember that calcareous stones can raise water hardness and pH.
Scale and flow in wood
Spider wood, Manzanita and mangrove each branch differently. Unite the direction of the branches into a single story, drawing lines that do not cut across one another underwater.
Choose substrate for the roots
Nutrient-rich active substrates suit dense planting, while inert sand is ideal for clean pathways and low-tech setups. Increasing the layer height towards the back reinforces depth.
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