A Jungle Canyon Brought to Life Inspired by the dramatic beauty of a natural canyon, Pavol set out to recreate that sense of scale, erosion, and timelessness within the confined dimensions of an aquarium. Central to his vision were the towering, weathered cliffs, constructed using Pagoda stone. Its rich, orange tones echo the sunbaked hues of canyon walls, while the natural striations and fine textures of the rock added layers of depth and realism. Careful placement, including intentional overhangs and angled formations, helped evoke the feeling of ancient geological formations shaped by wind and water over millennia. To complement the...

The Art of the 3-Stone Iwagumi The Iwagumi style is one of aquascaping’s purest forms — minimalist in appearance, but deeply rooted in balance, symbolism, and nature’s quiet beauty. In our gallery, James created a Sanzon Iwagumi using striking Black Elderly stone, a layout that proves even three carefully placed rocks can tell a powerful story. Inspiration & Concept At first glance, a three-stone Iwagumi may look simple — but simplicity is its strength, and also its greatest challenge. Each stone must be placed with care, following principles of proportion, scale, and natural harmony. James used the rule of thirds...

Sawbwa Beach - Island Aquascape Island-Style Aquascape with Black Moor Root & Tiger Cobbles At Horizon Aquatics, we love creating aquascapes that not only look stunning but are also approachable and practical for aquarists of all levels. In this gallery build, Rachael designed a simple, island-style aquascape that balances structure, softness, and a touch of wildness — all while keeping maintenance easy. Inspiration & Concept The concept was to build a layout that feels wild yet inviting. The aquascape is centered around a bold island formation, with a trident-like Black Moor root structure rising upward. This is grounded with smooth...

Nano Aquascape with a Big Impact Not all aquascapes need to be large to make a big impression. This ADA 45P aquascape created by Charlotte is proof that a smaller aquarium, when carefully composed, can deliver the same drama, colour, and depth as its larger counterparts. Built on a layout loosely inspired by a dual-island composition, it creates a sense of separation and flow while still feeling cohesive and natural. The Aquascape The foundation of this aquascape lies in the pairing of Manzanita wood and ADA Yamaya stone. The wood, with its twisting and angular branches, provides structure and direction,...

Contemporary Style Aquascape The aquascape is housed in an ADA 60P and showcases a complete ADA system, including ADA glassware, a Super Jet 600 filter, an Aquasky RGB light, an ADA Vuppa II surface skimmer, and a sleek metal cabinet. It stands as one of the more high-end displays in our gallery, highlighting the exceptional design and craftsmanship that ADA systems are renowned for. The Aquascape This striking aquascape was created by Nicole, co-owner of Horizon Aquatics, and it stands out as one of the most unique works in the gallery. Unlike the more traditional styles often on display, this...

Before joining the Horizon Aquatics team, Rachael created an aquascape for the gallery that reflected her long-time love for the classic nature style. The Aquascape Nature aquariums have always been her favourite, and triangular layouts come especially naturally. The way they create flow, drama, and movement makes them both visually striking and deeply calming. The goal with this layout was to pay homage to classic aquascaping—something timeless, approachable, and easy for others to replicate in their own tanks. To capture that traditional feel, the scape was built with Seriyu stone and root wood. These tried-and-true materials offered both structure and...

White Cloud Island Aquascape This island-style aquascape was created by Nicole, one of the co-owners of Horizon Aquatics. It’s a simple yet highly effective layout that allows the plants to take centre stage. The hardscape is built from just four pieces of wood and Kita Mountain Stone, forming the central island and acting as a barrier for the mound of Africana Aquasoil. Island aquascapes are known for their minimalist yet impactful aesthetic, where the plants themselves often become structural elements, shaping the flow and presence of the design. The Aquascape This aquascape is housed in an ADA 90P, a size...

Luis Navarro Workshop Aquascape A classic concave nature style aquascape We invited Seachem ambassador and talented aquascaper Luis Navarro at the end of 2023 to host a workshop with us. Luis, along with Brian from Seachem, shared their expertise on how to use Seachem products, the benefits they bring, and how we as aquascapers can incorporate them into our own tanks. Brian provided invaluable product knowledge, while Luis demonstrated his artistry by creating a stunning aquascape right before our eyes. The Aquascape The aquascape itself has a classic feel—simple yet highly effective. Using large, dramatic pieces of wood combined with...

Riverbed Style Aquarium ADA 60 45p Aquascape This aquascape was created by Mark, also known as Geordie Scaper. His vision was to capture the character of a natural riverbed while weaving in the artistry of aquascaping. The result is a layout that feels both authentic and thoughtfully composed—where naturalism meets fine art. The hardscape is built on a dramatic slope, banked so high at the back that only 8–10 cm separates the soil from the top of the tank. This clever use of elevation creates a strong sense of depth, drawing the eye into the scene and amplifying its impact....

Josh Sim - World Champion Aquascape  We were thrilled to welcome a IAPLC Champion Josh Sim, to Horizon Aquatics for a special live aquascaping event in our gallery. Bringing together enthusiasts and artists alike, the session celebrated aquascaping passion, mastery, and the art of nature-inspired design. The Aquascape During the event, Josh crafted a stunning aquascape, his current style is to keep things looking like underwater nature rather than creating a landscape. Drawing inspiration from his travels and a profound connection to water’s calming presence, Josh’s layout features elegant plant arrangements and dynamic hardscape elements that capture both motion and...

Island Composition 'The Asteroid'  ADA 60x45p Aquarium with a Island Composition  Our close friend and talented aquascaper, Ady Myers, crafted a stunning aquascape for the Horizon Aquatics Gallery. Inspired by a classic nature style, his concept incorporated wood arranged to evoke the dramatic effect of an asteroid crashing into rocks.  The Aquascape: "Asteroid" The carefully arranged wood bursts outward from the central stone formation, capturing the raw force and chaos of an asteroid’s crash, yet framed within the tranquillity of a classic nature-style composition to give the illusion nature has taken over.  Equipment Breakdown For those inspired to recreate a similar...

All Red Plants Aquascape 'Saudade'  Aquascaping Workshop with Balbi – A Tribute to Filipe Oliveira We were honoured to welcome Balbi, representing Aquaflora, to Horizon Aquatics for a live aquascaping workshop in our aquarium gallery. The event brought together aquascaping enthusiasts for an inspiring session centred around technique, creativity, and tribute. The Aquascape: "Saudade" During the workshop, Balbi created a breathtaking all-red plant aquascape. The aquascape was titled "Saudade"—a beautiful Portuguese word that conveys a deep emotional state of longing, nostalgia, or heartfelt remembrance. This aquascape was inspired by an original layout in Esther’s garden, designed in memory of their dear...