Scapelight: Long Lines
Love a panoramic aquascape? A long rimless tank might be the one for you. From iwagumi layouts to driftwood-heavy designs and biotope-inspired ecosystems, the long tank format can support them all. Sometimes called a bookshelf aquarium, its slim, extended profile provides space for your scape and for fish that love to swim, shoal, or sift—such as tetras, rasboras, pygmy cories, danios, and more. Some of our personal favorite planted tank aquascapes were made in this tank style. Let’s get into it!

UNS 90L
At the River’s Edge
We’d be remiss not to start with our river-style Iwagumi planted tank. This aquascape found its home in an Ultum Nature Systems 90L 20-gallon long tank. This aquarium size and scape remains one of our favorites to date. The layout featured large, smooth Hakkai Stone arranged with intention and planted with a variety of grass-like aquatic plants. The result was a river-inspired nature aquarium that didn’t require an entire room to fit or make an impression (our opinions, of course).
Tank Dimensions: 35.43 x 11.81 x 11.81”
Plants Used: Cryptocoryne Parva, Echinodorus (Helanthium) Tenellus, Eleocharis sp. ‘Pusilla’, Isoetes Japonica, Eriocaulon sp., Taxiphyllum sp.
Hardscape: Hakkai Stone
Substrate: UNS Controsoil, UNS Controsand, Accent Gravel






UNS 90L
The Bloom of Spring
Ultum Nature Systems aquariums are built to last, and we certainly use them. After reluctantly breaking down our Iwagumi, we traveled to the other side of the spectrum. This time, a full driftwood hardscape layout took form. Without any stones, even for support, we went for a nature-style planted tank planted with colorful aquarium stem plants and foreground carpet plant. We used the same exact tank that supported our Iwagumi scape for so long. The quality of UNS tanks is paramount! With proper care, they become enduring canvases for your creativity.
Tank Dimensions: 35.43 x 11.81 x 11.81”
Plants Used: Ludwigia sp., Rotala sp., Utricularia Graminifolia, Glossostigma Elatinoides, Bacopa sp. Salzmannii Purple, Anubias Jungle Star, Hygrophila sp., Limnophila sp., Hydrocotyle Tripartia, Myriophyllum sp.
Hardscape: Malaysian Driftwood
Substrate: Aquario Neo Soil






UNS 45L
A Moment at the Forest’s Pond
A nano aquascape. Housed in the Ultum Nature Systems 45L, this 3.4-gallon nano long tank sat on top of a kitchen dining room table. People put plants there right? A beauty of nano tanks is the ability to set them up literally anywhere, as long as you’ve got the space and a plug. Many meals were had at this table with a planted tank for added ambience in the background. 10/10 recommend trying it out.
Tank Dimensions: 17.72 x 6.69 x 6.69”
Plants Used: Utricularia Graminifolia
Hardscape: Hakkai Stone
Substrate: Aquario Neo Soil





Don’t let the lack of depth deter you from trying a long aquarium. The extended layout opens the door to bold design for your hardscape and comfortable space for your aquarium livestock. What will you create in a long rimless tank?