We’ll always have a soft spot for traditional aquascaping. Classic Iwagumi layouts, nature aquarium style, and planting choices that feel safe and familiar. It’s what we naturally gravitate toward.But every now and then, we like to push ourselves.

This next build is a rougher Iwagumi inspired by Brazilian-style aquascaping, featuring bold Manten Stone for a more dramatic look. It’s not the easiest stone to work with. The sharp angles and strong contrast make it tricky to balance. You often end up choosing between highlighting the geometry or the texture, and showing both well is the real challenge.

For this one, we’re letting the plant choices do the rest. Over time, they’ll soften the hardscape, tie everything together, and ultimately complete the scape.