The Hillside is a nano planted aquarium built in the Ultum Nature Systems 5N. This layout demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a small aquarium into natural living art. While larger aquariums offer more room for experimentation, nano tanks challenge aquascapers to work with proportion, scale, and restraint.

For this layout, a classic triangular composition was built to maximize visual depth within the compact footprint. Small pieces of Manten stones were carefully selected, then stacked with intention to create a natural-looking hillside reminiscent of untouched landscapes found throughout the world.

Aquatic plant selection was kept minimal. Hemianthus callitrichoides (Dwarf Baby Tears) was used as the primary foreground plant, with its tiny leaf structure scaling beautifully to the 5N. Cryptocoryne parva was placed randomly around the base of smaller stones to introduce texture and avoid the appearance of a perfectly uniform carpet. With pond-style aquariums gaining popularity, the waterline was intentionally kept lower to encourage emersed plant growth in the background. To complete the look, a mix of grass-like aquatic plants — including Isoetes velata var. sicula, Helanthium tenellum, and Lilaeopsis mauritiana — was used to create a wabi-sabi backdrop.