Tropic Islands is an Iwagumi aquascape layout nestled in the UNS 60S shallow aquarium. Maximizing depth in a low-profile tank was the main challenge! Shallow tanks are awesome, but creating dynamic scale requires some planning and thought.

We chose Icelandic Lava Stone for the primary layout material. While Black Lava Rock is a classic aquascaping rock, Icelandic features even more varied texture and subtle color shifts that we enjoy a lot. It has the same porous structure, is lightweight and provides the same surface for beneficial bacteria colonization. After choosing our rocks, we built two elevated, high-sloping hills on each side of the tank. Each rock was positioned for aesthetic and to act as a reinforcing barrier to prevent substrate spills onto the sand. Natural pathways were added for a visual break and more depth.

Aquarium plant selection focused on texture and wabi sabi blend. A mixture of popular species included Utriculara graminifolia, Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba', and more. We wanted each species to intertwine and weave naturally as the tank matured. Overtime, the final look was softened, producing organic, lush results.