Finally finished my 1st Aquascape – feedback welcome!
After months of researching and watching countless tutorials, I finally decided to take the plunge and build my first aquascape. It’s been a crazy few days of hardscaping and planting, but I’m really happy with where it’s at.
My goal was to create a natural "island" look with distinct zones—a dense, jungle-like side for my Flame Gouramis and a clean, open sand beach for my Panda Corys to forage.
A few details on the build:
Tank: 2ft (90L).
Substrate: Aqua Soil for the plants, river sand for the beach.
Hardscape: Hand-built river stone wall, driftwood arch, and a few natural accents.
Flora: Java Moss (anchored in the stone crevices), Monte Carlo, and Dwarf Hairgrass.
I’m currently letting the tank cycle and stabilize for a week before moving my fish over from their temporary setup.
I’d love to get some honest feedback:
Since this is my first build, did I balance the hardscape well? I’m still a bit torn on whether the coconut cave adds to the "natural" feel or if it looks out of place.
Any general tips for a first-timer on keeping the sand beach separate from the soil?
Thanks for looking—this hobby is addictive and experience😂