Aquascaping
Build somewhere worth looking at.
Pick a backdrop, lay the gravel, plant it out and place your showpieces. Everything here comes from the game, and the plants really do sway and grow.
24 backdrops
Set the scene.
From a plain river bank to a sunken city of gold. Each one is painted pixel by pixel by the game itself.

Golden reeds and cattails line a river steeped in warm afternoon light.

The original blue reef and sunlit water.

The original freshwater hills and soft river light.

The original violet hills under a lavender surface.

Towering kelp rises to a sunlit canopy in a deep emerald forest.

Arching mangrove roots and trailing moss in a quiet jade estuary.

Moss-capped boulders and a fallen log shelter a cool woodland pool.

Stepped hexagonal pillars descend between the walls of a blue canyon.

Brain coral, table coral and rose branches crowd clear turquoise water.

A blue ice shelf hangs overhead, bristling with icicles and hanging bergs.

Silver reeds and lily pads in a midnight-blue lagoon beneath cool light.

Scalloped limestone and giant clams cradling pearls in a pale aquamarine cavern.

Slender blue spires crowned with sea lilies plunge into the deep.

Huge lacy scarlet sea fans and orange whips spread across a dusk-blue reef.

A heeled-over galleon, masts snapped and portholes aglow, rests in a kelpy cove.

Vine-hung arches and toppled columns of an arcade lost beneath misty teal water.

Towering amethyst clusters pulse with inner light inside a hidden grotto.

Giant glowing mushrooms, lantern anemones and drifting jellies light a midnight bay.

Sunlight pours through jungle sinkholes in shimmering golden shafts, lighting hanging roots and drifting pollen.

Paper lanterns flicker among lotus pads under a huge rising moon while fireflies drift over the water.

A rainbow reef under iridescent light: every coral a different colour, and the caustics shift through the spectrum.

A volcanic abyss: a distant volcano erupts, lava pours from caves between black spires, smokers vent ash and embers swirl up through red water.

A sunken golden city: gilded domes and spires with glowing windows, a guardian at its great gate, and gold dust rising in the light.

A nebula sky and dancing aurora shine through the surface while a celestial whale glides over towering star-crystal spires.
58 plants
A garden that grows.
Plants start small and fill out over time, swaying as the fish brush past. Each has its own light and care needs, and the showy ones are worth the fuss.
Stem plants
16
HornwortCeratophyllum demersumEasy · Low lightCommon
PearlweedHemianthus micranthemoidesEasy · ModerateCommon
Cabomba FanCabomba carolinianaModerate · Bright lightUncommon
Cactus AlgaeHalimeda opuntiaModerate · ModerateUncommon
Coinleaf PennywortHydrocotyle leucocephalaModerate · ModerateUncommon
Lucky BambooDracaena sanderianaEasy · Low lightUncommon
Rosy RotalaRotala rotundifoliaModerate · Bright lightUncommon
Horsetail RushEquisetum fluviatileModerate · ModerateRare
Ruby LudwigiaLudwigia sp. 'Super Red'Demanding · Bright lightRare
Sea GrapeCaulerpa lentilliferaModerate · ModerateRare
Sea PalmPostelsia palmaeformisModerate · Bright lightRare
Fire CorallineCorallina igneaDemanding · Bright lightEpic
Lantern BloomPhysalis aquaticaDemanding · ModerateEpic
Moonlight BacopaBacopa carolinianaModerate · ModerateEpic
Crystal BlossomLithophylla amethystinaDemanding · ModerateLegendary
Moonflower VineIpomoea selenariaDemanding · Low lightLegendary
Grasses & vals
14
Cattail ReedTypha minimaEasy · Bright lightCommon
Corkscrew ValVallisneria spiralis tortifoliaEasy · ModerateCommon
Dwarf HairgrassEleocharis parvulaModerate · Bright lightCommon
Ribbon ValVallisneria spiralisEasy · Low lightCommon
Thread SeaweedChaetomorpha threadiiEasy · Bright lightCommon
Wire KelpMacrocystis filamentosaEasy · ModerateCommon
Chaeto TangleChaetomorpha linumEasy · Bright lightUncommon
Gracilaria WireGracilaria vermiculophyllaModerate · ModerateUncommon
Jungle VallisVallisneria americanaEasy · ModerateUncommon
Ghost HairweedUlva phantasmaModerate · Low lightLegendary
Rose HairweedUlva rosaeModerate · Bright lightLegendary
Silk Curtain WeedChaetomorpha sericaModerate · ModerateLegendary
Blush KelpMacrocystis roseaModerate · Bright lightMythic
Pearl Ribbon ValVallisneria pearlinaEasy · ModerateMythic
Rosettes
8
Amazon SwordEchinodorus bleheriEasy · ModerateCommon
Sea LettuceUlva lactucaEasy · ModerateCommon
Cryptic CryptCryptocoryne wendtiiEasy · Low lightUncommon
Mermaid FanUdotea flabellumModerate · ModerateRare
Red Tiger LotusNymphaea zenkeriModerate · Bright lightRare
Laceleaf AponogetonAponogeton madagascariensisModerate · ModerateLegendary
Aurora OrchidPhalaenopsis borealisDemanding · ModerateMythic
Celestial LotusNymphaea caelestisDemanding · ModerateMythic
Ferns
5
Java FernMicrosorum pteropusEasy · Low lightCommon
Water WisteriaHygrophila difformisEasy · ModerateCommon
Windelov FernMicrosorum pteropus 'Windelov'Easy · Low lightUncommon
Bolbitis LaceBolbitis heudelotiiDemanding · ModerateRare
Phoenix FernPyropteris resurgensDemanding · Bright lightMythic
Mosses
5
Java MossTaxiphyllum barbieriEasy · Low lightCommon
Christmas MossVesicularia montagneiModerate · ModerateUncommon
Flame MossTaxiphyllum 'Flame'Moderate · ModerateUncommon
Riccia PearlRiccia fluitansModerate · Bright lightUncommon
Marimo BallAegagropila linnaeiEasy · Low lightRare
Carpets
5
Clover MeadowMarsilea hirsutaModerate · ModerateUncommon
Monte CarloMicranthemum tweedieiModerate · Bright lightUncommon
Sea PearlsValonia ventricosaModerate · ModerateUncommon
Baby TearsHemianthus callitrichoidesDemanding · Bright lightRare
Mermaid's WineglassAcetabularia acetabulumModerate · Bright lightRare
Bulbs
3
Banana PlantNymphoides aquaticaEasy · ModerateRare
Glowcap ClusterMycena abyssalisDemanding · Low lightEpic
Jellyfish BloomMedusiflora pellucidaDemanding · ModerateLegendary
Rhizomes
2
Anubias NanaAnubias barteri var. nanaEasy · Low lightCommon
Buce BlueBucephalandra sp. 'Blue'Moderate · ModerateEpic
48 ornaments
Rocks, ruins and showpieces.
Driftwood and river stones for the purists. Shipwrecks, a torii gate, a bubbling volcano and a glowing crystal palace for everyone else.
Reef
6
Brain CoralUncommonA folded globe of ridges. Grooves run all over it.
Tube SpongeUncommonA cluster of open pipes, each one breathing.
Barrel SpongeRareOne huge cup. Small fish sleep down inside it.
Reef CoveRareA coral grotto with pale branching tips and a sheltered centre.
Sea FanRareA flat mesh held broadside to the flow.
Staghorn CoralRareBranching antlers with pale growing tips.
Stone
7
Granite BoulderCommonA single fat stone. Catfish sleep against it.
River StonesCommonTumbled pebbles, piled where the current would drop them.
Dragon StoneUncommonOhko clay stone, pocked with caves that shrimp squabble over.
Lava RockUncommonPorous black stone, riddled with gas holes.
Slate StackUncommonFlat plates layered into a shelf. Shrimp graze the ledges.
Seiryu StoneRareGrey rock cut through with white seams. The aquascaper's stone.
Zen ArchRareA balanced span of weathered rock. Fish love a doorway.
Wood
7
Cholla WoodCommonHollow cactus skeleton, full of holes shrimp hide in.
DriftwoodCommonPale limb worn smooth. Tannins tint the water gold.
Sunken LogCommonA mossy fallen trunk, hollow at one end. Plecos move straight in.
Spider WoodUncommonThin roots fanning out like fingers. Moss clings to it.
Bog StumpRareA hollowed trunk. Something usually lives in the hole.
Mopani RootRareDense two-tone hardwood. Sinks the day you drop it in.
Moss BonsaiEpicA twisting driftwood trunk beneath three little moss canopies.
Ruins
11
AmphoraUncommonTipped clay jar. Loaches will claim the inside by morning.
Broken ColumnUncommonFluted marble, snapped off halfway. Very sunken empire.
Castle TurretEpicBattlements and an arrow slit. The classic, unashamed.
Jade PagodaEpicThree jade roofs with gilded eaves. The little windows never go dark.
Moon BridgeEpicA low stone moon bridge, with a clear swim-through arch.
Stone IdolEpicLong ears, heavy brow, staring straight out of the glass.
Stone LanternEpicTiered garden lantern. The window glows faintly at night.
Torii GateEpicRed gate half-swallowed by the substrate.
Rune MonolithLegendaryAn ancient standing stone whose carved runes still pulse with light.
Sunken ObservatoryLegendaryA marble drum of lit windows under a verdigris dome, telescope still aimed at the surface.
Star GateMythicA ring of carved stone around a slowly turning vortex. Nobody knows where it leads.
Wrecks
10
Message in a BottleUncommonGreen glass half sunk in the gravel, a ribboned letter still inside.
Rusted AnchorRareFlukes down, shank leaning. Orange with rust.
Ship's WheelRareHalf buried, spokes still turning in the current.
Sunken CannonRareA bronze gun gone green on its broken carriage, shot still stacked beside it.
Sunken ChestRareLid propped open. Whatever was inside is long gone.
Diving HelmetEpicBrass rivets and a round glass porthole, waiting for a tiny tenant.
Mariner’s CompassEpicAn eight-point compass rose set into a weathered brass medallion.
Treasure PileLegendaryCoins heaped round a jewelled crown and a buried sword. Catches every ray that reaches it.
Wrecked BowLegendaryA gilded prow rising from the gravel, its lantern still burning under the bowsprit.
Dragon's HoardMythicAn ancient dragon skull coiled around its gold. The eye still smoulders.
Curios
7
Giant ClamUncommonFluted shell gaping open, pearl-lined inside.
Nautilus ShellUncommonA pearly spiral with warm chamber stripes and a dark open mouth.
Celadon HideawayRareA glazed mint shelter with a wide doorway and a brass finial.
Bubbling VolcanoEpicA little cone that coughs a stream of bubbles.
Crystal ClusterLegendaryA split geode bristling with amethyst and aquamarine. The cores glow on their own.
Crystal PalaceMythicTowers of living crystal around a glowing gate. The light inside never sleeps.
Moon PearlMythicA giant scallop thrown open around a pearl that glows like the full moon.
28 gravels
Start from the floor.
River chips, black basalt, blush pearls, glass marbles — and one that’s still molten.
- Black BasaltCommon
Near-black volcanic grit. Makes colours pop.
- Blue SlateCommon
Cool blue-grey slate for a quiet bed.
- Gold SandCommon
Honey-gold sand that catches the light.
- Jade ChipCommon
Muted jade greens — soft under plants.
- Moon SlateCommon
Cool purple slate for deep fantasy tanks.
- Red GarnetCommon
Deep garnet chips with a warm ember edge.
- River BrownCommon
Warm brown chips — the classic freshwater floor.
- Warm SandCommon
Pale tropical sand with a soft peach cast.
- White QuartzCommon
Bright pale quartz — a clean show tank look.
- Autumn LeafUncommon
Rust, gold, and cream — a fall forest floor.
- Pink CoralUncommon
Blush pink coral sand for soft reefs.
- Reef BlendUncommon
Sand, coral pink, and teal stones mixed loose.
- River MixUncommon
Brown, slate, and cream chips tumbled together.
- Candy CrushRare
Playful pink, teal, and cream pebbles with a sugar-glaze shine.
- Forest FloorRare
Deep brown berm, moss chips, then pale leaf litter.
- Midnight SparkRare
Charcoal bed with violet and blue flecks.
- Ocean LayersRare
Dark slate in back, blue mid, pale sand up front.
- Crystal PinkEpic
Faceted rose and pearl crystal chips laid in bright bands.
- Sunset BandsEpic
Gold, garnet, and cream bands side by side.
- Zebra BandsEpic
Alternating black and white stripes across the bed.
- Blush PearlLegendary
A bed of real pearls in blush sand. A soft rainbow lustre rolls slowly across them.
- Glass MarblesLegendary
Swirled glass marbles on white sand. Reflections slide across them as the light moves.
- Glowing GemsLegendary
Sapphire, emerald and ruby chips lit from within. Each colour breathes on its own beat.
- Glowtide SandLegendary
Dark sand alive with tiny lights that ripple outward in slow glowing waves.
- Gold RushLegendary
Fat gold nuggets strewn through black sand. A glint rolls across the hoard.
- Molten CoreMythic
Black crust floating on living lava. Heat streams through the cracks and embers drift up through the water.
- Rose Quartz GeodeMythic
A split geode of rose crystals glowing from the heart, their light drifting through rose, violet and gold.
- Stardust GalaxyMythic
A bed of night sky: nebula clouds that drift through every colour and stars that never stop twinkling.
Room to grow
Your tank gets bigger too.
Everyone starts small. Extend the glass as your collection grows, all the way to a full show tank.
- Starter12 creatures12 plants5 ornamentsWhere everyone begins
- Extended18 creatures20 plants8 ornaments1,000 coins
- Wide26 creatures27 plants12 ornaments2,000 coins
- Show36 creatures39 plants16 ornaments50 pearls


