No Matter The Budget, Aquascaping Is For Everyone

Often the costliest part of the freshwater aquarium, there are a couple of options you can take to save on the tank itself.  The first is simply to reuse the tank you have.  Let’s say you have a freshwater aquarium from a big box store that you set up because your child won a fish at the fair or brought one home from school.  Or maybe, you have one because you thought it would be fun to have an aquarium but now you’re looking for something more interesting, challenging, and inspiring.  However the aquarium got there, you’re already on the right track to saving on your aquascape.  Although higher-end rimless aquariums are prevalent in freshwater aquascaping videos and presentations online, they aren’t a requirement to be successful.  Much like anything else in freshwater aquascaping, these rimless tanks typically help you maximize your success, rather than guarantee it.  Someday, you may find yourself ready to take that step and when you do, you’ll enjoy the craftsmanship, aesthetic, and clarity that they offer, but until then, you are just fine where you are.   

However, if you are getting started from a blank slate and looking to save on your first foray into freshwater aquascaping, there are a few options that are a great place to start:

The Fluval Spec 5-gallon aquarium offers all that you need to get started on your aquascaping journey. Take the guesswork out of aquascaping by receiving this all-in-one aquarium fit with the tank necessities like the light, pump, filter, heater, and thermometer along with the aquascaping components like substrate, rock, and wood.  More than that, you’ll receive the Aquaforest Water Conditioner that you can use to ensure your tap water is safe for your new inhabitants.

If you want to step up to something a bit larger while staying under that $150 price point, you can dive into the Fluval Flex 15-gallon aquarium.  Similar to the Fluval Spec 5-gallon aquarium, this popular option will include the necessities like your light and filtration, but in this one, you’ll have not only more space to build but when you want to add plants to your design someday down the road, you’ll have more options for adjusting the lighting parameters to meet your needs.

The Substrate

If you’re looking to either rebuild from your existing tank or buy a new one and you’re not going to take the Fluval Spec 5-gallon starter kit, the next consideration is the aquascaping substrate.  This is another area of the freshwater aquascaping journey that can take many twists and turns and while there are a multitude of options and a wide range of prices, if you’re looking for ways to save on your aquascape, we can narrow things down to a couple reasonable selections.  The first thing to consider is your tank size.  To keep it simple, think about laying a bed of substrate about 1 inch deep and to help you get to that depth quickly using the least amount of material, consider using a larger grain substrate like the Caribsea Super Naturals – Gemstone Creek which offers 20lbs of rock for just over $11.  You will have no problem covering the base of any tank up to 30 gallons with just one bag and this particular option brings you a blend of grain sizes to help create that natural look.  If more of a beach theme is what you have in mind, you can’t go wrong with the Caribsea Super Naturals – Ivory Coast Sand where another 20lb bag will cost you just over $15. 

You may have heard about planted substrates/soils and while those have a range of price and quality, by and large, they will cost more money than these options.  That said, they will also offer you more options for your aquascape when it comes to plants so when you’re ready to invest a little more into your design, we’ll have the planted soil options you need to take your aquascape to the next level.  For this build, we’ll focus on a hardscape-only layout which will keep the cost down but still allow you to design a beautiful freshwater aquascape that will be ready for plants when you’re ready to make that investment.

The Hardscape

When it comes to adding hardscape elements to your tank, there is nearly an endless amount of design ideas and some can be pretty pricy.  However, when looking to make a beautiful freshwater aquarium design on a budget, look no further than the Caribsea Black River Rock.  Creating a serene aquascape is easy with these smooth pieces of stone.  You can create a pile of stones in the center as an island design or lay them about in your tank in a natural way that fits your aesthetic.  Combine a 12lb bag of these with two pieces of 6-12 inch Spider Wood and you’re hardscape is complete for under $50. 

Aquascaping Ideas

“Aquarium Aquascaping Ideas With Geordie Scaper”

This video illustrates three different design ideas that you can do without plants.

You now have the basic ingredients to design your freshwater aquascape: The tank, the substrate, and the hardscape.  If you go with the Fluval Spec 5-gallon starter kit, you’re out the door for $209.99 and ready to start scaping.  However, if you already have a tank from a big box store or otherwise and you’re looking to go to the next level beyond the fake décor and plants, then all you need is a new substrate and hardscapes and with the options above, you’re set to go at $52.58.  If you’re looking for a larger aquarium and don’t want to buy all the components, just take that substrate/hardscape and drop it in the all-in-one Fluval Flex 15-gallon aquarium and you’re design-ready at $202.57 with a lot more room to work with.  Whichever your choice, we’re sure that you’ll love the journey of aquascaping as much as we do!