A mid-size aquarium layout featuring Back home, 160L, by David Pérez. The hardscape focus sits on Aquasoil Amazonia, Aquael Quartz sand, seiryu stones.
Read the stone and wood (Aquasoil Amazonia, Aquael Quartz sand, seiryu stones) as visual pathways before judging the plant mass. On the plant side, the layout leans toward slow-growing epiphytes with species such as Micranthemum monte carlo, several bucephalandras, rotala colorata rotundifolia var "green" — trim in layers so hardscape still breathes. Hand-made led screen substrate helps stabilize root-zone nutrition in the early weeks.
Solar RGB lighting sits at a moderate-to-high technical level for this mid-size aquarium. Oase 250 thermo, Oase 350 thermo filtration needs enough turnovers without blasting the hardscape; browse matching filters.
Livestock (Paracheirodon simulans, nannostomus beckfordi, neocaridina shrimps.) fits this mid-size aquarium — prefer species that will not dig up the substrate and wreck hardscape lines.
Setup notes: This is my third year trying to become an aquascaper. This time I wanted to make an aquarium in which, in addition to trying to show the beauty of our hobby, I could shelter a good group of fish with well-lit areas, but also with places where they can rest, in the shade. I think that at least this second part I have achieved, I never tire of seeing them go in and out of that area of the aquarium, I love to see them coming “back home”.
Scroll to the specs table to match each equipment line; more inspiration in 80–162L.
