White Cloud Island Aquascape
White Cloud Island Aquascape
This island-style aquascape was created by Nicole, one of the co-owners of Horizon Aquatics. It’s a simple yet highly effective layout that allows the plants to take centre stage. The hardscape is built from just four pieces of wood and Kita Mountain Stone, forming the central island and acting as a barrier for the mound of Africana Aquasoil. Island aquascapes are known for their minimalist yet impactful aesthetic, where the plants themselves often become structural elements, shaping the flow and presence of the design.
The Aquascape
This aquascape is housed in an ADA 90P, a size that provides just the right amount of negative space on either side of the central island. Two standout features truly define the character of this scape: the lilies and the livestock. The lilies create a beautiful, ethereal atmosphere as their leaves gently sway in the current and float across the surface of the water. Equally captivating are the often-overlooked and underestimated White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Their subtle yet striking colours perfectly complement the aquascape, while their behaviour adds another layer of movement and life. They tend to occupy the middle to upper levels of the tank, sparring beneath the lilies and finding shelter among them, bringing both energy and harmony to the overall scene.
Equipment Breakdown
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Aquarium – ADA Cube Garden 90P - £529.00
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Cabinet – Horizon Aquascape Cabinet 90x45 - £519.00
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Lighting – Twinstar E Series - £299.00
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Filter – Oase Biomaster Thermo 600 - £314.00
CO2 System
CO₂ Art Pro-SE Regulator Kit with added accessories
- Drop checker
- In tank diffuser
- Non return valve
- 1.5kg co2 bottle
Prices for Co2 systems start from £210 there are many different options to choose from
Full cost of equipment is: £1,871.00 (including the CO₂ system at £210)
Prices mentioned on this blog are posted on 18/09/2025 and could increase over time, please only use prices as a rough guideline, see website for exact current prices.
Aquarium Hardscape
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ADA Africana Soil
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Horn Wood
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Kita Mountain Stone
Plants
Foreground Aquarium Plants:
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Utricularia grammifolia
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Hygrophila serpens
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Hydrocotyle verticillata
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Blyxa japonica
Midground and Background Aquarium Plants:
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Hygrophila odora
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Helanthium bolivianum 'Vesuvius'
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Cryptocoryne spiralis red
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Crinum calamistratum
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Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola' Lotus
Epiphyte Aquarium Plant (attached to wood):
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Hygrophila pinnatifida
Plant Changes
This scape was originally planted quite heavily with Hygrophila pinnatifida, which looked fantastic, but we wanted to explore a more grassy, lily-focused style. We felt this layout would be the perfect fit for that transition so we changed out some of the plants for various lily species, as well as ADA Cryptocoryne sivadasani, caudigera, Lagenandra meeboldii green and silver queen, as well as various Echinodorus species.