Discover What the Design Tools Can Do
These tools and features help you plan your layout with precision and create truly great aquascapes.
The layout composition is based on the rule-of-thirds grid
Focal points were placed deliberately along the golden spiral
1. Guidelines for Precise Alignment
In Scape It's layout settings, you can overlay different guidelines directly on your layout. Alongside the built-in rule-of-thirds and golden ratio grids, you can also define your own horizontal and vertical guidelines — so the grid fits your ideas and your tank exactly.
For an especially dynamic composition, the golden spiral is also available. It can help you place focal points deliberately and guide the viewer's eye through your layout.
We explain the design principles behind this – such as the golden ratio and the rule of thirds – in detail in our Aquarium Layout Guide.
In the layer editor, objects can be dragged forward or backward
2. Layer Editor with Hide and Lock Options
The layer editor keeps you in control, even with complex layouts. The hide function lets you temporarily remove individual objects or elements from your layout, so you can try out and compare different variations right in the editor. The lock option, on the other hand, prevents selected objects from being moved by accident — which makes working with layouts that have lots of elements noticeably more precise and comfortable.
You can also rearrange objects easily within the layer editor. Drag and drop elements forward or backward to create the spatial effect you want — for example, placing plants behind hardscape objects or deliberately pushing individual elements into the background. That gives you full control over the layers and the composition of your layout at all times.
Grouping lets you move, show or hide, and lock several objects at once
3. Groups Keep Things Organized
In aquascaping, plants are often arranged and planted in groups. You can use the same approach in Scape It: the layer editor lets you combine multiple objects into groups. That keeps your layout organized, and you can move, show or hide, or lock an entire group at once.
Groups are especially handy when your layout consists of many individual elements. Complex hardscape structures can also be assembled from several objects and then edited as a single unit — so you can, for example, move an entire wood structure together or change its position without having to realign every single piece.
This tank uses the 'Let plants grow out' option
This design was created using the frontal-center default perspective
4. Switch the Perspective
Many standout aquascape layouts don't end at the waterline. Plants or hardscape elements that grow above the tank can add extra dynamism to a layout and create a connection between the underwater world and the space above it. That's why Scape It also lets you plan the area above the aquarium.
You can adjust your layout's perspective in the settings at any time. Alongside the classic frontal-center view, an elevated perspective is available that lets you look down on your layout from the front. You can also enable the 'Let plants grow out' option to plan elements beyond the tank itself. Simply switch between the views and find the perspective that helps you most while designing.
The original layout design, with Cyperus helferi in the background and Eleocharis pusilla as a carpet
Design variation 1 with Hydrocotyle tripartita as the background planting and a sand substrate
5. Duplicate and Work in Variations
Your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. Often it's the small details that end up shaping how a layout looks — the position of an accent, the choice of hardscape, or the planting in the background. Instead of committing early, you can try out different variations and compare them side by side.
Scape It's duplicate function lets you create an identical copy of your layout right from the main menu. That way, you can develop different ideas independently of one another without changing your original design. Try out different hardscape structures, plant combinations, or backgrounds, and find out which variation you like best.
Design variation 2 with different-colored background plants and a sand substrate
The template library gives you layout ideas you can use as a starting point for your own design
Design Tip 1: Templates for Inspiration
Not sure yet what your own layout should look like? When creating a new layout, Scape It lets you choose whether to start with an empty tank or with an existing layout or template. Templates give you an initial structure and can help you develop a feel for different compositions and design possibilities.
You don't have to keep a template exactly as it is, of course. Simply adapt it to your own ideas: swap out plant species, change the arrangement, or add your own hardscape structure. Step by step, a template becomes your own unique layout.
Just getting started? Our Aquascaping Tutorial for Beginners walks you through turning a first idea into a finished aquascape, step by step.
You can simply enter custom measurements into the input fields
Design Tip 2: Custom Tank Designs
When creating a new layout, Scape It offers a selection of common aquarium formats from the aquascaping world — so you can start right away with a fitting tank, without having to enter the dimensions yourself.
Did you know you can also create your own tank formats? If your aquarium has an unusual shape, or you want to experiment with custom dimensions, you can simply enter the measurements you need into the corresponding input fields. That way, you can adapt your layout to fit your exact tank.
Aquarium design in the special format 90 × 20 × 20 cm