🪨 The Vaultkeeper’s Guide to Hardscaping Materials

✨ What Is Hardscape?

Hardscape refers to the non-living structural elements in an aquascape—rocks, driftwood, sand, and substrate. These materials form the skeleton of your aquatic scene, anchoring plants and relics while shaping flow, shadow, and story.

📜 Common Hardscaping Materials

Material	Mythic Note	Use & Tips
Dragon Stone	Cracked like ancient scales	Lightweight, textured; ideal for layering
Seiryu Stone	The Mountain’s Memory	Bold, jagged; raises pH slightly—monitor water
Lava Rock	The Ember’s Core	Porous, great for moss and epiphyte attachment
Mopani Wood	The Dual-Heart Driftwood	Dense, heavy; beautiful contrast tones; leaches tannins initially
Spider Wood	Tangled like forest whispers	Branching, dramatic; soak before use to prevent float
Manzanita Wood	The Archivist’s Quill	Smooth, elegant; minimal tannins
Cork Bark	The Hollow Gatekeeper	Lightweight, ideal for emersed setups
Sand & Gravel	The River’s Bed	Use for detailing, paths, or grounding relics

For planting ideas 🌿Attaching Aquatic Plants: Anubias, Java Fern & More – TafskiAquascapes