Instant Aquascape Kits

An instant aquascape kit is a box of matched aquascaping materials, including substrate, sand and stones in different sizes, that gives you a complete natural layout without sourcing every piece separately. WIO River Kits are designed so each material complements the others, so you can focus on composition instead of matching colors and textures.

Each WIO River Kit includes substrate, sand and rocks of different sizes in one coordinated color palette. The range covers Black Allure, Silver Shine, Pale Ethereal, Jade Bliss, Red Dusk and Amber Dragon. Plants, lighting and fertilizer are not included, but you can get lighting, fertilizer and filtration together in an Ultimate Starter Kit.

WIO River Kits are made for aquariums about 16 to 26 inches (40 to 65 cm) long, which covers most nano and small planted tanks. Most colors come as a 20 lb Kit or a 42 lb Mega Kit, and Red Dusk comes in 13 lb and 26 lb sizes. Pick the Mega Kit if you want more material for taller slopes and a fuller hardscape.

Yes. A river kit is one of the easiest ways to build a nano aquarium aquascape, because the materials are already matched and you don't need to buy full bags of each sand, soil and stone. Lay the substrate first, place the larger stones as your focal points, then fill around them with the smaller stones and sand.

You will also need a light, a filter, fertilizer and plants. The Ultimate Iwagumi Starter Kit covers most of that in one order: it pairs a WIO Silver Shine River Mega Kit with the TINI LED, Phat Pro 500ml fertilizer and a Shrimp Sponge Filter, and is designed for 10 to 30 gallon aquariums. The Ultimate Red Dusk Starter Kit pairs the Red Dusk River Kit with lighting and filtration. For more light options, see Freshwater Lighting.

WIO River Kits start at $99 for the 20 lb Kit (13 lb for Red Dusk), and the Mega Kits are $179. The Ultimate Iwagumi Starter Kit, which adds lighting, filtration and fertilizer to a river kit, is $299.99, down from $377.94, and the Ultimate Red Dusk Starter Kit is also $299.99. Every river kit qualifies for free U.S. shipping.