Want to make your LEGO® Icons Tropical Aquarium truly unique? Look no further, as we take you through three simple ways to add that personal touch!
One of the best parts of having an aquarium is the freedom to make it reflect your style. Our LEGO Icons Tropical Aquarium lets you take customization to greater depths. The world is truly your oyster!
Here are three inspiring ideas to make your aquarium stand out…
Wanting to add a burst of color and character to your aquarium? Double up on plants, flora and corals! Expanding your aquarium will not only give it a real splash of personality but also provide an opportunity to expand your aquarium story.
Select a few of your favorite plant builds from the set and recreate them, or experiment with your own. As LEGO Designer Sven Franic explains, “organic shapes are very forgiving,” so you can have fun designing without worrying about precision. Why not visit LEGO® Pick a Brick to find the pieces you need? The instruction booklet for the LEGO® Icons Tropical Aquarium includes all the element numbers on the back, making doubling up even easier.
Why not include more fish friends as well? You can build multiple versions of the ones in the set simply by using the instructions provided – swap brick colors for different variations of fish. You could even try creating your own fish species. From bright tropical fish to something completely unexpected, it’s your aquarium – fill it however you like.
In need of some inspiration? Take a look around our LEGO 3-in-1 sets, as you might find some tank-friendly builds you’ll definitely want to add in.
The “floor” of your aquarium is another great place to get creative. By adding extra substrate, you can instantly transform the mood and depth of the build. To create that aquarium gravel feel, 1x1 round plates are a perfect fit. Here are a few ideas to try:
Soft and subtle
Use colors like sand yellow, medium nougat or rich reddish brown LEGO studs to add natural tone and texture. Picking muted, subtle and complementary colors can add texture without clashing, and can bring a delicate but effective twist to the tank.
Cool and reflective
Try a range of blue LEGO studs to create the impression of water and movement, giving reflective qualities to the aquarium. Venture into adding transparent blues and clear studs to make the tank glisten.
Bold and colorful
Choose bright orange, flame yellow, striking pink and various other radiant colors for a lively, maximalist design that bursts with energy. Pick bold, solid colors for a real pop or take your design to the next level by adding multiple colors to create a rainbow seabed.
You can also add extra details to make the scene more dynamic. Clear LEGO studs placed around the tank or added to the backdrop can create the illusion of bubbles, enhancing the shimmer and sparkle effect and bringing more life and motion to the set.
For more dimension, you could build extra sandbanks or caves for fish or crabs to “hide” in. And don’t be afraid to think outside of the tank, either. A mini-LEGO castle in the middle of your aquarium? Why not! A shipwreck scene? Aye aye! Maybe even a favorite character from a TV show or movie? As Sven Franic says, “I’d probably add something fun that makes me smile whenever I see it.”
Give your aquarium a unique look by rearranging the aquascape. Not only is it simple, but it’s also cost-effective because you don’t need to buy anything else to change the feel of your build completely.
Play around with different layouts – whether it's aquatic plants and coral on one side and fish on the other, or color-code it by putting all the orange flora together, the purple in another section and so on. You could even remove components if that works for you.
If you’re feeling fancy, you could embrace the maximalism by combining two LEGO® Icons Tropical Aquarium sets. Two tanks side by side could create the illusion of an extra-long aquarium, or, as Sven Franic suggests, “you could probably even remove the backgrounds of each tank and put them back to back,” bringing even more depth to your centerpiece. Anything is possible!
Just when you thought the LEGO Icons Tropical Aquarium couldn’t get any cooler, eh? Whether you rearrange the aquascape or add more fish to the mix, personalizing your aquarium is worth celebrating.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and start creating your aquatic masterpiece today.
