Aquascaping from Above...

[Abyss]

Has anyone ever reverse aquascaped?

What I mean is, have you ever created for example, a root effect coming from the waters surface rather than placing everything in the substrate and building up.

Having larger Catfish for the first time in a deep tank (30" tall), it makes me want to somehow aquascape from above so I can create a great looking tank whilst having ample space for the fish at the bottom. I'm sure they would appreciate the extra cover too.

Anyone done it? Any ideas for it? I was thinking like Sumatra Driftwood somehow attached to the top of the tank, with its roots descending down to the depths.

Is it a good idea? Would need to still have access to the tank obviously and would not want to take up to much surface area.

 

[mdblo3]

I think you have a beautiful concept in mind! Look on youtube for some amazon biotope vids. Not a lot of "how to" there, but definitely some inspiration.

 

[ElectricBlueSeanBurch]

Well I have a stump in my tank that is just bouyant enough to stay afloat. So I have it resting under my center brace. Everyone keeps telling me that it looks like one of the floating mountains from avatar. My cichlids love it. They fight over the holes it has through it constantly.

 

[sixshooter05]

Well I have a stump in my tank that is just bouyant enough to stay afloat. So I have it resting under my center brace. Everyone keeps telling me that it looks like one of the floating mountains from avatar. My cichlids love it. They fight over the holes it has through it constantly.

Come on you gotta post some tank shots !!

 

[jcardona1]

It's common in biotop-style layouts. This is 3dees tank:

 

[Abyss]

Nice.

So what methods are there for this type of aquascape?

Hpw do you keep the roots at the top (if they are sink)?

 

[jcardona1]

He used manzanita wood for his tank. Manzanita soaks up water very quickly, unlike other driftwood. I would believe he just propped it up against the tank, I can't imagine him having to secure it.

I did a quick scape in my temporary tank, somewhat similar to his with some spare pieces of manzanita I had. I pretty much just laid them against the back of the tank...

 

[AConrad]

My friend tried to do this, his fish ate all of it though. He tried using water lettuce and water hyacinth. It was interesting looking but his fish made a good meal of it.

 

[jcardona1]

And here's some others I found via Google

 

[DaveB]

It's a very common wild Discus look. Where they're from in South America there are lots of roots overhead and very little anything on the actual ground.

I plan to do something a bit more along these lines:

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?84900-Flooded-Amazon-Forest

In my upstairs tank I do want to have a bit more green. Downstairs I may go blackwater and plant-free, but upstairs a bit of accuracy will be sacrificed for aesthetics and show. Still, if done right it's a great look.

Many people will get the waterproof screws and drill holes then fasten multiple branches together to create the tangled root effect.