An aquascape designed to extend beyond the boundaries of the glass.
This 7ft aquarium was designed around one simple idea: the aquascape didn't have to stop at the glass.
With high ceilings in the living room, we wanted to create something that could occupy more of the vertical space and become a true statement piece within the room.
Instead of keeping the hardscape confined to the aquarium, a large piece of driftwood was mounted above the tank, extending the aquascape beyond the waterline and into the space above.
This approach gives us much more flexibility with the planting. Mosses and house plants will eventually be added to the driftwood, creating a living feature that grows upwards and helps connect the aquarium with the surrounding space.
It also means we can create a dramatic hardscape without sacrificing too much of the swimming space within the aquarium.
To balance the large and intricate driftwood feature above, I kept the underwater composition much simpler — using black lava stone to create a clean concave layout with plenty of open space through the centre of the tank.
The project is still very much a work in progress, with more planting and livestock still to come.
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