How to Aquascape with Manzanita Branches

MANZANITA – “The Perfect Aquascaping Wood”

Manzanita branches are one of the most sought after hardscape elements for freshwater aquascapes. Its’ long, twisting forked branches visually give a sense of flowing movement, strong current, and the slow erosion of time.

Here’s 10 inspirational tips for aquascaping with our molded Manzanita branches.

TIP#1 – BEND AND SHAPE

MAKE IT FIT

Unlike natural Manzanita, our molded Manzanita is quite flexible and will not break or crack when bent. Make the branches even more flexible by soaking them in hot water before shaping. The smaller forked branches can also be rotated, allowing you to make each branch unique in shape.  In narrow tanks, flatten the branches out to optimize the spread. In wider tanks, bend and rotate the branches perpendicular to the tank to add dimensional depth.

TIP#2 – ENJOY THE CONTRAST

LESS IS MORE

Manzanita branches are strong, yet a bit flexible and are perfect for creating a contrast against background lighting.  It’s so visually engaging – you don’t even need to even use plants with it. Don’t hide it with too many tall grasses or plants, a minimal aquascape is often the most captivating.

TIP #3 – ANGLE IT

GIVE A SENSE OF DIRECTION

Create a sense of flow, current and movement by slanting the branches all in a similar direction.  Angle them towards away from a door to visually encourage them into a room. Slant your rock work or other branches in the same direction to mimic a natural, flowing river or stream.

TIP#4 – PLACE IT UPRIGHT

STRAIGHT UP FOCUS

If you want to encourage someone to stay put, focus and become visually mesmerized by your aquascape, position the branches straight up vertically. This creates a network of intertwined branches that fish will love to school through while making your aquarium look more alive.

TIP#5 – ADD DEPTH AND SHIMMER

BREAK THE SURFACE

Manzanita is the perfect branching wood to have just the tips breaking the water surface.  This visually makes your aquarium look deeper in depth, but also adds some amazing shimmer effects and shadows when water ripples against them.

TIP#6 – EXPERIMENT

INVERT IT

Mimic a fallen branch or tree roots by removing the stone base and inverting it upside-down in your tank.  It creates a unique, natural look and the branches will actually move up and down with water currents.

TIP #7 – IT’S NOT JUST FOR BIG TANKS

USE THE SMALL BRANCHES

Aquascaping with Manzanita branches doesn’t always need to be about large tanks.  Our smaller 12.5″ tall branches are perfect for tanks as small as 10 gallons, or you can remove some of the smaller forked branches from a larger piece for blending.

TIP #8 – GRANDSTAND EVERYTHING ELSE

CREATE CONTRAST

Use darker colored branches like black, dark brown or green to create a striking contrast. The dark twisting branches visually create a contrast in color, shape, and texture. It’s an exceptional branch to use with background lighting and really show things off.

TIP#9 – USE IT LIKE THE REAL THING

GROW PLANTS

Just like real branches, the smooth but textured surface our molded branches will readily grow plant – especially Java Moss. Take a bit of Java Moss and use some thin monofilament line or thread to tie it around a branch. You can also use a bit of superglue to attach it. Within a few weeks, your branch will be covered in moss, creating a mesmerizing green canopy over your aquascape.

TIP#10 – PLACE BRANCHES BEHIND YOUR TANK

TUCK IT BACK and ADD DEPTH

If you're using our Serene frosted glass background film, a simple but dynamic trick is to place a few branches behind your aquarium. Flatten the branches out, and place them directly up against the glass. This visually adds a dimension of depth thats both mysterious and alluring.