Dimensions 70 × 40 × 40 cm
Title The Living Bridge
Volume 100L
Background None
Lighting 100w flourescents
Filtration 1000lph canister filter
Plants Hemianthus Callitrichoides cuba, Ceratopteris sp. China, Vescularia Ferriei, Hemianthus micranthemoides, Potamageton Gayi, Pogostemon Helferi, Fissidens Fontanus, Staurogyne repens, Staurogyne sp. Porto Velho, Hymenophyllaceae sp. Wayanad
Animals Aplocheilius blockii, trigonostigma hengeli, neocaridina heteropoda(fire red), cardina sp.
Materials It took me nearly 2 years to plan and collect the right material, process it and then build the bridge, on and off whenever I had time to work on it.
Yes, the bridge is a structure made by joining small bits of various roots including, Palm roots, Malaysian rootwood and other hardwoods (all natural materials).
Rockwork composed of plain river cobbles of irregular shapes to accuratel replicate the rocks smoothed/aged by flow of water as in real
Additional Information My scape pays tribute to what I consider to be the best example of Living, Sustainable Architecture there is - The Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya, India.
These are basically roots of strangler fig trees trained to go over the river where it roots the other side and as the tree grows the structure starts getting apparent, thereby providing lifeline to the people who built it, connecting them to the outer world.
Its a self strengthening structure that grows strong by age.
Though man-made, this unique pact with nature proves fruitful both for man and nature. These bridges survive the harshest of conditions the flooding rivers, rainstorms could offer.
The particular bridge I replicated in my tank is most recognizable and one of the oldest in existence today (probably a couple of centuries old).
I, being a student of architecture, felt the dire need for promoting these bridges, so that we are reminded again and again of greener and better ways of living on earth without destroying nature.
The intricate structure of the bridge, overhanging roots, cave underneath the right anchor point provides amazing shelter specifically for shrimps and spooked fish even though I never planned it this way.
