According to Vice, the 'sport' of aquascaping has exploded. Started in the 90s by Japanese wildlife photographer Takashi Amano, the annual IAPLC (International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest) has grown drastically in recent years, with 2,545 people from 69 countries submitting their work this past September. Contestants are judged on recreation of natural habitat for fish, long-term maintenance of layout work, technical skills, originality and impression of layout work, presentation of natural atmosphere in layout work, and overall composition and planting balance. The result is an array of make-believe underwater marvels we can't help but gawk at. The images posted here are those from the top 7 entrants. Click here for more.