aquascaping for oscars?

[Elle]

I'm getting ready to aquascape my 180g acrylic tank. It's going to have 2 oscars, a 7" sailfin pleco, 5 7" featherfin cats, possibly silver dollars and about a dozen clown loaches.

I'd like to do a biotope style of tank, as I think it's more comfortable for the fish, but am not sure what would both look good and stand up to the oscars! Currently all my tanks except the 75g temporary tank are planted. I know that oscars have a rep as the "destroyers of all plant life", but I have managed to keep plants successfully in my 100g fancy goldfish tank and was hoping to try it with the oscars.

So far, I've run across this oscar tank which I LOVE, but am not sure about doing the 3D background. DIY Styrofoam Epoxiresin background - Oscarfishlover.com

This one is pretty nice as well. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...s/18july03.jpg

Does anyone have any ideas on other styles that would work, or modifications that might be needed for the other fish? The tank will have a large Eheim canister filter, powerhead for current and possibly an undergravel jet system to move stuff off the bottom and a white sand substrate.

I was planning to make lots of hidey holes for the loaches and pleco with stacked/glued river rocks, probably throw in a couple of oscar sized caves or pots, and use hardy plants like Amazon swords with rocks stacked around the base.

[jay_leask]

wow that DIY background tank is sweet.

[jay_leask]

ive been thinking about trying something like that also, but on a small scale for my 25g. just to see how it turns out.

[`GhostDogg´]

Whatever route you choose, make sure to anchor any plants.
Oscars will usually re-scape the tank to their liking.

I have to admit, that 1st DIY background is beautiful.