Different Reef Style

[Fishfreak2009]

Anyone ever set up a tank that's mostly open sand, like a patch reef, with one small rock structure, just 1 or 2 giant acropora colonies (tenuis or one of the staghorns) at the top of the rock structure, and a plating Montipora or tabling Acropora below them. Add a big school of green chromis and juvenile humbug damsels, maybe even a school of dispar anthias? Add a single larger aggressive fish like a niger trigger and a single tang like a powder blue, and a sleeper goby on the floor of the tank, maybe a shrimp goby with pistol shrimp as well. Add a couple cleaner shrimp, and maybe even a cleaner wrasse. Always thought it would look great, and a lot more like what one would see on the reef.

This would be an amazing setup in a 180 gallon.

Stolen pics from google to show inspiration:

 

[icedgxe]

I’ve always wanted to set one up like this as well.

 

[Sean Clark]

I am a huge fan of open spaces. This would look amazing on a whole different level than "wall to wall" tanks.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I am a huge fan of open spaces. This would look amazing on a whole different level than "wall to wall" tanks.

I would set one up like this if I had more self-control, or more tanks... right now I have 30+ acro frags and 20+ LPS frags all waiting for the new tanks to be put up... no self-control during the ASD live sale.

Someone local to me has a massive bali green slimer colony for sale (18"+ in diameter) that would look amazing set up like this.

 

[Dan_P]

Anyone ever set up a tank that's mostly open sand, like a patch reef, with one small rock structure, just 1 or 2 giant acropora colonies (tenuis or one of the staghorns) at the top of the rock structure, and a plating Montipora or tabling Acropora below them. Add a big school of green chromis and juvenile humbug damsels, maybe even a school of dispar anthias? Add a single larger aggressive fish like a niger trigger and a single tang like a powder blue, and a sleeper goby on the floor of the tank, maybe a shrimp goby with pistol shrimp as well. Add a couple cleaner shrimp, and maybe even a cleaner wrasse. Always thought it would look great, and a lot more like what one would see on the reef.

This would be an amazing setup in a 180 gallon.

Stolen pics from google to show inspiration:

That would be awesome!

 

[ApoIsland]

I am a huge fan of open spaces. This would look amazing on a whole different level than "wall to wall" tanks.

Agreed. It would look much better in a picture, but I think most would get bored of it after about a week. At least I definitely would, I want the most variety I can get in my tank, fish and coral :)

 

[Sean Clark]

Agreed. It would look much better in a picture, but I think most would get bored of it after about a week. At least I definitely would, I want the most variety I can get in my tank, fish and coral :)

I would think that the person that sets this style of tank up is into the fish as much or more than the coral. That is where I would focus my attention on at least. I see what you mean if your lust is coral.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Agreed. It would look much better in a picture, but I think most would get bored of it after about a week. At least I definitely would, I want the most variety I can get in my tank, fish and coral :)

I don't know if I would get bored. It's very similar to an open sand anemone setup. Minimal rock and deeper sand bed with a large carpet anemone, sebae anemone, or long tentacle anemone and a colony of clowns (I'd personally use saddlebacks). Maybe a pair of banggai cardinals if the LTA or sebae was used. And again, a pistol shrimp/shrimp goby combo.

If you used black sand, it would be a perfect Lembeh straits biotope tank

 

[Sean Clark]

I would set one up like this if I had more self-control, or more tanks... right now I have 30+ acro frags and 20+ LPS frags all waiting for the new tanks to be put up... no self-control during the ASD live sale.

Someone local to me has a massive bali green slimer colony for sale (18"+ in diameter) that would look amazing set up like this.

Self-control? What is that? Like automation? I don't have it either.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I don't know if I would get bored. It's very similar to an open sand anemone setup. Minimal rock and deeper sand bed with a large carpet anemone, sebae anemone, or long tentacle anemone and a colony of clowns (I'd personally use saddlebacks). Maybe a pair of banggai cardinals if the LTA or sebae was used. And again, a pistol shrimp/shrimp goby combo.

If you used black sand, it would be a perfect Lembeh straits biotope tank

Pics for the lembeh straits tank inspiration off google:

 

[Sean Clark]

Maybe getting ambitious here...

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Maybe getting ambitious here...

Why not? Frequent feedings and a deep sand bed (6-8+"), and they do pretty well if you start with healthy specimens. Afterall, they're just planktivores that need a deep sand bed.

Again, pics from google:

 

[rmorris_14]

Why not? Frequent feedings and a deep sand bed (6-8+"), and they do pretty well if you start with healthy specimens. Afterall, they're just planktivores that need a deep sand bed.

Again, pics from google:

I would totally do these! I just love them HAHAHA.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Definitely add a sea robin!

 

[Karen00]

I started out with a look like this but quickly found my desire for more corals outstripped the room on the single rock. LOL I've been contemplating a separate setup that attempts this look (again) and where I can try and practice self control. :-) I humbly bow to the people that have this level of control and only have this one tank. :-)

 

[Sean Clark]

I started out with a look like this but quickly found my desire for more corals outstripped the room on the single rock. LOL I've been contemplating a separate setup that attempts this look (again) and where I can try and practice self control. :) I humbly bow to the people that have this level of control and only have this one tank. :)

More tanks = More better DO IT!

 

[Karen00]

More tanks = More better DO IT!

I wholeheartedly agree and I freely admit that I have no self control so your statement is an inevitable outcome for me. LOL

 

[ApoIsland]

I started out with a look like this but quickly found my desire for more corals outstripped the room on the single rock. LOL I've been contemplating a separate setup that attempts this look (again) and where I can try and practice self control. :) I humbly bow to the people that have this level of control and only have this one tank. :)

Ya. It takes a bit of effort to do anything well, especially this, and you are so limited in both fish and coral you are just going to want more eventually. I don't think it will be possible to attain that level of self control if it's your only tank. Master of your domain would be a severe understatement.

 

[Karen00]

Ya. It takes a bit of effort to do anything well, especially this, and you are so limited in both fish and coral you are just going to want more eventually. I don't think it will be possible to attain that level of self control if it's your only tank. Master of your domain would be a severe understatement.

I can honestly see not having the self control with a second, third or even a fourth tank. Haha. Maybe with a 1/2 gallon pico. LOL

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I can honestly see not having the self control with a second, third or even a fourth tank. Haha. Maybe with a 1/2 gallon pico. LOL

That's where I'm at. Shortly we will be at 5 reefs, and still have no self control...