Epic Reef: Do you focus more on the epic aquascape or the epic corals?

[Peace River]

Epic Reef: Do you focus more on the epic aquascape or the epic corals?

Epic aquascape or epic corals? When building out a reef tank, some people focus on a master plan where they are attempting to create an epic aquascape, while others are focused more on each individual piece and are putting together a collection of epic corals. Similarly, when you are looking at a beautiful reef aquarium, some are drawn more toward epic aquascapes, while others focus more on the beautiful individual corals. How about you? Do you focus more on the epic aquascape or on the epic corals? Let us know your experience and thoughts in the related discussion and, while you’re at it, please take the time to check out the R2R March 2024 Reef of the Month by @Epic Aquaculture!

Photo by @Epic Aquaculture; March 2024 Reef of the Month


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.tidalgardens.com

“The goal of Tidal Gardens is to offer the highest quality corals to those seeking a piece of that world without destroying it. We hope to instill a deep appreciation for the natural reefs and help develop a self-sustaining hobby that no longer requires the collection of fish and corals.”

 

[Dburr1014]

I think corals up till now.

Tank should be here this week and planning on aquascape and coral.

IT'S GOING TO BE EPIC!
LOL

 

[Reefer Matt]

I don’t put a lot of thought into planning a tank. I stack rock without glue and randomly place coral in par zones I think they will thrive in. Having “high end” coral isn’t a priority either. But they do end up making a nice display on their own after a while. Maybe not epic, but good enough for me.

 

[BriansBrain]

I try to plan my aquascape to maximize space for coral type and long term growth without going over half the height of the tank with rock for the most part. After a couple years, you won’t see the rock anyway

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Meh, you can plop a bunch of rocks in a tank and in 2 years no one would even know if you spent 10 days or 10 minutes on your aquascape.

 

[shakacuz]

when starting up the tank i focus on the aquascape, but i build it to mimic what i'd hope to have/see in the "end game" when corals are grown in. i want the aquascape to help corals stand out more. i want to say i focus on both equally with slightly more emphasis on aquascape

 

[Krispyklean84]

I really enjoy a lagoon style aqua scape and try to have as much of a natural look as possible. I really like my euphyllia corals and LPS, but have recently been getting more into the SPS and Stick species!

 

[Troylee]

Meh, you can plop a bunch of rocks in a tank and in 2 years no one would even know if you spent 10 days or 10 minutes on your aquascape.

This!!! The only planning in my rock scape is flow! I make sure I have good flow through them and around them. I don’t care what they look like lol..

 

[billyocean]

Scape first and corals later. The scape is planned for the corals....then the focus is corals. So both would be my vote

 

[Jeremy_d]

I build the aquascape based on my plans for the tank and what will foster the best environment for the inhabitants.

 

[steveschuerger]

I’d say how I handle everything has been evolving as I go along. The first tank I just put the rocks in as I pleased and had no real plan for coral placement. This third tank set up is largely how I preplanned, though the placement of my main corals is reversed from what I had initially intended.

 

[coralboi56]

I feel like you can’t have one without the other

 

[Sdot]

I focus on the corals. Too often, aquarists prioritize creating a visually stunning scape that will eventually be obscured as the tank matures. To be fair, my approach has always trended towards a more natural look rather than a manufactured one. As much as I appreciate a certain aesthetic, my goal for my reef is to mimic a small section of a shallow reef.

How it started:

How it is today:

 

[vlangel]

Fish are my 1st love, and then aquascaping something that looks natural. It doesn't matter whether that is with coral, macroalgae or whatever. I do however stay away from everything finicky! LOL

 

[lapin]

Rock work

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Meh, you can plop a bunch of rocks in a tank and in 2 years no one would even know if you spent 10 days or 10 minutes on your aquascape.

This! I spent a lot of time on my aquascape, and now you can't even see it LOL.

 

[Waters]

I consider the coral as part of the aquascape....trimming to keep whatever look I want so I voted both.

 

[Gretchacha]

Scape-forward design principle is my priority, but ‘epic’ is a strong word. I like the eye to be led visually through the aquarium to various heights and different depths and even leave some mysteriouly shadowed areas. The colors should flow as well as the coral structure in this way also. Care and attention need to be taken in regards to coral health particulars, of course, too, and this is where the thinking cap comes on with flow and lighting and your experience with difficult corals’ preferences.

I am often bemused and befuddled by how differently corals look online that I buy to add to my aquascapes. I try to blend not only shapes but colors to be a cohesive color palette. But lighting differences between the original location and my home and how photographs capture the coral glow, fluorescence and reflections all leave me surprised more often than not by what I actually see when receive them in my home aquarium. This makes it hard to find the most epic coral specimen for my collection. So that’s another reason I focus on the overall collection.

Currently all three aquaria can be viewed from the same vantage point in the room from their individual design perspectives. Which is nice to stand there and survey work done and enjoy a break.

 

[patrickdep]

THe aquascape is most important for me, the corals are part of it

 

[drukkosz]

If you keep lot of fish proper aquascape is very important. Fish need room to hide and graze on the rock.

NSA- Negative Space Aquascape

Finally had some time to work on the aquascape After watching Nathan I decided to give it a try. I have to admit it was really enjoyable. I used my live rock that I broke into pieces and used the glue and sand method. If you planning on doing that make sure you have a plenty of glue. I think I...

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