[First Post] Opinions NEEDED on my Aquascape

[Ocean’s Piece]

Hi,

This is my first post. I have had my Coralife Biocube 32 running for around 2 months now. The nitrogen cycle has completed and now I have moved on to the ugly stage, as you may see with some hair algae and diatoms (diatoms just started forming in the past few days). But that’s not the point.

I need some constructive criticism, praise, comments, etc on my aquascape. I’m going to glue it together soon, but before, I just want to make sure this looks fine.

Also, I want to get a Fire shrimp (which need dark spaces) and I feel this scape doesn’t have many dark/hiding places for it. One of my last pictures I took is me brainstorming some ideas for new rocks. I also want to make the scape taller so I can get rid of a lot of the negative space in this tank.

Tell me what you think!
Thanks.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

I know traditionally I wouldn’t bump this early after it’s been posted but my post had to be approved first so this bumped it down. I don’t know if this is common or just a new member thing or what. Pardon my lack of knowledge.

 

[Jekyl]

Welcome to R2R! Looks great! If I were going to do anything different I would add rocks and make it taller. It's what I would have done differently with my tank.

 

[azazello]

Looks very good. I like it. Open, nice structure

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Welcome to R2R! Looks great! If I were going to do anything different I would add rocks and make it taller. It's what I would have done differently with my tank.

Thanks. Yeah I hope I can find a good piece to make it taller without making the scape not look as good.

 

[Jekyl]

Some branch rock would be an easy addition to do. It's most likely what I'll add if I pull the trigger.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Anyone else have any comments?

 

[Jekyl]

If you have some small rocks left over, islands are nice. Places to put invasive corals.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Something to fill the height ( treee branch wood for reef ) or nice tree rock maybe install a magnet on the side to hold a rock up, it’s nice just needs something for height

 

[dvgyfresh]

This is what I meant lol but taller it would look good in the background and add depth / place to put coral or macro

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

If you have some small rocks left over, islands are nice. Places to put invasive corals.

I plan to put a pulsing Xenia on the island I have right now but I plan to get another one for a long polyp flowerpot or something that is interesting that’s invasive.

 

[mjleffler]

+1 on another island! Along with invasive coral another island could be a good place to put coral that extends long sweeper tentacles

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Something to fill the height ( treee branch wood for reef ) or nice tree rock maybe install a magnet on the side to hold a rock up, it’s nice just needs something for height

Do you mean pieces of rock similar to this to go on top?

This is what I meant lol but taller it would look good in the background and add depth / place to put coral or macro

Are you saying it would be a good idea to put one of those on the back wall to place some corals on?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Do you mean pieces of rock similar to this to go on top?

Are you saying it would be a good idea to put one of those on the back wall to place some corals on?

Personally , yes I think those rocks would loook very good and provide a lot of options for coral due to height can do sps pretty nicely, the picture I sent works to if you want to do it cheaper, it is dead coral not artificial so you don’t need to worry about toxins

 

[dvgyfresh]

My bad , this is the dead coral

 

[dvgyfresh]

Please note I’m providing examples , they have huge pieces available the ones I listed are small just to give you something to search for

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Personally , yes I think those rocks would loook very good and provide a lot of options for coral due to height can do sps pretty nicely, the picture I sent works to if you want to do it cheaper, it is dead coral not artificial so you don’t need to worry about toxins

Ok I like that idea of the reef tree rocks to go on top. Do you think that I should have some proped up against the back wall or just have it parallel with all the other rocks? It would be cool to have it like a shelf but at the same time my nitrates could skyrocket if they’re against the back wall.

 

[Jekyl]

Ok I like that idea of the reef tree rocks to go on top. Do you think that I should have some proped up against the back wall or just have it parallel with all the other rocks? It would be cool to have it like a shelf but at the same time my nitrates could skyrocket if they’re against the back wall.

I would always leave yourself 2 or 3 inches of clearance around the tank for cleaning

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Does anyone have any suggestions for creating a cave for the shrimp? I did a drawing in my first comment putting an arch in front of the center rock. Only downside is that I’m losing a ton of spots for reef plugs.

 

[Ocean’s Piece]

Does anyone have any suggestions for creating a cave for the shrimp? I did a drawing in my first comment putting an arch in front of the center rock. Only downside is that I’m losing a ton of spots for reef plugs.

Adding on to this: I’m currently thinking of getting a little smaller arch like I have in the top right to create a cave. What do y’all think?