First time Marco Aqua Scape - what do you think about it?

[Delta_FoxXII]

This is my first time aqua scaling with some Marco rocks for a 90 gallon waterbox. It’s not exactly what I imagined it to be, but it doesn’t look too bad either. What are your thoughts and what do you like better?

Look #1:

Or Look #2:

They are the same structure just moved apart. SPS dominated tank with some LPS and softies… thoughts?

 

[get-salty]

Those are fantastic, i like it..
are you planning on keeping fish? i'd add a couple of hiding places, but you're on the right track !

 

[Delta_FoxXII]

As far as fishes goes, I’ll be adding a very small amount. 1-2 baby tangs and a pair of small designer clowns at the most and rehome them once their the size of my hand. Some inverts and snails will be added to help with the cleaning.

There will be 4 MP40QD in this tank. 2 mid way up for the acro, 2 at the bottom back on low speed to keep the food and detritus suspended at all times so it doesn’t collect at the bottom.

There will also be some small islands around the structure that’s not in the photos too.

 

[get-salty]

As far as fishes goes, I’ll be adding a very small amount. 1-2 baby tangs and a pair of small designer clowns at the most and rehome them once their the size of my hand. Some inverts and snails will be added to help with the cleaning.

There will be 4 MP40QD in this tank. 2 mid way up for the acro, 2 at the bottom back on low speed to keep the food and detritus suspended at all times so it doesn’t collect at the bottom.

There will also be some small islands around the structure that’s not in the photos too.

Very cool.
Have you had any experience with mp40s ?
They are powerful pumps. I'm running only 2 on my 4' WB.
Left pump pointing at my SPS running at 30%. Right pump for my mid/low section where the LPS.

I do have sand substrate on mine. Are you doing bare-bottom ?

 

[Delta_FoxXII]

Very cool.
Have you had any experience with mp40s ?
They are powerful pumps. I'm running only 2 on my 4' WB.
Left pump pointing at my SPS running at 30%. Right pump for my mid/low section where the LPS.

I do have sand substrate on mine. Are you doing bare-bottom ?

My tank will be bare bottom. But I left the hobby about 12 years ago and just getting back into it. Nothing has been setup yet but hopefully after summer. Don’t remember how strong they are but they won’t be running at 100% anyways.

 

[Mas0n]

I really like how its arranged in the first picture. It has a really nice right to left "leaning" flow.

The two bridges are also interesting, they have a nice variation. One long and flat, the other thin and arching. Keeps it looking more organic and less man-made.

Hard to gauge how tall it is from the picture, but did you allow room for vertical SPS growth?

I'd be happy with it!

 

[exnisstech]

I would rethink the tangs. First I'm not a fan of stocking fish I know will outgrow a tank. Too often life gets in the way and the fish suffer because of that. They are going to appreciate a lot more rock. There needs to be a place every fish can disappear and not have to fight over a space. I have 9 tangs in one tank and they all have a place to disappear into the rocks every night. I just moved into this tank with only two tangs, a sixline and a damsel and I really need to add more rock because the tangs are squabbling over hiding spots. If the tank can't provide those things it can lead to aggression which is never fun and can even lead to death or stress which is known weaken fish to the point of illness. I think the rock looks good for coral but not fish but that's JMO and I'm a fish guy first coral second.

My tank with 4 fish that I feel needs more rock. I just moved into it so I have some work to do yet.

20+ fish here and they all disappear when the lights go out.

It can be difficult making a scape that is pleasing to us but not really suitable for fish. I think the well being if the livestock is more important than visual appearance to me but again that's MO and jts your tank so it has to please you.

 

[BriDroid]

Both look great, good job! I tend to gravitate towards the second one just because I like the island look. I tend to have clams and plate corals, so the open sand is better for me. I don't think you could go wrong with either though!

 

[Delta_FoxXII]

I really like how its arranged in the first picture. It has a really nice right to left "leaning" flow.

The two bridges are also interesting, they have a nice variation. One long and flat, the other thin and arching. Keeps it looking more organic and less man-made.

Hard to gauge how tall it is from the picture, but did you allow room for vertical SPS growth?

I'd be happy with it!

The structure sits at 11” tall and leaves a 3-4” on the left and right side of the tank when this sits in the middle. Tank is 20” high to the water line, about 6” upward space for coral growth and 3” of water space from that to the water line.


I’m more of a coral guy than a fish and cleaning guy lol less maintenance is always better. But a few things moving around the tank isn’t bad either but it won’t be heavily stocked with fish.

 

[Mid_Reefkeeper]

I like look 2. I think it looks more natural. It lines up a little too perfectly for my taste in the first layout.

Once you get corals grown in it won’t really matter though.

 

[Delta_FoxXII]

i'm surprised you guys actually like it... lol

 

[commod0re]

I think #1 looks pretty neat! the stacked bridges is a cool idea and I really like the shelf.
if I were working on this scape I might consider beefing it up somehow, for some reason the thin lines of the arches just looks a little unbalanced to me.
Another thing that you may wish to consider is good hiding places for the fish which actually leads into another interesting aesthetic option: I would add more separated rock around your two side pillars to create some good smaller caves and crevasses for your fish to go into. Another idea you might wind up enjoying is instead of stocking just a couple of large fish that will make your tank look smaller than it is when they grow up, maybe get a larger amount of nano fish? several smaller fish swimming around your rockscape will make it all look HUGE and awesome imo

just my two cents. happy reefing!

 

[BryanM]

I like #3, which is the first one, but with rock in the middle to split up / make another swim lane.

A tomini tang would be a decent option for not rehoming.

 

[Delta_FoxXII]

After a few long weeks of working on the scape, this is the final product. What are your guys‘s thoughts on how it turned out…

 

[BriDroid]

After a few long weeks of working on the scape, this is the final product. What are your guys‘s thoughts on how it turned out…

Looks great!