How can I improve my aqua scape

[Flippers4pups]

You could go all the way and drill the rock for stability and use fiberglass rod. I've used that technique for many of a tank build. Even with live rock/wet.

1/4" masonry bit and some fiberglass driveway markers from one of the big box hardware stores. Why fiberglass driveway markers? They're cheap!

Stack your rock work the way you want it, take some of the rock out in drill a hole into the rocks like puzzle pieces. Cut the fiberglass rod to its proper length to assemble the two rocks together. Repeat.

This keeps all the rocks from collapsing or falling.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Agree with the above. I would get rid of the aiptasia not the rock. It has a bunch if other cool critters you want to keep. Peppermint shrimp, manual removal ect.. and as far as aqua scape, I'd make it taller but I do like the caves and overhangs you've already established in the pics above.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I’m considering adding a peppermint shrimp or two.

I have six in a 125, and they do a good job on it.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

What you have doesn't look bad. I just prefer more rock

...

 

[Auquanut]

I agree with everything @Flippers4pups and @Peace River said. As far as the peppermint shrimp go, I've had quite a bit of success with them taking out the small aptasia that invariably pop up, but they won't touch the big ones. Others have had zero success with them. Kind of hit or miss. I would definitely isolated the GSP from the main rockwork. I've kept it for a long time and it needs to be trimmed back occasionally to keep it under control. I've never kept Xenia. It kind of scares me. I'll leave that to someone with more experience.

Oh, and to @CasaReefer. Seems to me you are a valuable member of our community, and I enjoy our interactions. But then what do I know?

 

[bryanfuel]

A lot of this is personal preference, but if this was my tank, this is what I would do.

 

[klimfish]

I would throw the Aiptasia rock away. order equivalent dry rock from BRS or reefcleaners, it's not worth the hassle. I left the hobby for 3 years due to an Aip outbreak, it was uncontrollable in a nano because the fish that eat them get way too large for a nano tank.

Use the new dry rock to give yourself a little more vertical satisfaction in your aquascape. I recommend looking up the rule of thirds and using that theory to apply to your scape, it worked great for me. Don't be afraid to change it 10000000 times.

 

[bryanfuel]

I would throw the Aiptasia rock away. order equivalent dry rock from BRS or reefcleaners, it's not worth the hassle. I left the hobby for 3 years due to an Aip outbreak, it was uncontrollable in a nano because the fish that eat them get way too large for a nano tank.

Use the new dry rock to give yourself a little more vertical satisfaction in your aquascape. I recommend looking up the rule of thirds and using that theory to apply to your scape, it worked great for me. Don't be afraid to change it 10000000 times.

I guess YRMV, but I had a really bad aiptasia outbreak in my 24G cube. I got a file fish and a peppermint shrimp and I couldn’t find a single one after a week. I think most/all of the work was done by the shrimp but who knows what my file fish was picking at when I wasn’t looking.

 

[klimfish]

I guess YRMV, but I had a really bad aiptasia outbreak in my 24G cube. I got a file fish and a peppermint shrimp and I couldn’t find a single one after a week. I think most/all of the work was done by the shrimp but who knows what my file fish was picking at when I wasn’t looking.

Unfortunately at the time of my outbreak FileFish were nowhere to be found in the hobby. Things may be different now.

Also, I have a 14g (really 8g) cube, so really ANY fish is pushing it for me, and a temp solution hoping the LFS will take it back.

 

[bryanfuel]

Unfortunately at the time of my outbreak FileFish were nowhere to be found in the hobby. Things may be different now.

Also, I have a 14g (really 8g) cube, so really ANY fish is pushing it for me, and a temp solution hoping the LFS will take it back.

Ah, yeah that’s a lot smaller than mine. On the bright side my filefish was like $15 so I’m probably just going to give it back for no credit and be happy I cleared out my aiptasia for 15 bucks

 

[klimfish]

Ah, yeah that’s a lot smaller than mine. On the bright side my filefish was like $15 so I’m probably just going to give it back for no credit and be happy I cleared out my aiptasia for 15 bucks

15 bucks to remove aiptasia plus a couple drives might be the best removal deal out there really.

 

[bryanfuel]

15 bucks to remove aiptasia plus a couple drives might be the best removal deal out there really.

All that being said, in pretty sure it was the pep shrimp that did the work. My LFS has a separate tank with just peppermint shrimp and a ton of aiptasia to get them used to eating it.

 

[Thereefdoc]

Thanks for the great advice! I appreciate everyones input.

 

[Frank's Tanks]

Thanks for the great advice! I appreciate everyones input.

 

[Frank's Tanks]

Please give my product a try!

F-Aiptasia Killer ( Patented Formula )

PLEASE STIR THIS PRODUCT WITH THE STIRRING STICK THAT IS INLUDED AND THEN SHAKE THIS VIGOROUSLY UPON RECEIVING IT AND BEFORE USE. IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO SEPARATE. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT! DO NOT HESITATE TO USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RODI WATER IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR PRODUCT HARDENS. I GUARANTEE...

saltwateraquariumstore.franks-tanks.com

 

[Thereefdoc]

Please give my product a try!

F-Aiptasia Killer ( Patented Formula )

PLEASE STIR THIS PRODUCT WITH THE STIRRING STICK THAT IS INLUDED AND THEN SHAKE THIS VIGOROUSLY UPON RECEIVING IT AND BEFORE USE. IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO SEPARATE. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT! DO NOT HESITATE TO USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RODI WATER IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR PRODUCT HARDENS. I GUARANTEE...

saltwateraquariumstore.franks-tanks.com

Thank you. I definitely will order some.

 

[Salty Lemon]

IMO your scape looks great -- it just depends on what you want in it. I have my rock halfway up because I want some corals that can get rather large and I want swimming space for tangs and angels. I also, from the advice of another reefer, (I'm not that smart ), keep the rock centered and away from the back so that it is easier to reach behind to clean it and give the fish more room to swim around. But it all comes down to you and what you want -- just make certain you are looking at what you will have in the tank three years from now instead of right now.
Also... @Crabs McJones has a sticky thread on hitchhikers and Aiptasia is mentioned in it. I have used his suggestions in my own tank as they occasionally pop up and it works great. Plus it is just a good bit of reading for your day.

What is that!! A R2R guide to common new tank hitchhikers.

One of the greatest things about starting a reef tank is getting your live rock in and admiring all the diversity within it. The rock comes to life different creatures. This is a guide that I, along with a very well known critter identifier @KJ , have put together for the new reefer on what...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ruskimax]

Kill ‘em with fire, from orbit ....

 

[Thereefdoc]

IMO your scape looks great -- it just depends on what you want in it. I have my rock halfway up because I want some corals that can get rather large and I want swimming space for tangs and angels. I also, from the advice of another reefer, (I'm not that smart ), keep the rock centered and away from the back so that it is easier to reach behind to clean it and give the fish more room to swim around. But it all comes down to you and what you want -- just make certain you are looking at what you will have in the tank three years from now instead of right now.
Also... @Crabs McJones has a sticky thread on hitchhikers and Aiptasia is mentioned in it. I have used his suggestions in my own tank as they occasionally pop up and it works great. Plus it is just a good bit of reading for your day.

What is that!! A R2R guide to common new tank hitchhikers.

One of the greatest things about starting a reef tank is getting your live rock in and admiring all the diversity within it. The rock comes to life different creatures. This is a guide that I, along with a very well known critter identifier @KJ , have put together for the new reefer on what...

www.reef2reef.com

I really don't know what I want to keep in the tank yet, maybe that's why the rockwork is bothering me. I know I want some softies, beginner SPS and an anemone. I also want a decent amount of fish swimming around. I already have a 2 spot bristle tooth and a clown pair, but I haven't decided what my next addition will be.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I really don't know what I want to keep in the tank yet, maybe that's why the rockwork is bothering me. I know I want some softies, beginner SPS and an anemone. I also want a decent amount of fish swimming around. I already have a 2 spot bristle tooth and a clown pair, but I haven't decided what my next addition will be.

I'd make a stocking list based on what you are interested in and slowly move from easiest to the most difficult. Your aquascape depends much on the corals and type of fish you want to keep. Some fish eat corals. Some corals kill other corals. Some corals will take over your tank and some fish need a minimum amount of swimming space. So there needs to be a plan. This is done through research. Don't panic... this forum has many articles and threads that can help with that -- of course, forum members are willing to help too. All you have to do is ask.