Hows this?

[UK-Reefer]

Drilled 2ft cube with hard plumbed Fluval 307 canister filter, in line Hydor ETH300 heater, Jebo DMP20 wavemaker, no wires in the tank.

Had Arka reef plates to work with been soaked for 5 weeks in RO water. They came chunky but after a bit of work with a hammer and Milliput I came up with this and added a branching custom piece to the left hand side top.

 

[rayadog]

do you have any plans for fish?

 

[UK-Reefer]

do you have any plans for fish?

Yes.

Its final resting place and water is needed before fish.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I think it might look better covered in coral but to me right now it looks a bit unnatural and man-made ish if you get what I mean. Also no hiding spots for any timid or bullied fish

 

[Wallda]

I think it might look better covered in coral but to me right now it looks a bit unnatural and man-made ish if you get what I mean. Also no hiding spots for any timid or bullied fish

Agreed.

 

[Tanktop]

Adding coral will give it a much more natural look.

 

[Michael Hughes]

What fish do you plan to keep?

 

[UK-Reefer]

Agreed too and for a purpose.

Actually a close up would have been better. There are lots of crevices, caves , overhangs, hiding places and even a tunnel. Inside the branching structure is like a maze. Most of these can't be seen in the posted pics.

It's going to be a fish only tank initially, let it mature and maybe add some carefully selected LPS in the future, like over a year at least, to encrust most of the rockwork to get that natural look but with the structure already there. Some nice neon trumpets, ducans, a sun coral add a centre piece nem would be the end goal and I'd be pleased as punch if I could manage it. Simple plan to follow over the years hopefully.

Fishwise, 6 or 7 only and they all must meet my requirements, peaceful, not silly prices and MUST serve a purpose including standing out strikingly obvious against 2 purposefully blacked out panes of the tank. I have a fairly short list and could add a couple more.

2 x Percula Clowns (Common clowns even depending on price).

1 x Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres Chrysus) OR Canary Top Wrasse (Halichoeres Leucoxanthus).

1 x Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris Decora).

1 x Tailspot Blenny (Ecsenius Stigmatua).

1 x African Flameback Angel (Centropyge Acanthops).

Nothing is set in stone but the list above would be nice for me, ideal so to say. Because of the depth it needs to be visually active and I think this selection could work with surface/midwater/rocks and surfaces and sand level activity taken into account. The Angel is the issue both for fish only tank and the proposed LPS additions later but I would take the risk.

I have all the time in the world at the moment and no plans to get it wet soon. No particular reason, just that I can and rather not rush.

 

[Michael Hughes]

I do think it will be worth it to build more caves, crevices, and hiding spots for your fish - though I do like the look you're going for. I think you can pull off your desired look while still adding more habitat and sleeping holes for various fish.

 

[UK-Reefer]

I do think it will be worth it to build more caves, crevices, and hiding spots for your fish - though I do like the look you're going for. I think you can pull off your desired look while still adding more habitat and sleeping holes for various fish.

In fact there are lots of crevices, caves , overhangs, hiding places and even a tunnel. Inside the branching structure is like a maze. Most of these can't be seen in the posted pics that I initially posted. Close up they can be seen and also around the back there are many for the minimal stock count I plan.

I did comment on my long term plan, years not months. I think my plan is rather simple in the grand scheme of reef keeping, the time lines I have already set out with the minimal stock count I have listed.

All feedback is taken on board but everything considered, the only changes I have made is move the entire rockwork to the right and back slightly for more personal visual appeal.