I need your opinion. Did I mess up my 300g aqua scape by going minimalist

[Miami Reef]

I hated how cluttered and unorganized the old rock scape looked with all the rocks piled on top of each other, so I took out all the rocks and made a minimalist setup.

I’m so nervous because the tank looks so naked and small now. I’m worried I made a mistake.

Please tell me what setup looks best for a 300g tank.

My tank right now is the picture with the least amount of rocks.



These pictures are the before.




This picture is the after.

 

[fenderchamp]

the cat seems to prefer the second.

 

[zalick]

I have a 300g that's been up for 7 years. I started with tons of rock and big piles. I hated it. Rearranged many times over the years always pulling some out. Now I have slightly more than your 3rd pic.

I like your third pic and think it's great!

 

[Mark Gray]

I like number 3

 

[Twoddler]

I really like the minimalistic look, but I was too scared to try, being that rock is an important filter and somewhere to put the coral.
Although you could make up for the lack of rock, within the sump.

 

[Rp8]

I Like the new look. fo sho

 

[X-37B]

Love it!
The bottom will get filled in with coral in time.

I always had the great rock wall and went minimalist on my 120.
My tank is 20 months old and im glad I went with it.
My rockwork is around 10" high and is bare bottom.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

hello

I am torn between the 2nd and 3rd. I cannot go against a cat but I like the 3rd. I think the 3rd is just a bit too small in scale for the tank. I think the look and concept are perfect, just scale is off a bit. Just my opinion, build up the 2 islands a bit more, but that is the way I have my tank so I am biased

 

[sp1187]

looks like you re-stained the cabinet with each scape change.
fish only or you adding coral? and if so what?

 

[Reef.]

No contest 3rd wins, minimalist looks 100% better...were you having an off day when you came up with that first effort

 

[Tamberav]

It just needs coral to fill up the negative space now that it’s minimalistic.

 

[Jedi1199]

I agree with the cat... #2 is my favorite. Personally I would come away from the end walls a few inches or so, but other than that I think it says "I'm alive!" while still giving a more minimalistic feel.

 

[Reef.]

Isn’t 1 and 2 the same scape? Aren’t they the before and the 3rd the after?

 

[Miami Reef]

Isn’t 1 and 2 the same scape? Aren’t they the before and the 3rd the after?

Exactly. 1st and 2nd are the same.

I turned the tank into a fowlr but I just ordered realistic looking coral and I know the tank is going to look 100 times better!

 

[DaddyFish]

I would like number-3 best IF it had some more height. It's a bit too short for my taste.

 

[CMMorgan]

I'm with the cat.

 

[DaddyFish]

Yeah, now that I looked closer and past the reflections... I too agree with the cat.

 

[zalick]

Exactly. 1st and 2nd are the same.

I turned the tank into a fowlr but I just ordered realistic looking coral and I know the tank is going to look 100 times better!

How many fish do you envision having total? Since you are going FOWLR, I'd keep the minimalist look but make sure you have enough caves/nooks/holes for fish to swim around, hide and use for protection.