Leaving space between the Aquascape and Back Glass: Why should you?

[El_Guapo13]

I leave space partially so fish have more room to swim behind the rockwork, and partially to be able to clean the glass. Mostly that second one.

 

[jakepapp]

I also did a rock wall, with minimal open space on the back. There are lots of large cracks between the rocks and back, but it limited; the many rocks rest against it and other rocks are attached to them with silicone and/or epoxy. I was always advised to keep it open, but I felt I could manage it, and my back glass is blacked out to begin with. I point my return flow back behind the wall to keep some flow, though I wish it was more honestly. Having the rock wall presumably just eats up the flow I put towards it.
When I look along the back from the side I can barely see back there, but it always looks super clean, and fish and serpent stars will always be hanging out back there. It makes for a real SOB to get fish out with such a structure though. I had to get a big hippo tang out, it was kind of a nightmare. When I made the wall I made it in 1ft wide sections such that I could remove as necessary, but since then they have merged as rocks got added and rearranged.
You can see the rock wall from all sides in the pics below, it is almost 6ft long, and ranges in width from 8" to 1" or 2" towards the top. I didn't quite capture the crack behind the wall, but it is minimal and stay pretty dark.

 

[joseph scott]

I think flow and removing dead spots are both good reasons to keep some space. But I also just prefer it aesthetically. I like seeing the fish swim throughout the entire rock structure. I also like having the other side to look at sometimes. Or at least down from the side.

I this adds so much to how the fish are able to swim, I even mounted a large mirror behind my tank. Now I’m able to see action taking place back there. And no the fish don’t appear to be able to see there reflections, could be the 8” space between the tank and the mirror.

 

[paul barker]

I have a peninsula so there is more than 6 inches on both sides

 

[clarimore]

Well that depends on your scape.
I have always had the great rock wall. I have a minimalist scape with 3-4" between the rock and the back wall. This allows swimming room for fish and makes detrius removal easier on my bare bottom.
However as the tank grows in corals are encroaching on the back glass. It wont be long before several attatch to the back.
The back is difficult to access now but powerheads keep the area free of detrius for now.
1.5 years aho and now.

wow that's beautiful

 

[X-37B]

wow that's beautiful

Thank you! Their are pics from day one until now in my build thread.

 

[reefsaver]

So you can take care of your glass. Detritus will build up in algae if you just let it grow where you can't syphon or remove it.