Natural Aquascape vs Minimalistic

[Punchanello]

This is something I used to think a lot about but now I think about two things. What's practical and what difference will it make once my corals grow out?

I tend to have minimalist scapes but not because that's necessarily a preference. I want flow through the structures, I want to be able to clean easily and get to things, I want options to place my corals in the right position and light and I want it to hold together long term so no loose stacking.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Personally I would lean towards a more minimalist scape as I find that it looks more natural down the line once grown in, provides more swimming space and less obstructions to flow.
I got started about 25 years ago so I’ve definitely done the whole rock wall type scape but that’s gonna take came with a bunch of downsides apart from esthetics…like trapping detritus in dead spots etc.

Heck, I’ve even recently removed my sand bed, something I never thought I would do, and loving it.

My tank for reference:

 

[Viking_Reefing]

freaking triple post…

 

[Viking_Reefing]

.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Personally I would lean towards a more minimalist scape as I find that it looks more natural down the line once grown in, provides more swimming space and less obstructions to flow.
I got started about 25 years ago so I’ve definitely done the whole rock wall type scape but that’s gonna take came with a bunch of downsides apart from esthetics…like trapping detritus in dead spots etc.

Heck, I’ve even recently removed my sand bed, something I never thought I would do, and loving it.

My tank for reference:

I love your aquascape! Gives you plenty of room for coral growth and room for your fish to swim around in!

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I love your aquascape! Gives you plenty of room for coral growth and room for your fish to swim around in!

Thanks! Yeah, that was the basic idea behind it :)

 

[DHK-BHWNJ]

With habitat in mind. I have just finished this aquascape for a new build expected at the end of August. I guess it could be characterized as an HNSA scape?
This will be the base of an SPS/ACRO system.
Thought

 

[kyreefville]

I've seen single rocks, rock clusters, rubble field, and wall of reef in the natural ocean. So cool to see the various visions from art to chaos.

 

[areefer01]

Really cool footage from the dives. Whereabouts ?

Fiji. This past December. And thank you. I still have a lot to learn using the camera.

You are right - there probably is a balance of both styles. My perspective to be fair starts with the fish. A comfortable fish, to me, is one that has a place to forage, retreat, sleep, and spawn. I do not believe a negative aquascape meets those requirements which can lead fish to being bored, stress, and aggression. I have nothing to base this on other than how I view it.

Hope your day is well.

 

[56longroof]

I prefer the natural look. Most tanks 'scaped in the minimalist style look too sterile to me.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Really tried to do a natural/minimal scape on my new system. Definitely a bit heavier than traditional minimalist, it was hard to refrain myself.
48x30x30

 

[Pntbll687]

So I used to be a heavy rock guy, then went minimalist on a tank, and have settled somewhere in the middle. I have a mountain close to the wall on peninsula, some minimalist structure in the middle, and a smaller island stack at the open end.

I think what get's most people lost is they don't have a coral plan in the beginning, and lose direction of what they want. Many of the minimalist tanks you see are from people that go sps heavy, and know growth patterns so they plan accordingly. They know that one year from now the coral will dominate the system and be the focus without the rock getting in the way. They also plan fish stocking accordingly. You don't see many minimalist tanks stocked heavily with tangs and other fish that can get aggressive, because there aren't enough hiding spots.

Have a plan, stick to it, make slight adjustments if needed.

 

[atoll]

Minimum aquascape encourages stress in fish that are found close to the reef in their natural habitat. Are they considering what kind of environment their fish are coming from and why they are well adapted to it? I don't think so.

These minimalistic reefscapes may just adding unnecessary stress to the fish. Unlike many diseases and parasites, stress can often go unnoticed. Designer and trendy they maybe but they offer nothing to many fish.

People might think it looks good (I don't) but are they considering the fishes needs and welfare, not IMO they aren't.
My current reef tank with lost of live rock and empty barnacle shells some of my fish breed in.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Really tried to do a natural/minimal scape on my new system. Definitely a bit heavier than traditional minimalist, it was hard to refrain myself.
48x30x30

I like how it really does mimic what a real aquascape would look like!

 

[X-37B]

Minimum aquascape encourages stress in fish that are found close to the reef in their natural habitat. Are they considering what kind of environment their fish are coming from and why they are well adapted to it? I don't think so.

These minimalistic reefscapes may just adding unnecessary stress to the fish. Unlike many diseases and parasites, stress can often go unnoticed. Designer and trendy they maybe but they offer nothing to many fish.

People might think it looks good (I don't) but are they considering the fishes needs and welfare, not IMO they aren't.
My current reef tank with lost of live rock and empty barnacle shells some of my fish breed in.

Another old reefer here. I have had the great rock wall of reefing in many systems. About 5 years ago I went with a minimal scape. Current 150 is also minimal.
The thing most forget about minimalistic scapes is once they grow in the scape is not minimal anymore. Most don't have the patience to get to that point.
Many fish are stressed by the type of fish that are mixed in a system.
I don't think my fish are stressed at all in either system untill they get to big and have to be rehomed.
Old 120 and current 150. The 150 is 1.5 years. Once the Stags in the back reach the surface it won't be minimalistic anymore, lol.

 

[atoll]

Another old reefer here. I have had the great rock wall of reefing in many systems. About 5 years ago I went with a minimal scape. Current 150 is also minimal.
The thing most forget about minimalistic scapes is once they grow in the scape is not minimal anymore. Most don't have the patience to get to that point.
Many fish are stressed by the type of fish that are mixed in a system.
I don't think my fish are stressed at all in either system untill they get to big and have to be rehomed.
Old 120 and current 150. The 150 is 1.5 years. Once the Stags in the back reach the surface it won't be minimalistic anymore, lol.

It will take a few years for most stags to get to a considerable size. Also not all small fish are attracted to them. Most of my small fish either go in my barnacle shells or prefer nooks or caves. However, I don't have a lot of SPS but even in other tanks I have had apart from coral gobies my fish preferred the barnacle shells, nooks or caves over my SPS.

 

[X-37B]

It will take a few years for most stags to get to a considerable size. Also not all small fish are attracted to them. Most of my small fish either go in my barnacle shells or prefer nooks or caves. However, I don't have a lot of SPS but even in other tanks I have had apart from coral gobies my fish preferred the barnacle shells, nooks or caves over my SPS.

It will take a few years for most stags to get to a considerable size. Also not all small fish are attracted to them. Most of my small fish either go in my barnacle shells or prefer nooks or caves. However, I don't have a lot of SPS but even in other tanks I have had apart from coral gobies my fish preferred the barnacle shells, nooks or caves over my SPS.

I can vouch for stressed fish.
After 1.5 years I was able to catch the mantis shrimp in my 150.
It had hit my chalk bass twice in the same eye and a few marks on my clown and file fish in that time frame.
Tank is much less stressful now as the fish seen to know its gone.
The chalk bass is out in the open now and not always hiding.

 

[Science/G]

Another old reefer here. I have had the great rock wall of reefing in many systems. About 5 years ago I went with a minimal scape. Current 150 is also minimal.
The thing most forget about minimalistic scapes is once they grow in the scape is not minimal anymore. Most don't have the patience to get to that point.
Many fish are stressed by the type of fish that are mixed in a system.
I don't think my fish are stressed at all in either system untill they get to big and have to be rehomed.
Old 120 and current 150. The 150 is 1.5 years. Once the Stags in the back reach the surface it won't be minimalistic anymore, lol.

Your reef is really growing in nicely BTW

 

[vlangel]

I am rock heavy and sand heavy at one end of the tank. I took my inspiration from fw planted shapes.
I try to get my tank to look like something that I could see snorkeling.

 

[atoll]

A lot of rock dosen't have to mean a wall, you could call it a ragged wall with lots of high, lows and holes. Some poor wall hey.