Need help with your aquascape?

Katrina71 · Sep 9, 2018

I have a little challenge. Litterally. My son is getting a 3 gallon JBJ Cubey for Christmas. He is a huge zoa fan. I'm looking for an interesting piece of rock or ideas (preferably with pics). I'm open minded. I've also been toying with the idea of tonga trees @Brew12, as well as elevated on egg crate @Ron Reefman. Thanks in advance! 7.8"x10.6"x11" are the dimensions

NY_Caveman · Sep 9, 2018

Katrina71 said:
I have a little challenge. Litterally. My son is getting a 3 gallon JBJ Cubey for Christmas. He is a huge zoa fan. I'm looking for an interesting piece of rock or ideas (preferably with pics). I'm open minded. I've also been toying with the idea of tonga trees @Brew12, as well as elevated on egg crate @Ron Reefman. Thanks in advance! 7.8"x10.6"x11" are the dimensions

People think of this tank as small, but the real challenge to aquascape it is the height. Take out the back chambers and the display is a column. Best bet is probably to find a single 2-3 lb. piece of live rock that is uniquely shaped and tall enough to be the entire aquascape. Maybe a couple of rubble rock pieces too. An LFS is a good bet if you have one with live rock. I would be very selective. For such a small piece you may find a reefer with a large tank willing to give you a choice piece.

I would definitely use live rock in a system this small. It will need all the help it can get to achieve biodiversity. A large pest shrimp or crab is unlikely to hitchhike in on such a small rock anyway.

Katrina71 · Sep 9, 2018

NY_Caveman said:
People think of this tank as small, but the real challenge to aquascape it is the height. Take out the back chambers and the display is a column. Best bet is probably to find a single 2-3 lb. piece of live rock that is uniquely shaped and tall enough to be the entire aquascape. Maybe a couple of rubble rock pieces too. An LFS is a good bet if you have one with live rock. I would be very selective. For such a small piece you may find a reefer with a large tank willing to give you a choice piece.

I would definitely use live rock in a system this small. It will need all the help it can get to achieve biodiversity. A large pest shrimp or crab is unlikely to hitchhike in on such a small rock anyway.

Yep 100% agree. We started in an 8 gallon. I'm hoping to find something interesting. We love the hitchhikers!

Todvod · Sep 9, 2018

Mike Tenn said:
I ended up changing mine as well.

Great job Mike. The placement of your rock is spot on. I was wondering if you could add even more interest by changing the orientation of one of them. I see basically 3 structures with that one little guy expertly placed up front. The 3 all gently slope down left to right, and looks great. I was thinking that smaller rock in the middle behind that Little rock up front would add interest if it gently slipped the other way, right to left. Nice work!

I_Got_Crabs · Sep 9, 2018

Looking for some constructive criticism on my scape for my 65 gallon mixed reef. I have stonefix and acrylic rods, so the left tower will be leaning a bit more, and everything will be super secure.

Princess Hockey · Sep 10, 2018

Decided to completely start over, wanted to see sand from front to back, tried to go with the two-varied island height concept.

I put an X on the rock I don't know what to do with, may just take it out. It's completely flat. The rock with a question mark is currently unstable so I'm trying to figure out how to get the base anchored down so that it creates that nice ledge.

Thoughts? Am I headed in a better direction now? Also debating removing that rock on top of the left mountain...its flat with a bulbous coral skeleton on it. Not sure where to put it.

Princess Hockey · Sep 10, 2018

Or option 2 which I'm liking a lot more, but not sure how I feel about the Tonga stick across the two...can't figure out what to do with it.

Slight variation below, created a shelf on the large cave opening.

NY_Caveman · Sep 10, 2018

Princess Hockey said:
Or option 2 which I'm liking a lot more, but not sure how I feel about the Tonga stick across the two...can't figure out what to do with it.

Slight variation below, created a shelf on the large cave opening.

I like option 2.5, but 2 is nice also. I like overhangs for caves personally. Shrimp like to hang out upside down on them and some fish like to hang out under them. I would ditch the Tonga branch. Maybe lay the branch in the sand somewhere to look like an old coral had broken off the reef.

MSB123 · Sep 11, 2018

I’m needing some help. My new scape is feeling “off” here are some pics. I really like a large sand space and tall rock work, I just don’t know if it’s best for my tank.

MSB123 · Sep 11, 2018

I recently added that really big piece on the far right. It has 5 BTAs on it and I would like to keep it

MSB123 · Sep 11, 2018

Any input?

NY_Caveman · Sep 11, 2018

I am not experienced at big tanks, but I do like the minimal layout. Honestly, it is hard to see the detail with the tank so dark.

MamaLovesHerReefTank · Sep 11, 2018

MSB123 said:
I’m needing some help. My new scape is feeling “off” here are some pics. I really like a large sand space and tall rock work, I just don’t know if it’s best for my tank.

Any possibility of getting pics of the scape with the lights on?

MSB123 · Sep 11, 2018

MamaLovesHerReefTank said:
Any possibility of getting pics of the scape with the lights on?

Yeah!

NY_Caveman · Sep 11, 2018

MSB123 said:
Yeah!

That overflow makes it a challenge. I am not a huge fan of columns, but I do like your tall structures and the minimalist look overall. I think even just pulling the left one a bit closer toward the center would help a lot. It seems a bit left out there.

Looks way better with lights!

MSB123 · Sep 11, 2018

Thanks!

MamaLovesHerReefTank · Sep 11, 2018

MSB123 said:
Yeah!

What a difference the light makes. I agree with @NY_Caveman . If you bring the left structure a little towards the center and a bit to the front it will give a bit more space for fish to swim and it will blend better with the tank.