Need help with your aquascape?

[Ardeus]

How does this scape look? It's hard to get a good shot due to the front panel being slanted, it's a custom ~30gal tank.

I like it at lot.

 

[Ardeus]

We're new to the hobby and started our 20gal tank back in April with no intention of diving into corals...well here we are.

Except for the duncans ledge in the center most of the rock faces are fairly vertical on the front face of the tank. We'd like to maximize coral placement and get them on the rocks.

Inhabitants: 2 clowns, royal gramma, orange spotted goby, misc snails/hermits

Coral: ricordea, hammer, rock flowers, blasto, favia, duncan, a small piece of struggling birdsnest.

Thank you!

The problem is the lack of depth. You can solve that with rock or corals.

Don't be afraid to put things as close to the glass as possible.

 

[Ardeus]

Hi Guys,

We're brand new to the saltwater game and just put this together. 6yr old daughter and 3yr old son helped out so it'd kinda heavy on the rock in the middle. But let us know what you think. It's for a 90 gal tank with 20gal+- sump, 48" x 18" x 24".

We were looking for a few caves for fish to swim through and a little cove area with a few flat spots for corals. I can get around all of it to clean so I've got about 2" min to the glass in a few spots but generally a lot more.

It's looking too full. With corals it will become a wall.

Here's an idea

 

[Ardeus]

Here it is after a bit of cleanup and tinkering. I like it better now. Still need to cover up some epoxy but that's easy to hide.

This will be mainly fish with easy to care for corals.

I would avoid flat lines and right angles and open up the space between the 2 structures.

 

[Ardeus]

How can I make this better? I’m going for mixed reef with SPS and I want the fish to feel comfortable

I think you're going too high and should use corals instead of rock to gain height.

I would use the remaining rocks to extend the structure towards the front to create depth.

 

[Ardeus]

@ Ardeus curious about your opinion on this build.

This tank is a Innovative Marine 120 shallow reef. Ive removed the AIO and added a 55 gallon sump refugium.

It’s being used as a peninsula, but not viewable from the back side.

I wanted to try and hide the weir and most of the 6 returns. So I cut a bunch of rock in half and siliconed them to the back. This is interesting, as the smaller fish have figured out how to dart in and out of the rock like little tunnels.

Just want your (and others) input on the foreground rock structure, as there’s no way I’m moving the back scape.

I kind of like this, but just not sure and want this right before I add black Hawaiian as a base sand with a small amount of larger crushed coral. The idea is for the crushed coral to get covered in coralline as the black/pink would look cool.

To be honest it doesn't look like much right now, but I think the corals will make it work.

The back wall covered with corals and a structure in front will create 2 layers and add sense of depth. In 2 years it will look good and that view from the side will be really cool.

 

[Ardeus]

I've got a few options to play with these pieces, but now I have option can't decide what to do with them! Some suggestions appreciated - its for a mixed reef no sps.

Thinking of knocking the 'top' off the vertical looking one to make a smaller piece, as the two large pieces originally formed a long plateau. I can get a pleasing look but its not balanced as it is. The smaller piece can be a bridge or an extension.

The last option looks interesting and more natural.

 

[Ardeus]

I'm trying to scape a reefer 170, so I don't have a whole bunch of room. I've tried about ten billion different combinations give or take a few. I've been reading this thread and there are some very smart scapers here. I'd love suggestions!

Thanks!
Joe

I wouldn't mess more with it, it looks great.

 

[Ardeus]

Hello again! Tank is up and running now... from the pictures and videos I've seen online, and being a bit of a novice here, I'm thinking I need more rock.

I've used Caribsea LifeRock and believe a few more arches will help here. What are your thoughts, knowing my concern is overall size and real estate for coral growth?

Perhaps without the third arch on the far right, and leave scape in place?

Maybe it is adequate as is?

Seeking any and all input...

Thanks,

TL

Your last sketch looks good, but I would achieve that shape with coral instead of more rock.

 

[Ardeus]

Good morning! Tank is cycling well, figured out the heat retainment issue. So now the aquascape! I picked up some cycled live rock from my LFS that they have been running for me for over a month to get some growth on it. This will be the store I likely do ALL my purchases from just based on how awesome they were when I had questions about joining the hobby. They pulled some "prime" pieces for me and started getting them going to kick start the tank after i got it set up. Anywho... here is what I wound up with after 2 hours of my hand in the tank moving things around. pick it apart, let me know what you think, first impressions, etc. I am not the most artistic mammal and this is the main piece of furniture in my house you see it RIGHT when you walk in. Also, the cabinet doors are not permanent im building barn style doors. these are just temporary. but the hutch is hand made and im staining it to look old.

I would open up the space between the 2 structures.

 

[Ardeus]

Hey there!

This thread has been super helpful and it's finally time for me to post a request for help.

When I was putting this together, I thought that the structure on the left would be noticeably higher than the right structure but once in place, they're almost the same height which seems to be something to avoid. If I were to glue some more rock to the top of either structure, which structure would you choose and what type of shape would you go for? I have a bunch of dry rock I can break up and glue together to make whatever shape I want.

Thanks!

Have you tried this?

 

[Ardeus]

Interested on getting some feedback for my Reefer xl425 aquascape. Trying to balance maximum area for coral placement and growth, while keeping enough swimming space for fish and maintenance. All constructive criticism and recommendations are appreciated.

One note is the small rocks under the low overhang on the right are just to hold it in place for now.

On the left structure can you tilt some of the legs so that they are not perfectly vertical?

If the ledges point toward the valley between the 2 structures the layout will make more sense.

 

[Ardeus]

I’m in the process of remodeling my current tank and completely redoing the rock. The tank is 72x24x36 tall. My plan was to keep all structures off the wall and try to build everything about 12-24 inches tall. This way I can reduce lighting needs in the bottom 12 inches of the tank. I want an open tank for plenty of fish swimming room. Any input is much appreciated. Here is my thought for the tank. There is a large overflow in the back that takes up about A 6x30 space.

front view

left and right

Top

It makes sense, it will work very well.

 

[Acros]

I would try these 2 options. The rock on the left is interesting enough to be on its own,

I settled on two islands. The rock on the left is one island and the smaller right one is another island. I like it much better as there is more negative space now. I am moving all of it to a 29g and using the 10g as a sump refugium.

 

[MrTaleb]

I would try rotating that big arch so that the highest part is facing towards the centre. You can place the highest part towards the front of the back.

You can also join the the other 2 smaller structures.

Thank you, ill try doing that now.

 

[JoeSchmo45]

I wouldn't mess more with it, it looks great.

Thank you, I appreciate it. I got it in the tank pretty much as is with a couple little islands. I'm happy with it!

 

[Cbones1979]

If you're going with a bonsai look, go all in and build another one. A bonsai and an island doesn't seem to work well unless the bonsai is growing in the island, i.e., get more rock around the base of the tree.

Make sure that there's plenty of space on the left and right so that the 2 trees can "breath".

Yup, going w another on the other side. Here’s a pic of the design

 

[Cbones1979]

If you're going with a bonsai look, go all in and build another one. A bonsai and an island doesn't seem to work well unless the bonsai is growing in the island, i.e., get more rock around the base of the tree.

Make sure that there's plenty of space on the left and right so that the 2 trees can "breath".

Here you go bro

 

[Cbones1979]

If you're going with a bonsai look, go all in and build another one. A bonsai and an island doesn't seem to work well unless the bonsai is growing in the island, i.e., get more rock around the base of the tree.

Make sure that there's plenty of space on the left and right so that the 2 trees can "breath".

tried to not have them the same size but it is what it is.

 

[Ardeus]

Try moving the 3 structures around and rotating them until you find a better arrangement for them.