Need help with your aquascape?

[Matt Miller]

I've been struggling the last two days trying to decide on my scape. I've got a 20g cube, and thought I wanted to go similar to this..

I've been moving these rocks around a lot, but can't seem to get it built up right. I'm doing an anemone/clownfish tank, and worry I'm going to make it too crowded. I've got 20lbs of rock but no creativity and lots of doubt lol
This is as much as I've got so far, I wonder if I should go more for a central lower structure.

 

[dherman15]

Hello! Started a Fluval 13.5 exactly one week ago. Do you mind giving me some feedback on my scape? I have access to more rock but this is my first try.
thanks in advance

 

[Jtreps]

Need help with this scape new 20 gallon nano scape. Should I remove the middle bridge and create two islands with a gorge between them and move them a bit closer to one another? Create more of a diagonal arch from the bottom of the right pile to the top of the left pile? Should I completely scratch this scape? And create something like the image attached at the end?

 

[JKDMan]

New on top of on bottom... thoughts..?

 

[Jtreps]

Need help with this scape new 20 gallon nano scape. Should I remove the middle bridge and create two islands with a gorge between them and move them a bit closer to one another? Create more of a diagonal arch from the bottom of the right pile to the top of the left pile? Should I completely scratch this scape? And create something like the image attached at the end?

Update:

 

[Mrj7]

This is my first time aquascaping. The tank is a Fluval Evo 13.5. Any feed back would be appreciated.

 

[Bepis]

This is my first time aquascaping. The tank is a Fluval Evo 13.5. Any feed back would be appreciated.

Hey man looks like it’s going good. Might want to add a arch to the back of the tank but that’s just my style. Check out my tank. I like making NSA (negative space aquascape) meaning I make scapes the make the fish feel hidden but truly there’s very Little Rock in the tank. This is a 29g tank with about 10-15 pounds of rock

 

[Weasel1960]

I've been struggling the last two days trying to decide on my scape. I've got a 20g cube, and thought I wanted to go similar to this..

I've been moving these rocks around a lot, but can't seem to get it built up right. I'm doing an anemone/clownfish tank, and worry I'm going to make it too crowded. I've got 20lbs of rock but no creativity and lots of doubt lol
This is as much as I've got so far, I wonder if I should go more for a central lower structure.

Hi. Sorry no one has responded to this post, most folks just post directly on the main page of the forum. Here are some thoughts if still looking for help.

Are you doing a sand bottom if so all low arches need to be taller so fish can use them after sand is in place, and plan for adult sized fish.

Don‘t be afraid to take a hammer to some larger rocks it’s much easier to work with smaller rock and glue/mortar them together after you dry fit them. A lot of the scapes you see are actually smaller rocks laced together.

Also keep everything about 3” off glass for cleaning so that once corals fill out you will still have room for maintenanc.

Using what you have from the pictures you provided try this...

1. Take rock dead center back and move it more to 10:30 position and angle it across left rear corner to form a triangle.

2. Using entire right side group follow the movement of step 1 above to cover the 12 to 3 o’clock area again to form a triangle with right rear corner. Leave a large fist sized gap in this group to start a swim through.

3. Take 2 rocks and add to a second layer of step 2 above, one on the left and one on the right of the gap. Then add one rock on the third layer to connect both sides of the gap to complete your arch.

4. Continue on the left side in a similar fashion to step 3. Make left rear corner your high spot and work your way down to sand so continue adding rock as needed.

 

[Weasel1960]

Hello! Started a Fluval 13.5 exactly one week ago. Do you mind giving me some feedback on my scape? I have access to more rock but this is my first try.
thanks in advance

Very nice start, like the swim hole you have going.

Take whole structure as you have it And spin it clockwise until it covers the 12:00 to 3:00 area.

Add more rock on left side in a similar fashion to what you already have going. This should form a nice little cove. Add a smallish flat rock inside your cove as an island.

Remember the rule of thirds. Stay at least 3” off all glass for maintenance. Bust up some rock into smaller pieces an use as needed.

 

[Weasel1960]

#MODS is there any way to take each of the OPs on page 76 of this forum and start them as individual threads in the main forum. It would be a lot easier to track individually. Also would be a big help if this sticky only was of helpful hints and not so much asking for help that way each OP will have to start their own thread In the main area. Thanks.

EDIT: The moves should include the matched responses from me and Bepis to their original threads.

 

[Weasel1960]

Need help with this scape new 20 gallon nano scape. Should I remove the middle bridge and create two islands with a gorge between them and move them a bit closer to one another? Create more of a diagonal arch from the bottom of the right pile to the top of the left pile? Should I completely scratch this scape? And create something like the image attached at the end?

While the last picture is interesting once it fills in with corals the structure will be lost. I think you are on track with doing the arch/gorge thing you suggested.

 

[Weasel1960]

New on top of on bottom... thoughts..?

Not sure what your question is but I like top picture better.

 

[Weasel1960]

Update:

Hey that’s pretty cool. Really like it. Consider moving right towards the front a bit then add small flat islands to right rear and left front corners. You may need to twist bot structures a little.

 

[Weasel1960]

This is my first time aquascaping. The tank is a Fluval Evo 13.5. Any feed back would be appreciated.

I think this I a really great start. Add another layer to include an arch on the right rear side of what you already have. You may also want a smallish flat island out front.

 

[Matt Miller]

Hi. Sorry no one has responded to this post, most folks just post directly on the main page of the forum. Here are some thoughts if still looking for help.

Are you doing a sand bottom if so all low arches need to be taller so fish can use them after sand is in place, and plan for adult sized fish.

Don‘t be afraid to take a hammer to some larger rocks it’s much easier to work with smaller rock and glue/mortar them together after you dry fit them. A lot of the scapes you see are actually smaller rocks laced together.

Also keep everything about 3” off glass for cleaning so that once corals fill out you will still have room for maintenanc.

Using what you have from the pictures you provided try this...

1. Take rock dead center back and move it more to 10:30 position and angle it across left rear corner to form a triangle.

2. Using entire right side group follow the movement of step 1 above to cover the 12 to 3 o’clock area again to form a triangle with right rear corner. Leave a large fist sized gap in this group to start a swim through.

3. Take 2 rocks and add to a second layer of step 2 above, one on the left and one on the right of the gap. Then add one rock on the third layer to connect both sides of the gap to complete your arch.

4. Continue on the left side in a similar fashion to step 3. Make left rear corner your high spot and work your way down to sand so continue adding rock as needed.

Thanks for the advice, I had given up and settled for a different look that I'm not that happy with. I may actually give this another shot before I get my cycle started.

Thank you

 

[dherman15]

Very nice start, like the swim hole you have going.

Take whole structure as you have it And spin it clockwise until it covers the 12:00 to 3:00 area.

Add more rock on left side in a similar fashion to what you already have going. This should form a nice little cove. Add a smallish flat rock inside your cove as an island.

Remember the rule of thirds. Stay at least 3” off all glass for maintenance. Bust up some rock into smaller pieces an use as needed.

Thank you for the feedback. After much debate with my wife, we redesigned the scape.
I never thought to break the rock into smaller pieces. I may try that in the future.

 

[Streetlamp]

Hello! Started a Fluval 13.5 exactly one week ago. Do you mind giving me some feedback on my scape? I have access to more rock but this is my first try.
thanks in advance

It’s a bit flat across the top and the swim through too square so looks a little unnatural.

try this remove the two right hand rocks supporting the bridge. Then flip the Bridge so that the point of the triangle supports it where the rocks were. Then use the rocks to add height on the left side.
Remember when placing rocks to try hide the joints by interlocking as much as possible. Two round rocks placed round to round doesn’t look right to me.

also I just noticed it’s quite vertical try introduce some slope rather than sheer edges so that you have land for coral placement.

 

[Streetlamp]

Thank you for the feedback. After much debate with my wife, we redesigned the scape.
I never thought to break the rock into smaller pieces. I may try that in the future.

Looks nice and natural. However you’re still to vertical you’ve no land for corals

 

[Miles Laughton]

Here goes, just set this up. Mainly SPS dominate but anemone in the left hand corner on the rock in the corner (hole drilled)

 

[hawk82]

Thoughts or feedback on this? Tank is a 40 breeder, coming up on just a year now since started.