Rockscape advice

[currentking]

rockscape is by far the toughest part of building the aquarium. I need some advice. I am building a Red Sea XXL625 and want an opinion on if I should do 2 separate islands or continue all the way across?

here is the right side

Working on the left

here is the rock I have left

 

[nano_ryan]

The second picture is a gorgeous aqua scape. This brs vid shows how to make a really cool aqua scape and its very appealing to the eye.

 

[Saluki2003]

Here’s another method. I’m going to try this on one side of the tank and the BRS method on the other and see what I like best.

 

[Saluki2003]

Here’s another good video...

 

[Kerrihar]

Oh wow, thanks for these videos. This is like Bonsai gardening.....with stone.

 

[sp1187]

so what are your plans for livestock?
fish? if so what?
corals? if so what?
what are you using for flow? do you want to see those or hide them?
will you be viewing from the sides or just the front?

 

[nanocrazy4life]

rockscape is by far the toughest part of building the aquarium. I need some advice. I am building a Red Sea XXL625 and want an opinion on if I should do 2 separate islands or continue all the way across?

here is the right side

Working on the left

here is the rock I have left

 

[nanocrazy4life]

I prefer the 2 Islands in my opinion it is such a long tank if you bridge it completely over it seems too forceful and man made, island with different heights always seems more realistic.

 

[currentking]

so what are your plans for livestock?
fish? if so what?
corals? if so what?
what are you using for flow? do you want to see those or hide them?
will you be viewing from the sides or just the front?

working on a list of wrasse
LPS
3 mp40’s
viewing mostly front. Here is what I have now but not too happy with the left side

 

[sp1187]

got a view looking down?
and a pic of the tank if it's available.

 

[HB AL]

I dont think I've ever thought of the scape when setting up a tank but if you like it then whatever you like works. Just remember the more rock the better for the tanks bio filtration and having lots of caves and places for the fish to hide, chill and sleep helps in having healthy, happy fish. If you go with a very minamilist approach which I dont care for, make sure you have lots of rock in your sump and or a tub for the huge benefits the live rocks supply. With the very limited rocks I see in some peoples tanks nowadays it coincides with posts people post that are having issues with there livestock. In the 35+ years I've been running tanks ive found that rock really is a key factor in keeping a successful tank.

 

[Bepis]

Dude your aqua scape looks great where it is. Why not keep it where it is, also I love separate islands. It’s especially helpful for seperating different corals and make it easier to clean the tank

 

[saltcats]

Add a short rock to the very left side, not touching the rest of the scape? I think that slope on the left edge of the left side draws the eye and looks unfinished, but perhaps a small piece there would complete the look - create a visual triangle. I also wonder if the stacked openings on the right side of the left scape might be part of the issue; the vertical alignment looks too regular to be natural. Switching the middle and right hand top piece might help there? (If they are 3 rocks as it appears to be!)

Love the right side!

 

[Weasel1960]

working on a list of wrasse
LPS
3 mp40’s
viewing mostly front. Here is what I have now but not too happy with the left side

I like what you have in the latest picture. I think pushing the left island back a little bit you could have one large flat island in the front. You might consider other adjustments depending on your answers to @sp1187 questions.

 

[fishface NJ]

I really like it!

 

[currentking]

got a view looking down?
and a pic of the tank if it's available.

Tank won’t be here for 2 weeks but here is a Red Sea XXL625 like the one I will have

top down

 

[sp1187]

guessing looking straight down the taped out in the center is an over flow.
makes it difficult to do what I would try.
looking straight down, left structure rotate so left side is towards the front, right is towards the center back.
same with right structure but opposite.
gives more depth perception front to back.

if you are going with lps like favia and/or chalice think about tilting some of the flat rocks so you can see them without having to be standing at the tank.

try going higher just to see what it looks like.

 

[currentking]

Still working on the left side. May just rip it apart and start over.

 

[sp1187]

how goes the battle?