Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes.

[TemDave]

and more building...
this ones a bit smaller 16" tall.

 

[TemDave]

didn't mean to post so many pics in 918... not sure what I did.

 

[samnaz]

@TemDave awesome job on those, man! very creative. really thinking outside the box, yet perfectly natural-looking structures. reminds of the pinnacle formations in the Red Sea.

can't wait to see the final product

 

[Jl330]

Any tips on a 55 gallon?

Not much depth to work with and not many examples. Tank is getting taken down and moved in a week or two ans I'm redoing everything.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I followed this type of setup. I'm going for a more minimal look in the tank. I'll be moving another 20 pounds of live rock from my other tank to this one once the cycle is done. I'm also planning on some bird's nest and other Acropora on the left top side to increase the height of it a tad more once it grows in.

 

[oneasianguy]

This article is awesome. Decided to rescape my 90 gallon. It looks very full and just getting boring for me. Since I am transitioning into more sps dominated tank, going to rescape so I can get a fresh new look for my tank.

 

[cwk84]

Honestly, I think that most people who have stunning tanks do not stick to those rules. A lot of reefers try so hard to come up with a nice aquascape and all they end up with is a big fat clump of rocks somewhere in their aquarium. It might follow the rule of thirds but it looks messy. The rule of thirds is a go-to rule for photographers to make a boring picture more interesting but many famous photographers do not stick to that rule all the time. They create imagery based on what they want to convey. If you do not follow the rule of thirds but your aquascape looks interesting and resembles a natural reef, who cares?!

This tank, for instance, looks stunning imo and it does not strictly follow the rule of thirds:

It looks like a natural reef environment. The colors of the colors inevitably complement each other because every color has a complementary color. So if you put a green slimer somewhere and a red monti somewhere else in the tank the two colors will complement each other. The same goes for analogous colors and all other color variations. You do not need to put them next to each other to create a stark contrast. You have to have a system in mind. Most people just put rocks in their tanks and put frag plugs everywhere and call it a day. Even if it follows the rule of thirds it looks unattractive because there is no feeling or emotion that is being conveyed. When I look at a reef tank I want to be drawn into that tiny little world that is within those glass walls. Kind of like watching a movie.

 

[EKC]

Great article! Thank you for taking the time to write it.

Gave inspiration to re-aquascape!

 

[Reefs of Space]

I've got a lot of rock with good water flow all around. All of the rock on the back wall is off of the sand. A powerhead is back there blowing across the whole tank behind the rock work. Another one blowing across the front against that current. This is a 30 gallon.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Here is my (former) 55g... 48x12x20 The towers I had just made and added to the tank, so please excuse the white. hehe

Buuuuuut... I just tore this 55 down and moved everything into my perfecto 125 Long.... will share the scape of that once I am done with it.

 

[TVo]

My current 60 gal mixed reef build. 6 months old. t5/radion g4 pro lighting.

 

[Jhale512]

Hello all new to this marine life. Here is my 220 setup. Need opinions on my scape but more importantly need ideas on how and what corals to fill this up. Aiming for a full mixed reef

 

[CalamityJen]

Will most DEFINITELY be using your tips about aquascaping with my upgrade. Thank you for sharing!

 

[ZhiYung]

my scaping just got done by using some tips from this post

 

[Streetdoc77]

After several different compositions I have landed on this , I want few dead spots and a focus on large colonies. Critique is welcome !

 

[Streetdoc77]

One more

 

[Streetdoc77]

Pic

 

[happyschneiders]

Thought I post my scape as well. Very happy to receive input. Aquarium is a Red Sea reefer 350.

All towers stand on little stilts so that as little stone is below sand as possible. I realised that I need some more hiding places, so I prepared some little "caves" that I will attach to the towers.

 

[Streetdoc77]

Here is the second scape . Wich one does everyone like more ?

 

[Maritimer]

I think I prefer the first, with multiple "formations" - but only slightly, and I'm not the guy who has to look at it for the next several years.

So long as you can get your scraper past the rock on the left, I think either could make a happy home for corals and fish!

~Bruce