450 Reefer Aquascape

Gotareeftokeep · Sep 26, 2018

Hi,

I’m just setting up a 450 Reefer.

Going bare bottom so have painted the bottom of the tank a sand colour and scape done with cleaned Pukni rock .

What do you think of the aquascape lay out ?

NY_Caveman · Sep 26, 2018

Gotareeftokeep said:
Hi,

I’m just setting up a 450 Reefer.

Going bare bottom so have painted the bottom of the tank a sand colour and scape done with cleaned Pukni rock .

What do you think of the aquascape lay out ?

Definitely an interesting aquascape. Welcome to R2R!

Waters · Oct 1, 2018

I like the two islands on the left....the one on the far right looks too unnatural to me...not as organic as the other two. I would also consider moving the center island slightly to the left or right, so it isn't dead center. Keep posting pics

!

Gotareeftokeep · Oct 1, 2018

Waters said:
I like the two islands on the left....the one on the far right looks too unnatural to me...not as organic as the other two. I would also consider moving the center island slightly to the left or right, so it isn't dead center. Keep posting pics !

Thanks, and yep my exact feeling is the far right looks the most un-natural, however it has amazing scope for coral placement for table-acros Stagg horn-acros and some natural shading places for LPS.

My eyes now say do something with it but my head is saying leave it and give it time to grow out.

The room should be decorated by end of OCT this year and I’ll be back from my holidays so all going to plan it should be wet before NOV.

Think I’m going to use NSW for first fill, just got to check with a mate that he’s good to help with the Collection and delivery as I live 3hrs drive to the coast.

But I will keep on posting as it’ll be a good way for me to remember the tanks growth and see where any changes I make are documented and what the subsequent up tick or step backwards the tank makes.

But as for now nothing new.

Waters · Oct 1, 2018

Gotareeftokeep said:
Thanks, and yep my exact feeling is the far right looks the most un-natural, however it has amazing scope for coral placement for table-acros Stagg horn-acros and some natural shading places for LPS.

My eyes now say do something with it but my head is saying leave it and give it time to grow out.

The room should be decorated by end of OCT this year and I’ll be back from my holidays so all going to plan it should be wet before NOV.

Think I’m going to use NSW for first fill, just got to check with a mate that he’s good to help with the Collection and delivery as I live 3hrs drive to the coast.

But I will keep on posting as it’ll be a good way for me to remember the tanks growth and see where any changes I make are documented and what the subsequent up tick or step backwards the tank makes.

But as for now nothing new.

I agree.....the whole scape will look totally different once it is grown in and covered up.....it is almost impossible to know how it will look a year from now, largely dependent on what types of coral are placed where. Looking forward to seeing where it goes

DWPhilli · Oct 1, 2018

I agree that you should slightly un-center the middle island.

Gotareeftokeep · Oct 1, 2018

Waters said:
I agree.....the whole scape will look totally different once it is grown in and covered up.....it is almost impossible to know how it will look a year from now, largely dependent on what types of coral are placed where. Looking forward to seeing where it goes

Thanks, I saw Broadfields Reefer 450 and think that it was the most stunning reef tank I’d seen in years, so that’s the inspiration for me.

Clean, colourful & natural.......

We will see how close to his stunning tank I can achieve??

becon776 · Nov 16, 2018

i normally hate bb. but painted that color... not bad not bad at all!

Reef-junky · Nov 16, 2018

I like the rock on the right. I want to do 3 rocks like that but taller and all different heights.

Gotareeftokeep · Dec 13, 2018

Little update, got the radiator moved to the left hand side of room to allow tank to sit centre of wall, also redecorated wall behind where tanks going as it won’t be moving for a decade.

This is what I ended up with.

Tank in situation

Started the two day fill

After getting up to 25c 77f added salt

Organised sump

Got 3x 26 Hydra HDs up and running

Fixed rock work back in to place and glued to base of tank with CT1 food grade polymer sealant that is available in UK and reef safe and cures sets under water.

Electrical cupboard organised and 30ltr auto top off installed.

Reef-junky · Dec 13, 2018

Very clean set up

becon776 · Dec 16, 2018

man i hate scaping. literally restacked four times. so frustrating. plus i had to put in samd and water bc brute can cycled so didnt want to mess it up. sooooo frustrating. ended up going old school tried islands with teo of the stacks. i think i like the islands l, jist not in my tank

Fishnut · Dec 16, 2018

I love your last attempt, one pile with a lot off tunnels. I would just not center it but rather offset to one side.

Reef-junky · Dec 16, 2018

Rule of 1/3rds. The two or three islands look better then just one lump of rocks. Very the height of the rocks as well. What kind a width do you have? If the tank is wide enough I would also place the rock at different depths in the tank or maybe use angles. I also like the use of negative space.

Reef-junky · Dec 16, 2018

Gotareeftokeep said:
Hi,

I’m just setting up a 450 Reefer.

Going bare bottom so have painted the bottom of the tank a sand colour and scape done with cleaned Pukni rock .

What do you think of the aquascape lay out ?

I like this one the best

becon776 · Dec 16, 2018

Reef-junky said:
I like this one the best

i agree. i put up in brs and man that was no help at all. 50/50 split between people liking the islands and the single stack. unfortunately rock was not conducive to what i wanted at all. i got 90# of rock and only loke ten pieces! depsite ke tryung to concrete bust a few if them scared its turnung to rubble. My last tank was set up for 18 years. so its been awhile and i had each and every piece memorized. yeah 4 month cycle before sps can be added. but figuring 2 week for fish (rock has been in brute for iver a minth w nh4cl added. i have a full tank of fish right now in a temp home and they are miserable. i think im sticking qith the single stack bc its what i know from 22 yrs of reefing. i tried. i just fear change lolol.

p.s. OP sorry to jack your thread. i LOVE your scape. FILL IT!
pic where i ended up.... to many hrs. still a little fiddling to do on top but my hands are raw. is a touch offset. #reefer450

Gotareeftokeep · Dec 16, 2018

Yep agreed aquascaping is a nightmare.

I went for as much space as possible, almost negative aquascaping..... less is more and all that.

The plus side of the “Islands” is to allow huge volumes of broad water movement in the tank.

Time will tell if I got it right, one bit of advice regards aquascaping is once your 90% happy leave it as once it’s filled with coral and coraline algae the last 10% with come. And by adjusting something that’s 90% there is a chance you could end up with something you like less.

Gotareeftokeep · Dec 16, 2018

becon776 · Dec 19, 2018

i was lucky enough that my tank was a 1 yo gently used tank and didnt come with sump. was a little stressed out at first till i found this

https://crystalreefaquatics.com/col...s/red-sea-replacement-sump-rsrs-450-reef-sump

lovung this thing besides being out of comfort zone with no mech filtration. all in with triton.