Accept it's full or jam more rock and corals in?

[andrewkw]

I've done a slight bit of rearranging since this photo was taken, but it's somehow left me with less room than before and I have a few pieces just sitting on the glass. I have lost a few tiny frags because they get knocked and gone forever. I do have some frags I would like to add that have been sitting in my frag tank for some time but I just don't see room for them unless I add more rock. The small bit of open space near the leather and the goni has to stay open as both of those corals expand to the point where they are almost touching depending on time of day.

I very much treat my display tank as a display so I do try and limit the amount of tiny frags and place as many things as possible in their permanent place and leave it at that. I'm almost only cutting the large colonies when they are damaging themselves or other corals and even then only after the damage gets to the point where I have to. Ideally I would like to get 1-2 more years out of this tank and then finally upgrade - that would be after moving so I'm not making any kinds of plans for that until it becomes more real. One thing I really hate about living out in the middle of no where is I hardly ever have other reefers over where I can get thoughts and constructive criticism on my own tanks. Do you think I should try and add more coral without removing anything major or just accept I can't fit more in this tank without weakening the display as a whole?

 

[brandon429]

I think each reef should have so much coral it’s an eyesore and repulsive to any golden ratio adherent. clearly that tank looks great!

 

[Waynerock]

Tank looks great! Stuff it till they are touching then trim,sell, and buy some more!

 

[NatD]

That is one of the most aesthetically pleasing tanks I’ve ever seen. Super impressive. I really like the bit of open space.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Looks good as is imho

 

[45ZoaGarden]

You could probably sell that big leather for a pretty penny if you wanted more coral. It looks like it is taking up some real estate

 

[Bob Weigant]

I feel like I have that problem now too and I also rearranged some corals. I found a spot or two where I could put something. Sometimes I’ll just sell or give away some coral that I no longer want to open up more territory

 

[NHgoalstop]

Looks like you could out plenty of stuff on that back panel. Load her up.

 

[andrewkw]

You could probably sell that big leather for a pretty penny if you wanted more coral. It looks like it is taking up some real estate

Yes, but if and when I get my dream tank be it in 1-2 years or 3-5 years I will have a giant showpiece to stick in it on day one. The base is thicker than my shoulders and it's only continuing to grow. I do frag it but only when I have to. If It had never been fragged it probably would be 48" or more across fully expanded.

Looks like you could out plenty of stuff on that back panel. Load her up.

It's very important to me to keep the back clean. I accept that I destroy some pieces trying to scrape the back in my narrow tank. A dirty background = a cluttered look. I just have the pom pom xenia over the overflow which creeps to the back then I cut up a bunch and take 50+ frags to the far away fish stores a couple of times a year. Even at a couple of bucks a frag it adds up. One time I sold a bunch of kenya trees for $2 each on the condition the guy take them all. Ended up being about 100 pieces of just kenya tree. (the variety in my tank is somewhat nicer then the standard one).

Here is a side shot from when I was cleaning the powerheads recently.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I think it looks good! I wouldn’t sweat it!

 

[C. Eymann]

Incredible as it is! Very natural looking coral placement and overall scape. The lighting and the color choice of background really makes this look like a slice of coral reef in a glass box.
Well done! keep it as it is!

 

[Admann]

You're good at this, do the right thing for all of us, GET A BIGGER TANK!

 

[Bacon505]

If you ask a stick head he/she will tell you there are always room for more.

 

[andrewkw]

Incredible as it is! Very natural looking coral placement and overall scape. The lighting and the color choice of background really makes this look like a slice of coral reef in a glass box.
Well done! keep it as it is!

Thanks. You will note I have a lot of "bland" corals a lot of reefers wont touch like pom pom xenia, and kenya trees and mushrooms that don't cost a lot. I do have some expensive high end pieces too, but they are sprinkled in based on their colours / coral types rather than hype. The centerpieces are really the $40 gorgonian and the standard green leather. Reaching giant size has made these everyday corals really stand out. Don't get me wrong there are lots of high end pieces I want but they gotta fit in the reef to go in before even factoring in price. I try and keep this tank as much of a display as possible.

If you ask a stick head he/she will tell you there are always room for more.

There is room for more but can it look good? I have other tanks if need to put other corals in, or pick up pieces I want to have that won't fit in here.

 

[Devaji]

I say leave it. I love i,t a true mixed reef.
I congratulate you on keeping your DT well a DT I have seen some nice tanks then they have a big ugly frag rack such an eye score. I mean I get it but a little nano is almost as much as the frag rack haha

anyway its your call. show us your frag tank. maybe you can set that up as a holding tank for the bigger one down the road and only get those corals you really what set it up as another DT style tank then when you to upgrade you have lots of BIG beautiful corals to add.

I hear you about living in the middle of nowhere...

PS : love the blue back ground. I like them so much better that black looks more natural IMHO

 

[Ox100]

looks real good as is!!!

 

[andrewkw]

Thank you for all the comments. As you can imagine I was already leaning this way but decided not to shove in a few more rocks. I do have a beautiful dinner plate sized flat piece of live rock which I will continue to save for future use. I've actually removed one coral and will just do some general cleanup which may include adding a few frags but is just as likely to include removing pieces. I've been working on one of my other tanks and will post some new pictures either tonight or tomorrow of them + above display.