Aquascape ideas

Gbailey28 · Feb 27, 2017

I am in the process of setting up a 125gal. mixed reef tank. I am looking for some aquascape ideas? I am going to try the Caribsea Life Rock. I was going for the island look originally but thought it was to empty so I added some branch a buddy of mine had laying around. Now I think it is to busy. The cardboard in the pictures is a representation of the tank size. Thoughts?

sbash · Feb 28, 2017

First, whatever type of room this is, I want one...

Second. I found myself with a bunch of tonga branches and had a hard time figuring out what to do with them. I ended up standing them up and putting them on one end and letting my xenia take them over, it looks super neat.

Anyway, what you have done looks pretty good. It is also a good thing you have a bunch of smaller pieces, you can easily restructure once you have stared at it for a while (once live). I (and many others) change things around once the tank is established...

Hemlawk · Feb 28, 2017

I think 2 islands of rock looks better without the branch in between. Maybe incorporate them into the 2 piles?

Gbailey28 · Feb 28, 2017

sbash said:
First, whatever type of room this is, I want one...

Second. I found myself with a bunch of tonga branches and had a hard time figuring out what to do with them. I ended up standing them up and putting them on one end and letting my xenia take them over, it looks super neat.

Anyway, what you have done looks pretty good. It is also a good thing you have a bunch of smaller pieces, you can easily restructure once you have stared at it for a while (once live). I (and many others) change things around once the tank is established...

Thanks! It is my basement. Thank you for the input.

Gbailey28 · Feb 28, 2017

Hemlawk said:
I think 2 islands of rock looks better without the branch in between. Maybe incorporate them into the 2 piles?

I will try that and see how it looks

DipSpit · Feb 28, 2017

There are a ton of great ideas online and some great articles on aquascaping, though, not sure if you are allowed to link externally.

Pay attention to things like the "rule of thirds" and don't be in a hurry to fill in all available space. Experiment with height vs. length also. You have the right idea with the two islands - incorporate some of the branch into the island via acrylic rods, putty or a well-places friction hold.

ahiggins · Feb 28, 2017

DipSpit said:
There are a ton of great ideas online and some great articles on aquascaping, though, not sure if you are allowed to link externally.

Pay attention to things like the "rule of thirds" and don't be in a hurry to fill in all available space. Experiment with height vs. length also. You have the right idea with the two islands - incorporate some of the branch into the island via acrylic rods, putty or a well-places friction hold.

LOL the rule of thirds went out the window for me. My little 25 cube is full of rock, about 5" of available free space between the rocks and the water line but I also dont have any sps that will be branching up.
I love the live rock look

Its all about your personal style. Personally I would like the two end islands taller and then the middle tonga branches shorter and I dont like the no-branches one because it looks bare. But everyone has their own ideas

I would want to toss in soooooo much coral on those rocks hahaha

buckroe07 · Feb 28, 2017

Nice room, I mean nice scape

the islands look awesome where fish can hide and swim through. I think there is too much branching rock in the middle. Try a little less and remove the branch on the very left by itself. Maybe a small pile of branches in the middle in such a way that fish will be able to swim under, through, and around would look good. My experience with islands is that fish act more skittish and don't act as they normally would with too much space in between.

colesjensen · Feb 28, 2017

Looks good! I've kinda done the same 2 island idea but a little different. This is what I have now

Gbailey28 · Mar 1, 2017

buckroe07 said:
Nice room, I mean nice scape the islands look awesome where fish can hide and swim through. I think there is too much branching rock in the middle. Try a little less and remove the branch on the very left by itself. Maybe a small pile of branches in the middle in such a way that fish will be able to swim under, through, and around would look good. My experience with islands is that fish act more skittish and don't act as they normally would with too much space in between.