Aquascape suggestions?

[dodofish]

 

[dodofish]

Any suggestions or recommended changes? The tank is 60"x36"x28". The blue tape is the dimensions of the tank.

 

[Stang67]

Just make sure to have enough room between glass and rock. I would say 3 inches. Looks pretty cool.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Looks awesome.

i will say that middle section on the right hand side might be hard to get flow right, depending on what your tank goals are.

The eventual goal will be to never see the rockwork once the coral gets growing well. So keep in mind once colonies get to a decent size how that might come into play with distance from water level, glass, and between the rockwork (assuming SPS)

 

[ihavecrabs]

Be the way, you will love that 36” tank width. I did a 60x30x22 and love it. I can only imagine having that extra space

 

[dodofish]

Thanks for the replies! This will be a mixed reef with SPS. So trying to have multiple levels (up and down - front to back) areas for mounting. The 36" depth is awesome. I think I needed some rock work that went to the middle so I had more mounting areas. Thus the plating structure. Open to other ideas!

For flow was planning on 2 Gyre and 2 or 3 MP40s. Not sure on where I'm placing them yet as I have to plan flow for the front to back as well as the side to side.

Do you think this would work well?

 

[ihavecrabs]

I have mostly SPS and have two separate structures (my build thread has the aquascape). My power heads include:

Two MP40s (70-90% alternating programs)
Two Jebao of PP8’s (random on/off/both/single during day time and low at night)
Two Gyres (one across top and one across the back) running on random at 50%.

I use the special grade sand as to have it easier with high flow.

with the intricacies within the rockwork, you may want some smaller directional power heads assisting, but mixed reef you might be good.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Is this a brand new tank or are you bringing over sand and rock from another display?

 

[dodofish]

This is a brand new tank. The rock is mixture of dry rock sold currently and some very old marshall island rock that I gave an acid bath to. I have bags of sand ready to go bought the tropic Meso flakes so I believe smaller than your sand.

I'm coming from a 180g reef that I have had running for 12 years. I will only move the fish over. I wanted a clean reset.

I will check out your build!

 

[ihavecrabs]

This is a brand new tank. The rock is mixture of dry rock sold currently and some very old marshall island rock that I gave an acid bath to. I have bags of sand ready to go bought the tropic Meso flakes so I believe smaller than your sand.

I'm coming from a 180g reef that I have had running for 12 years. I will only move the fish over. I wanted a clean reset.

I will check out your build!

Awesome. I’ll definitely be tagging along on your build thread as well

 

[ninjamyst]

Too much rock imo. Instead of one wall of rocks, you now have two. I would create more depth by breaking up the walls. Once corals grow in, you won't even see the back wall anymore. Sorry for the blunt feedback....

 

[dodofish]

Appreciate all feedback. I want to make sure fish have a lot of areas to hide and navigate.

I agree might be rock overload. Not sure how to change it. The 36 depth requires something in the back and middle I think.

I have always had 24" width tanks. so trying to navigate the 36".

 

[ninjamyst]

Here's my scape for 70 x 30 x 21. I took advantage of the 30 width with the middle structure that provides depth. I plan to add a few small pieces to fill up the space but overall I am pretty happy with this. Plenty of caves and ledges for fish to hide. I even elevate some of the base rocks so fish can hide under them.

 

[sp1187]

go high in the corners and slope down towards the center back to front. with a vertical wall across the like you have growing stuff on the face of it will be difficult as it gets overshadowed by growth above it.
the "high in the corners" allows you to hide vertical corner mounted gyres, unless having pumps in full view doesn't bother you. my scape breaks the surface in one corner and is just below the surface on the opposite side. the gyers, heater, return plumbing and overflow box are all hidden from site.
the valley in between is a flow dead zone and wasted visual space.

 

[Grapefruit509]

very good back side and nice shelf in the front, it looks maybe a little lacking in variation on the front part tho, try adding a bit or height and shape in small pockets on the front end. It will make the tank Super beautiful from the Sides as well. Rock walls on the back for some reason just dont sit right with me, although urs has variation and space throughout the back side, very sexy

 

[Grapefruit509]

maybe add some overhangs facing the center of the tank to the back wall to give it a 3d look when viewing from the sides

 

[Grapefruit509]

also it looks a bit like one Big piece of rock, Maybe remove a few pieces to create lil crevases, almost like small cliffs seperating different rock "islands" like our boi ninja, if it stays stable. even a few inches between would give a feel of exploration while you examine the tank. kind of like lil paths to walk through if u were a hermi

 

[dodofish]

Thanks everyone great feedback. Keep them coming! I really like your aquascape Ninjamyst. Another note that this tank will be in wall and only viewable from the front.. I will make some changes and repost. Thanks again!

 

[dodofish]

Second try. I'm really not good at this! Let me know better or worse.

 

[Grapefruit509]

Yes yes yes. That front section looking sexy