Aquascaping Reefer XXL 625

[Bender]

Hello everyone!

I've been posting a slow build thread, but i figured i'd get more advice here in this forum for the aquascaping. This is NOT my forta'.

Here is my design I currently have - I am using old rock i had laying around, wish i had bigger pieces as this is a big tank. I am thinking the right side is a ZOA island, and the left will be a mixture of LPS, especially some nice Acans. There will be a lot of schooling fish, as well as other busy fish so i want to keep a decent amount of swim room.

Top View:

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Again, this is not my area of expertise.

 

[CasaReefer]

I like the 2 island design I think it looks great

 

[Megability]

Following... I’ll be aquascaping my 625 soon but no mockups or suggestions yet, but I like your look so far!

 

[Bender]

I was really hoping i had bigger pieces to work with, there's so much real estate to work with in this mockup compared to all my previous builds - the rocks that were perfect for them don't work so well in this tank.

Also when i am putting pieces together it starts to get tall, i sit back and look and its not even half way up the back wall.

 

[AZMSGT]

Sand or no sand?
Mine is a bare bottom. But if I did sand I would probably done some sort of a pedistal on one island. Kinda an upside down cone. Ying yang look. The upside down island would need a support base. The sand would cover the base support.

 

[Megability]

...I would probably done some sort of a pedistal on one island. Kinda an upside down cone. Ying yang look. The upside down island would need a support base. The sand would cover the base support.

I’ve thought about this too, but then light is blocked for anything underneath, like when a montipora grows out... maybe not an issue if there really isn’t anything underneath but I’ve been there with a monti and it kinda limited my options or “smothered” other corals... -IT looked nice though

 

[AZMSGT]

I’ve thought about this too, but then light is blocked for anything underneath, like when a montipora grows out... maybe not an issue if there really isn’t anything underneath but I’ve been there with a monti and it kinda limited my options or “smothered” other corals... -IT looked nice though

It really depends how tall the “ underneath” is. It could be filled with sand and give a place for fish to swim.

 

[Bender]

I’ve thought about this too, but then light is blocked for anything underneath, like when a montipora grows out... maybe not an issue if there really isn’t anything underneath but I’ve been there with a monti and it kinda limited my options or “smothered” other corals... -IT looked nice though

This would be my concern, depending how wide it gets at the top compared to the bottom, i would imagine it would stay bare rock all the way up - minus coraline - Not sure how that would look long term? Are there an examples of it in a mature system?

 

[Peach02]

Looks good, roughly how much rock did you use?

 

[Bender]

@Peach02

It was all left over from old builds, but I believe i bought 100#s originally, which includes whats in my sump. I would assume about 75 LBS.

 

[Peach02]

@Peach02

It was all left over from old builds, but I believe i bought 100#s originally, which includes whats in my sump. I would assume about 75 LBS.

Okay cool thank you