Can I get some rockscape opinions?

HuneyBear · Dec 11, 2019

Finally getting my tank finished up and would like some opinions please. I’m going to sleep on it and look at it tomorrow morning then again after work tomorrow. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Its still a little cloudy from the dust from drilling. It’s partially pinned with fiberglass rod and partially stacked. It’s a mixture of reef saver rock and pukani. Thanks again for looking.

Geebs19 · Dec 11, 2019

What’s your plan with the tank? Fish only? Reef tank? Are you planning to have a sand bed?

For first look that is quite a bit of rock. I would make it so it’s not all one level, you have the same height all the way across. Maybe make 2 separate structures with a small gap between them and give them various heights. Scaping is always the hardest

motortrendz · Dec 11, 2019

For me personally I feel like it's way too much rock.. if your planning on coral make sure you leave room for them to grow and have open water for fish to swim. I like to leave alot of open room for caves and water flow. Too much stacked rocks will cause detritus traps and will become problems in the future.

HuneyBear · Dec 11, 2019

Geebs19 said:
What’s your plan with the tank? Fish only? Reef tank? Are you planning to have a sand bed?

For first look that is quite a bit of rock. I would make it so it’s not all one level, you have the same height all the way across. Maybe make 2 separate structures with a small gap between them and give them various heights. Scaping is always the hardest

It will be a reef tank. I want to go bare bottom but people keep trying to talk me out of it.

I was having problems with drilling the reef saver rocks. They would either split at the hole or the hole area would crumble and would be loose. I had a really great archway made and the rocks just crumbled as I was finishing it up. So the small archway that goes from near the front center back is what I salvaged of it. I cut off the excess rod and used what I had. Behind all of that rock it’s really as hollow as I could get and keep it stable. There are all kinds of hollows and tunnels everywhere.

I used all the rock I had so that I could move the stock tank it’s been in since July. I’m thinking I’ll pull some out and throw it in the sump for now.

Mikedawg · Dec 11, 2019

For a tank this length many reefers would go with the two island look; might give it a try

LegendaryCG · Dec 11, 2019

To be honest, it looks like a lot of rock to me. I'd try to cut it in 1/2 and then hopefully your coral can occupy the void.

Phildago · Dec 11, 2019

Honestly, I think it looks pretty good, but I think having that much rock piled up against the back of the tank is asking for trouble. Even just two inches off the glass would give you enough space to get some flow back there and keep the whole tank healthier

DSEKULA · Dec 11, 2019

Do you like it? That's the main thing.
It's hard to tell bc pictures don't give depth but it seems like you could use some separate levels or islands to break things up. As coral grows it will help keep pieces from encroaching on each other's space. I personally wouldn't put all the rock agnist the back wall, it makes maintenance tough and blocks flow. If your having issues drilling, are you using a hammer drill and bit? I've drilled tons of rock and never had issues. If you break pieces you can also cement them back together.

thewalkingdad · Dec 11, 2019

I prefer scapes with about half as much rock. Hopefully the growing corals and fish will fill the void when the rocks aren't there. Also, I probably wouldn't have anything so close to my back glass. I want to be able to reach the snail that died back there and also allow some flow on that side of the tank.

The nice thing is, you have a ton of rock to work with as you continue to refine your scape.

Streetlamp · Dec 12, 2019

My initial thought was, thats a lot of rock. But it has natural reef wall look to it.

Dempsey941 · Dec 12, 2019

HuneyBear said:
I want to go bare bottom but people keep trying to talk me out of it.

flsalty · Dec 12, 2019

I like it. It has lots of caves and levels and depth. Everybody does that blah two island thing. I can't stand a minimalist approach either.

Be102 · Dec 12, 2019

I actually really like it too! We don’t see rock walls as common anymore but I’m thinking if you moved the back of the wall up maybe half an inch and had a power head aiming down the back or from the bottom up it would be alright for detritus. Flow will most likely take care of that. I love the tunnels and crevices I’d love to see creatures crawling up and down the rocks like that. I agree we do all tend to go to minimalistic looks now but I do like this as well.

edit: what if you add another power head like the one you have now but vertical to run along the back wall of the tank? Could help with buildup back there!

HuneyBear · Dec 13, 2019

took some of the rock out and did a little rearranging. And the clouding has cleared.

Super Fly · Dec 16, 2019

This guy had one of the best rockscapes I've seen (tank's been shut down since) using a lot of rocks...

kados · Dec 19, 2019

I agree with the comments on creating levels and more spacing in general. The negative space gives the illusion of depth also. But go with whatever you like ultimately leaving room from for coral growth. The APEX can make some of the husbandry tasks easier but definitely focus on the basics of water chemistry first in your conversion from FOWLR to Reef. I'm personally in the process of going from reef back to FOWLR. Good luck. I will follow along!

HuneyBear · Dec 19, 2019

los kados said:
I agree with the comments on creating levels and more spacing in general. The negative space gives the illusion of depth also. But go with whatever you like ultimately leaving room from for coral growth. The APEX can make some of the husbandry tasks easier but definitely focus on the basics of water chemistry first in your conversion from FOWLR to Reef. I'm personally in the process of going from reef back to FOWLR. Good luck. I will follow along!

There really is a lot of negative space it’s just hard to convey in photos. I don’t have an Apex I actually have a Profilux and I feel it’s more trustworthy and better built. This is a new build not a conversion. I’m getting back in the hobby after being out for about 10 years.

kados · Dec 19, 2019

Gotcha. Yes. At 2nd glance I totally see that arc/cave. Lots of good hiding spot to dart in and out of. Good luck with the build. I am starting all over also after recently moving.