Criticize me please!!!!

[obadabot]

Hey everyone, so i'm having a hard time deciding how i want my aquascape to look. I've been messing around with it for a couple of days now and i'm not happy with the results. Im open to suggestions, feel free to criticize me all you want, i promise i won't get offended.


Also, please leave suggestions on coral placement as well.

 

[AlmostGosu]

Hey everyone, so i'm having a hard time deciding how i want my aquascape to look. I've been messing around with it for a couple of days now and i'm not happy with the results. Im open to suggestions, feel free to criticize me all you want, i promise i won't get offended.


Also, please leave suggestions on coral placement as well.

I think it looks a bit empty and you could use some more rock.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

I hate rockscaping with a passion and can never get it to look like what I have in my mind before I start. I always end up just leaving it even though I'm not completely happy.

For what it's worth I quite like the structure on the left, lots of nice areas for coral placement along with hidey holes for fish etc. The right hand side doesn't look right though and I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it's a similar size and shape to the left? Maybe move the branching piece into the back right corner, the plate you have at the front you could perhaps use to bridge across the 2 structures and then use one of the smaller top pieces on the sand where the plate was along the right hand side, butted up against the bigger rock forming a reverse L if that makes sense.

Shaun.

 

[Waters]

I am not of fan of mixing different types of rocks.....IMO I would remove the branching piece on the right and double the amount of rock on either the right or left island. Other than that, I think you are off to a good start

 

[obadabot]

I think it looks a bit empty and you could use some more rock.

Thanks for the suggestion !

 

[obadabot]

I hate rockscaping with a passion and can never get it to look like what I have in my mind before I start. I always end up just leaving it even though I'm not completely happy.

For what it's worth I quite like the structure on the left, lots of nice areas for coral placement along with hidey holes for fish etc. The right hand side doesn't look right though and I'm not sure why. Perhaps because it's a similar size and shape to the left? Maybe move the branching piece into the back right corner, the plate you have at the front you could perhaps use to bridge across the 2 structures and then use one of the smaller top pieces on the sand where the plate was along the right hand side, butted up against the bigger rock forming a reverse L if that makes sense.

Shaun.

Thanks for the reply, I’m kinda of iffy on the left side only because I feel like it’s a little short? Like it needs to be elevated higher. The right side I’m not liking at all lol.
Please elaborate more on the L structure you’re talking about?

 

[obadabot]

I am not of fan of mixing different types of rocks.....IMO I would remove the branching piece on the right and double the amount of rock on either the right or left island. Other than that, I think you are off to a good start

Thanks for your opinion. Do you think I should elevate it higher ?

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Kind of like this if it makes any sense. Sorry I only have my tablet at work and lack any photo editing skills! You may have to move the big right hand side rock a little closer to the left side to make a bridge with the plate then the piece on the top down to where the plate is but flat on the bottom would look nice with some zoas on it. Personally I would get another couple of pieces or rock and build the right side up higher than the left so it's about half as high again to twice as high as the left. Possibly take the branching rock back and see if you can get a swop.

 

[Waters]

Thanks for your opinion. Do you think I should elevate it higher ?

Yes, I would elevate one of the two islands to make it higher so that they are both of different heights.

 

[IvanW]

When I did my scape ,actually it was my wife I also thought that using different type of rock looked funny. Once it is in the tank and it gets covered in algae of any sort you really can't notice any difference.

 

[dricc]

If you want criticism I could give you my wife's phone number she's an expert in the field.

 

[dricc]

I like the minimalist look you have going.

 

[dragon99]

My first thought was:

I like the cave on the left, but you need some more height on one or both sides.

 

[Darryl]

More rock and plants

 

[Ashish Patel]

Looks to me you just put the rock in the tank and tried to get it right... This is very hard to do and I am 100% sure you will end up tinkering with it especially after you add corals. My suggestion is find the heaviest piece of rock and use it for your foundation. add a lighter piece of LR ontop and leave an overhang. The weight distribution has to be right and you'll figure it out but it takes patients. Also, I don't believe in comments suggesting to use the same rock because the benefits of using different rock is you can have less porous rock to create overhangs such as your tonga rock or pukani. Stacking heavy rock ontop of heavy rock is more complicated. Overtime when the rock is the same color and covered no one will know what rock it is anyways.. Currently, I used 3 different types of LR from Reef saver, Pukani, and Fiji rock (for seeding).

below is what I endedup with and what I started with...Took me a 1 week to get it where I was fairly happy with it. Honestly I believe you can use about 60% of your LR and put the remainder in your sump for cryptic zone. I use instant ocean epoxy since its cheap and available on amazon. Also, ordered some acrylic rods from amazon. Hope this helps..

 

[trevormass7]

I'm personally a huge fan of islands and archways. They're easy to place coral on and still leave lots of room and crevices for energetic fish. This is my scape

 

[Greybeard]

Criticize me please!!!!

Ok... your forum name is unpronounceable.



As to your rockscape, if you were happy with it, you probably wouldn't be asking. Keep messing with it until you are happy. It's your tank, you're the one that has to look at it every day. Remember, it's real ugly to try and rearrange your rock _after_ it's covered in corals

 

[dbl]

@Greybeard took the words right out of my mouth. You are the only one that has to like it as you are the only one that gets to look at it everyday. Get it right for aesthetics, coral placement and flow and go with it. You'll likely want to change it down the road anyway, although it's not the easiest thing to do.

Lastly, if you haven't looked through this thread, take a look. It provides a lot of great information on aquascaping. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tips-and-tricks-on-creating-amazing-aquascapes.97209/

 

[leahfiish]

I would place the rocks directly on the glass (not on the sand) and make one of the structures a little bit taller.

 

[trevormass7]

Haha you'll definitely change your scape. I have multiple times