HATE my tank!

BigTomo003 · Nov 25, 2020

So my tanks been up for around a year. Have a 60g cube. Good equipment and a few corals (some rare and expensive) and a stunning bta. However my scape is awful! It's just 3 horrible bits of lr that create 3 small islands. As the tank is a decent size I want alot of space for corals and a nice scape that showcases the corals (I want sps but no room on rocks)

I know that u guys will try talk me out of it, but I really want a rockwall. My fish store has a big cube display tank with a rock wall and its stunning. But how do u make it look good? Also for re scraping an entire tank should I move the fish and corals and inverts to a tempary tank? I need ideas for a scape because the one I have currently isn't cutting it.

I want a full, lush colourful tank fill to the brim with corals, also can I add more sand for a deeper sand bed? I have a watchman goby I'd like to pair with a pistol shrimp.

Thanks all

rapid · Nov 25, 2020

hey man !!! how ya doin !!

rapid · Nov 25, 2020

i too struggled with finding the right aquascape in my cube !

Reef man 89 · Nov 25, 2020

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If YOU don’t like your aqua scape then redo it. It’s all about what YOU like and not everyone else. I have redone my many times till I found something I like.

rapid · Nov 25, 2020

if you check out my build thread you'll see the progression. As for your rock wall you want !! DO IT. tell you one thing i haven't seen a reef rock wall made from LR. I think that would be sweet !! Maybe you can locate your fish and inhabitance into a holding tank and use some LR to build a rock wall and Reef safe silicon it to the back glass maybe using some kind of aquarium foam? use Sand to apply to the gaps in rock and use the silicon to make the sand stick so it looks like there is some sand in the gaps of the rocks. You may have to cut the rocks in half to achieve a flat surface to adhere them to the back wall. Please start a build thread if you begin this project id love to see the progression !!

I would use live rock that's been wet already and is still wet. you don't wanna redo your cycle but you probably will have to any how when adding new components to your established tank. also youll be adding silicon and other material to this to adhere the rocks to the glass so youll want to have a good couple months of running the system wet and going through a cylce to just allow the material to leach the **** out of it if its going to leach anything. Try to stick to just reef safe or fish safe materials .

rapid · Nov 25, 2020

as for the sand bed go for it !!! if you want to add a deeper sand bed just buy some live sand and add it to your tank when pumps are off. YES its going to be cloudy at first and you wanna do your best to get the sand to the bottom and not cover ur coral and rocks!!!

make sure you have a way of cleaning a deep sand bed myn is about 4 inches deep but my sand sifiting diamond goby keeps it well stirred and moves the sand between the back of the tank and the front!

MarshallB · Nov 25, 2020

Just move all your critters to a holding area and spend a few hours till you end up with a scape you like. Try to envision what it will look like full of mature coral.

rwreef · Nov 25, 2020

Any pics?

G Santana · Nov 25, 2020

Go for it, it's your interpretation of your vision

homer1475 · Nov 25, 2020

Cubes are tough, for sure. I ended up with a "rock wall" sort of as I just covered the center overflow with flat rocks for SPS up high.

BigTomo003 · Nov 26, 2020

rwreef said:
Any pics?

Yes, it's one from a few months ago, the tank looks a bit different now as there's more coral and a bta

Fiesty · Nov 26, 2020

This was my 93 gal "cube" with what i guess some might consider a "rock wall?" The rock was more in the center than what I'd consider a traditional rock wall as those were usually in 125 gallon tanks with rocks stacked against back glass due to limited room. In a cibe id consider it more of a rock island personally?

BigTomo003 · Nov 26, 2020

Fiesty said:
This was my 93 gal "cube" with what i guess some might consider a "rock wall?" The rock was more in the center than what I'd consider a traditional rock wall as those were usually in 125 gallon tanks with rocks stacked against back glass due to limited room. In a cibe id consider it more of a rock island personally?

Yes, and that star is stunning, I have a red fromia one in my tank he's awesome

reefviper101 · Nov 26, 2020

BigTomo003 said:
So my tanks been up for around a year. Have a 60g cube. Good equipment and a few corals (some rare and expensive) and a stunning bta. However my scape is awful! It's just 3 horrible bits of lr that create 3 small islands. As the tank is a decent size I want alot of space for corals and a nice scape that showcases the corals (I want sps but no room on rocks)

I know that u guys will try talk me out of it, but I really want a rockwall. My fish store has a big cube display tank with a rock wall and its stunning. But how do u make it look good? Also for re scraping an entire tank should I move the fish and corals and inverts to a tempary tank? I need ideas for a scape because the one I have currently isn't cutting it.

I want a full, lush colourful tank fill to the brim with corals, also can I add more sand for a deeper sand bed? I have a watchman goby I'd like to pair with a pistol shrimp.

Thanks all

2 things for u dude one i had 29g bio yrs ago had rock wall staight up the middle it was awesome and easy to keep clean. 2 like someone already said it is your vision make it u i started a 36g bowfront 8 months ago 3 weeks ago i finnally got my scape the way i like it and if need to put more rock cure it in a smaller tank or bucket go for the gold dude and have fun doing

BigTomo003 · Nov 26, 2020

reefviper101 said:
2 things for u dude one i had 29g bio yrs ago had rock wall staight up the middle it was awesome and easy to keep clean. 2 like someone already said it is your vision make it u i started a 36g bowfront 8 months ago 3 weeks ago i finnally got my scape the way i like it and if need to put more rock cure it in a smaller tank or bucket go for the gold dude and have fun doing

Thanks, a pillar straight up to the surface sounds cool. I'll order my rock later and start transferring my fish. Only have 2 occy clowns and a watchman goby so should be easy enough. Thinking of a royal gurama. Really want a blue tang but my tanks not big enough, could I get a baby one around an inch or 2 and grow it out? I have a 6 foot tank I want to set up in the next couple of years I just need to save for more equipment. I use all aqua illumination products as there easy to control and are really good

reefviper101 · Nov 26, 2020

BigTomo003 said:
Thanks, a pillar straight up to the surface sounds cool. I'll order my rock later and start transferring my fish. Only have 2 occy clowns and a watchman goby so should be easy enough. Thinking of a royal gurama. Really want a blue tang but my tanks not big enough, could I get a baby one around an inch or 2 and grow it out? I have a 6 foot tank I want to set up in the next couple of years I just need to save for more equipment. I use all aqua illumination products as there easy to control and are really good

Yeah if u got a good lfs they may trade with u go small 6 months trade for another small do it wirh my yellow in a 36g bowfront

BigTomo003 · Nov 26, 2020

reefviper101 said:
Yeah if u got a good lfs they may trade with u go small 6 months trade for another small do it wirh my yellow in a 36g bowfront

Yes, we only have a few in Scotland but the one I go to is probably the best, care about the fish, give proper information and don't try sell u things for the sake of it. I bought a cleaner shrimp from them once and a few days later I noticed he had a paracite on him, I took him back and they gave me a new one and put the other one in qt and removed the paracite, then put him in one of their display tanks. It's a really good shop