HELP! Using tonga and other rock together

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2016

So...I'm working on aquascaping my cube, and I have LOTS of options. I'm planning to go with a bonsai style structure with shelves and maybe an arch or 2.

My biggest issue is deciding whether to use tonga in the rock work or not. I've got a lot of tonga to work with, but I know I'll be wanting to use other types of rock as well, and I'm trying to decide if it will look weird multiple types of rock.

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the rock that I have to play with.

I actually have 3 more containers in my garage (I'm saving for a large build later...so don't judge me as a rock hoarder. LOL), but I figure this much gives me plenty of options for a 60g cube.

Anirban · Nov 9, 2016

You accept it or not but you are a rock hoarder. I will suggest making branches with the tonga but then add the base rock to give it a strong base and add the shelve rock to make shelves. So it will be a structure where you have strong base like tree then sleek branches with tonga and also shelves.

Ljaus · Nov 9, 2016

Anirban said:
You accept it or not but you are a rock hoarder. I will suggest making branches with the tonga but then add the base rock to give it a strong base and add the shelve rock to make shelves. So it will be a structure where you have strong base like tree then sleek branches with tonga and also shelves.

+1 on this, you have some nice rock to work with

cpschult · Nov 9, 2016

I tried shelves and Tonga, didn't like the look.

I liked shelf and some pukani better. Maybe you can scape your Tonga better, I just had a hard time getting something I liked.

Hope this helps! 30x30 for reference.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2016

Well...so far this is what I've come up with...

#notimpressed

Thoughts? What am I doing wrong?

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2016

cpschult said:
I tried shelves and Tonga, didn't like the look.

I liked shelf and some pukani better. Maybe you can scape your Tonga better, I just had a hard time getting something I liked.

Hope this helps! 30x30 for reference.

For some reason, I'm not seeing these pics. Are they showing up for the rest of you guys?

Ljaus · Nov 9, 2016

I'm not seeing the pics either

mdbannister said:
For some reason, I'm not seeing these pics. Are they showing up for the rest of you guys?

melypr1985 · Nov 9, 2016

I dont see those pics either. For the record I like what you came up with when I see it from the POV of the second picture. I have a tank at the store that was scaped with nothing but tonga. It has a center overflow and the tonga is stacked (not unlike antlers) like a cage around it. It made for some really impressive viewing when filled with large corals like frogspawn. It took a downward turn for a bit because of a faulty powerhead pumping electricity into the tank, but the scape remains the same. I'll have to take a picture for you. You might hate it, but it might give you some inspiration.

cpschult · Nov 9, 2016

now

Previous

How about this? I tried to go minimalistic because I didn't want fish to disappear and my 125g had way to much rock work. The wife liked Tonga but just couldn't get anything I liked. I had a few other tong branches I tried in there with it but just didn't like it. Im a big fan of my new clean look.

It appears you want more bonsai than I wanted, feel like it would be very hard to tie Tonga in with it.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 9, 2016

mdbannister said:
Well...so far this is what I've come up with... #notimpressed

Thoughts? What am I doing wrong?

#backtothedrawingboard

yea thats a sweet collection of rocks. Umm for inspiration, google bonsai. than bonsai tank. then maybe island and floating.
My immediate though was, because of the branches, look at planted tanks. i did see a reef with all branches that looked like mangrove roots. imo great hiding spots, large shelves.

but then again most of my scapes look like a hobbit's nightmare or tim burton pipe dream

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2016

Thanks for the input guys! I'm trying to see what other combinations I can come up with, so I'll post more in a bit.

I should probably mention that I'm planning on this being mostly SPS with some LPS on the sand bed.

I do think what I have so far may be a decent rough start, but it 1) looks unnatural and 2) looks too busy.

I'll Google a few things and then start scaping again.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2016

So...not for nothing but I kinda want to copy something like this...at least in technique...

Daniel@R2R · Nov 10, 2016

Or these...

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 10, 2016

mdbannister said:
So...not for nothing but I kinda want to copy something like this...at least in technique...

I think ya got the parts for something like that.
you might want to waste some zip ties and get some marco cement once you lock in a design(if you dont have it already).

the tonga forest I saw was similar but instead of just big floats, it had branches supporting those. kina cryptic (in the marine sense

)

Daniel@R2R · Nov 10, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
I think ya got the parts for something like that.
you might want to waste some zip ties and get some marco cement once you lock in a design(if you dont have it already).

the tonga forest I saw was similar but instead of just big floats, it had branches supporting those. kina cryptic (in the marine sense)

I have the cement...just not sure how to get it set up before I use the cement (figuring the cement is what I should use once I'm certain I like something)

I also have drill and plastic rods...

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 10, 2016

mdbannister said:
I have the cement...just not sure how to get it set up before I use the cement (figuring the cement is what I should use once I'm certain I like something)

I also have drill and plastic rods...

of course you do.

zip ties and wedges or wood or cans to build temp supports. Think scaffold. IMdiyO

Sabellafella · Nov 10, 2016

Wow those are some beautiful scapes. Sounds like your on the right track, keep in mind you may have to move rock in the future. I litterally glued epoxyed and used acrylic to my whole rock scape at first. It was the WORST thing ive possibly done in my reefing career but thankfully i took it out and started the same scape over. Now i can take it apart in sections just incase. Tonga with fiji base/shelf scapes are amazing and i cant wait to see how yours turns out!

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 10, 2016

Mine are each modular. I can pull each of the the weirdo structures out and put it in a bucket or tub. building on a crate might not be a bad Idea either.

Sabellafella said:
Wow those are some beautiful scapes. Sounds like your on the right track, keep in mind you may have to move rock in the future. I litterally glued epoxyed and used acrylic to my whole rock scape at first. It was the WORST thing ive possibly done in my reefing career but thankfully i took it out and started the same scape over. Now i can take it apart in sections just incase. Tonga with fiji base/shelf scapes are amazing and i cant wait to see how yours turns out!

Right?

this is killin me too cuz my lil cube needs a rescape. my challenge... Its all wet and live