Need help with your aquascape?

[Vero Reefer]

I like it I'll do it tonight and repost the rock on the bottom is a base rock but I'll try and shift the column over

 

[stevepaynr84]

Try it and post a photo here.

Ok so I've gone for it... not 100% happy and definitely need more rock and corals I'd say but I think it's a start. Obviously everything is angry and sulking at the moment but here's a couple of pics. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

 

[Ardeus]

You managed to make that structure look like a single piece. And I think that removing that huge sarco from that structure was a good decision, because it overwhelms everything around.

I think that with the sarco there, it won't be easy to fit a lot of rock. Just a small structure with sarco either behind or on top.

I know you won't like this suggestion, but I already did it a couple of times: reboot the sarco - get a small piece for yourself, sell the big one and regrow it.

Right now it's the only big coral you have and it's not easy to make it look like it belongs there.

 

[stevepaynr84]

You managed to make that structure look like a single piece. And I think that removing that huge sarco from that structure was a good decision, because it overwhelms everything around.

I think that with the sarco there, it won't be easy to fit a lot of rock. Just a small structure with sarco either behind or on top.

I know you won't like this suggestion, but I already did it a couple of times: reboot the sarco - get a small piece for yourself, sell the big one and regrow it.

Right now it's the only big coral you have and it's not easy to make it look like it belongs there.

Can't get rid of it it would cause me too much pain lol not happy with how it looks though so water change day is tomorrow so gonna have a real good play then

 

[Ardeus]

Getting rid of it only hurts for a short time you'll find a younger one easily.

 

[scott11106]

here is my new creation...

 

[Ardeus]

Looks good!

You already did a very good job there with interesting profile lines and great sense of depth, so I am going to be a bit more critical.

I don't think the reef branches you have there on both sides of the tank fit. The one on the left look especially out of place, creating that thin bridge.

Comparing the left and right side, I see a much more interesting profile on the right.

I know it's not easy to do, but I would try to create a slightly smaller structure on the left.

If you tell me this will be a FOWLR, it's done and looks great.

If you're going to cover the rock with corals, you will need a great deal of planning and restraint to keep as much as you can of the open space you have at the moment.

 

[Ardeus]

This will most likely be your profile line when the corals grow.

 

[Ben Weaver]

I have loved you suggestions so far. You have a great eye for this! So i would love to hear your ideas on my 25 cube!

 

[Ardeus]

Thanks.

Some tanks start with very interesting layouts and then corals come and grow, and while they are the stars of the show, they end up hiding the beauty of the aquascape.

At the moment your layout doesn't look cohesive, you perceive each rock very easily. That's not problem though. When corals grow, that will be automatically solved very quickly, because your tank is small.

Can you try this?

 

[Ardeus]

I never see this in small tanks, but a simple layout can be achieved by choosing a single very interesting rock.

 

[Ferrell]

Great ideas. Following along

 

[Ben Weaver]

Thanks.

Some tanks start with very interesting layouts and then corals come and grow, and while they are the stars of the show, they end up hiding the beauty of the aquascape.

At the moment your layout doesn't look cohesive, you perceive each rock very easily. That's not problem though. When corals grow, that will be automatically solved very quickly, because your tank is small.

Can you try this?

Ok i like the ouline you drew but i don't know what the little arrow means? Did you mean move the upper left rock down to the right?

 

[pluikens]

I'm dealing with some bubble algae so I feel I may be moving my rock around in the future to get it all scraped off. Any pointers on my current scape so I can keep them in mind if I'm rearranging? Thanks in advance!

 

[stevepaynr84]

Can't get rid of it it would cause me too much pain lol not happy with how it looks though so water change day is tomorrow so gonna have a real good play then

Ok I've gone with this...

 

[Ardeus]

Ok i like the ouline you drew but i don't know what the little arrow means? Did you mean move the upper left rock down to the right?

Yes that's what I meant. I'm not sure if it's possible though. The idea is make the profile look a bit less like an X.

 

[Ardeus]

I'm dealing with some bubble algae so I feel I may be moving my rock around in the future to get it all scraped off. Any pointers on my current scape so I can keep them in mind if I'm rearranging? Thanks in advance!

I really like what you have there. However in a single structure layout like yours, I always miss some more free space on each side.

You already have a bucket load of frags there, so I would also think and plan how the colors and shapes will go together.

I think a way of placing the corals in an harmonious and interesting way is by putting together corals with either color or shape in common.

Green acropora and green montipora/mushrooms. Green acropora and rose acropora.

 

[Ardeus]

@ stevepaynr84

I like it a lot... now you just need to reboot that sarcophyton.

 

[Ardeus]

It looks like 2 overlapping hills, I like it.

I think the euphyllia you have there on top would look better if it was growing from behind the point where the 2 hills meet.

If you reboot the sarcophyton, the whole structure can move a bit to the left. Not too much, you don't want it exactly in the middle.

 

[stevepaynr84]

It looks like 2 overlapping hills, I like it.

I think the euphyllia you have there on top would look better if it was growing from behind the point where the 2 hills meet.

If you reboot the sarcophyton, the whole structure can move a bit to the left. Not too much, you don't want it exactly in the middle.

Yeah I thought about moving that to the middle but think I'm going to invest in some more rock around it so it doesn't look unnatural where it is because it seems to really like the flow and the light there and with the shape of the rock it would be a nightmare to put in the centre without moving EVERYTHING