Need help with your aquascape?

[Ardeus]

Sorry about all of the blues. Just recently redid it what do you think??

It's a good foundation. I would correct those horizontal lines.

You don't need to change the rock structure, you can do that by placing corals with different heights. Make sure the sides of the canyon have corals with different heights.

 

[Ardeus]

@Ardeus

Wow, this thread is a total emotional roller coaster…never realized how bad my aquascape was till reading through all 24 pages. My OCD is kicking in and I’m ready to obsess on my new reef tank aquascape. I have a 120G (72L x 18w x 28h). I watched the videos ~30 times, so here’s what I learned thus far.

Current: Rock mess is way too symmetrical and way too much rock. Too many different types of rocks too – doesn’t look natural. Have too many vertical lines.

Goals: Need 2 asymmetrical structures with no horizontal or vertical lines. Must be off center…need caves & bays, different heights and sizes, don’t split tank in middle.

Challenge: zero artistical talent with 60 lbs of Key Largo Rock + 20 Key Largo Prime Cuts sitting in salt water in a big brute.

Please HELP!!!!

If you are going to remove some rock, begin with the plates.

Try to make each of the structure as seamless as possible. You got the main principles right, you will get there easily.

 

[noahreefer]

It's a good foundation. I would correct those horizontal lines.

You don't need to change the rock structure, you can do that by placing corals with different heights. Make sure the sides of the canyon have corals with different heights.

Thanks Ardeus! That makes sense I’ll move around some coral to eliminate the horizontal lines

 

[sawdonkey]

If you are going to remove some rock, begin with the plates.

Try to make each of the structure as seamless as possible. You got the main principles right, you will get there easily.

I agree with the “seamless” part and I think a lot of people fail to do this. Instead of looking like a “Structure” it often looks like a pile of rocks.

I achieve the structure look by building the basic shape with large rocks, and then epoxying small rocks into the cracks to make it all look like one. You pretty much have to do this underwater or ideally before you fill your tank. I’ve always built my structures under water.

 

[Headhunter]

I agree with the “seamless” part and I think a lot of people fail to do this. Instead of looking like a “Structure” it often looks like a pile of rocks.

I achieve the structure look by building the basic shape with large rocks, and then epoxying small rocks into the cracks to make it all look like one. You pretty much have to do this underwater or ideally before you fill your tank. I’ve always built my structures under water.

Thank you very much for the comments - most appreciated. Yes, I'm removing rocks...probably 35% of current. I'm struggling with the depth of the tank (18"). It's hard to craft a structure high enough. I have 28", everything looks short.

@sawdonkey What type of glue do you use to build underwater?

 

[Headhunter]

Personally, I like it much better.

I like this a lot...going to use it as my inspiration. what are dimensions on your tank?

 

[sawdonkey]

Thank you very much for the comments - most appreciated. Yes, I'm removing rocks...probably 35% of current. I'm struggling with the depth of the tank (18"). It's hard to craft a structure high enough. I have 28", everything looks short.

@sawdonkey What type of glue do you use to build underwater?

I use plumbers epoxy, either from the hardware store or the reef store. As long as it says OK for potable water, should be fine. However, epoxy alone will not stick. You have to cover the contact surfaces with super glue. Usually, I pull one rock from the water, put super glue on it, put the epoxy on that, put more super glue on the epoxy, then put the rock into the tank and smash the epoxy area into place on another rock.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

Hello there! This is my IM Nuvo 25 Lagoon. I have been playing around with the stones a fair bit and have it down to two scapes. The first scape I really like for the lagoon in the front and the cohesiveness of the scape. It pulls me in more and is more visually pleasing from the get go, especially with some softies and LPS. I also like the height that I was able to implement since it improves the scale making the tank much bigger than it really is.

The second scape I like because of the flow, shelves, less areas for detritus to collect and minimum footprint on the sand. I feel like this would be great for a mixed reef tank. The small rock in the front right could be substituted for an island of green star polyps, clam or something that could potentially be more invasive.

First, any preference for either? Second, any suggestions on improving that scape?

 

[Ardeus]

The 2nd is more daring, interesting and balanced.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

The 2nd is more daring, interesting and balanced.

Thank you! Are there any other improvements that you would make to it personally?

 

[NY_Caveman]

Thank you! Are there any other improvements that you would make to it personally?

If you like the first one, what about separating this part and rotating it 90* like this (if it leaves enough room between rock and glass)

I like the second, but this piece may get lost if mostly seen from the front. Depends on what you put there (if anything). I do like it though.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

[QUOTE="I like the second, but this piece may get lost if mostly seen from the front. Depends on what you put there (if anything). I do like it though.

[/QUOTE]

The rock in the second scape was purely to add more depth and perspective, and I feel that something is missing when I remove it but am not 100% please with it or it should placement.

 

[NY_Caveman]

[QUOTE="I like the second, but this piece may get lost if mostly seen from the front. Depends on what you put there (if anything). I do like it though.

The rock in the second scape was purely to add more depth and perspective, and I feel that something is missing when I remove it but am not 100% please with it or it should placement.[/QUOTE]

Leave it then. It is definitely an interesting aquascape as is.

 

[Ardeus]

You can try separating that rock, creating 3 structures and more pathways.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

You can try separating that rock, creating 3 structures and more pathways.

I’m glad I already did that, thank you for your time! Would it be wise to put egg crate under the scape, put the rocks back in and fill with sand or leave as is and fill with sand?

 

[Ardeus]

I wouldn't use eggcrate.

Your rocks seem stable. If anything falls, it will fall on the sand which will soften the blow. The eggcrate will show when fish start moving sand around.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

I wouldn't use eggcrate.

Your rocks seem stable. If anything falls, it will fall on the sand which will soften the blow. The eggcrate will show when fish start moving sand around.

Makes sense, anything else before I add sand?!

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

Makes sense, anything else before I add sand?!

 

[Ardeus]

Yes. Think about the fish you will add and if they will appreciate the aquascape.

 

[Jrvaldeznm]

Yes. Think about the fish you will add and if they will appreciate the aquascape.

Indeed, I will certainly bear this in mind when I am planning livestock. Thank you for your insights with this.