Need help with your aquascape?

[Zeal]

How can I make this better? I’m going for mixed reef with SPS and I want the fish to feel comfortable

 

[ROLLER]

How can I make this better? I’m going for mixed reef with SPS and I want the fish to feel comfortable

I'm still very new to the hobby but I have a very similar aquascape. With the front face being so steep it feels like it limits where we can attach coral. I wish we had a more gradual slope to the front. As we glued coral to the rock we've noticed a lot of shadowing from the ones higher up and even the rocks themselves.

Hope that helps.

 

[ThePlummer]

@ Ardeus curious about your opinion on this build.

This tank is a Innovative Marine 120 shallow reef. Ive removed the AIO and added a 55 gallon sump refugium.

It’s being used as a peninsula, but not viewable from the back side.

I wanted to try and hide the weir and most of the 6 returns. So I cut a bunch of rock in half and siliconed them to the back. This is interesting, as the smaller fish have figured out how to dart in and out of the rock like little tunnels.

Just want your (and others) input on the foreground rock structure, as there’s no way I’m moving the back scape.

I kind of like this, but just not sure and want this right before I add black Hawaiian as a base sand with a small amount of larger crushed coral. The idea is for the crushed coral to get covered in coralline as the black/pink would look cool.

 

[Alenya]

I've got a few options to play with these pieces, but now I have option can't decide what to do with them! Some suggestions appreciated - its for a mixed reef no sps.

Thinking of knocking the 'top' off the vertical looking one to make a smaller piece, as the two large pieces originally formed a long plateau. I can get a pleasing look but its not balanced as it is. The smaller piece can be a bridge or an extension.

 

[JoeSchmo45]

I'm trying to scape a reefer 170, so I don't have a whole bunch of room. I've tried about ten billion different combinations give or take a few. I've been reading this thread and there are some very smart scapers here. I'd love suggestions!

Thanks!
Joe

 

[Alenya]

Ended up going with this layout

 

[JoeSchmo45]

Ended up going with this layout

That looks AWESOME!

 

[TL1]

Hello again! Tank is up and running now... from the pictures and videos I've seen online, and being a bit of a novice here, I'm thinking I need more rock.

I've used Caribsea LifeRock and believe a few more arches will help here. What are your thoughts, knowing my concern is overall size and real estate for coral growth?

Perhaps without the third arch on the far right, and leave scape in place?

Maybe it is adequate as is?

Seeking any and all input...

Thanks,

TL

 

[Karling]

Good morning! Tank is cycling well, figured out the heat retainment issue. So now the aquascape! I picked up some cycled live rock from my LFS that they have been running for me for over a month to get some growth on it. This will be the store I likely do ALL my purchases from just based on how awesome they were when I had questions about joining the hobby. They pulled some "prime" pieces for me and started getting them going to kick start the tank after i got it set up. Anywho... here is what I wound up with after 2 hours of my hand in the tank moving things around. pick it apart, let me know what you think, first impressions, etc. I am not the most artistic mammal and this is the main piece of furniture in my house you see it RIGHT when you walk in. Also, the cabinet doors are not permanent im building barn style doors. these are just temporary. but the hutch is hand made and im staining it to look old.

 

[Nepenthes88]

Hey there!

This thread has been super helpful and it's finally time for me to post a request for help.

When I was putting this together, I thought that the structure on the left would be noticeably higher than the right structure but once in place, they're almost the same height which seems to be something to avoid. If I were to glue some more rock to the top of either structure, which structure would you choose and what type of shape would you go for? I have a bunch of dry rock I can break up and glue together to make whatever shape I want.

Thanks!

 

[Rudzbrewski]

Interested on getting some feedback for my Reefer xl425 aquascape. Trying to balance maximum area for coral placement and growth, while keeping enough swimming space for fish and maintenance. All constructive criticism and recommendations are appreciated.

One note is the small rocks under the low overhang on the right are just to hold it in place for now.

 

[Karling]

Hey there!

This thread has been super helpful and it's finally time for me to post a request for help.

When I was putting this together, I thought that the structure on the left would be noticeably higher than the right structure but once in place, they're almost the same height which seems to be something to avoid. If I were to glue some more rock to the top of either structure, which structure would you choose and what type of shape would you go for? I have a bunch of dry rock I can break up and glue together to make whatever shape I want.

Thanks!

the left... its already bigger by structure the height would be proportionate to the size.

 

[ryewalk84]

I’m in the process of remodeling my current tank and completely redoing the rock. The tank is 72x24x36 tall. My plan was to keep all structures off the wall and try to build everything about 12-24 inches tall. This way I can reduce lighting needs in the bottom 12 inches of the tank. I want an open tank for plenty of fish swimming room. Any input is much appreciated. Here is my thought for the tank. There is a large overflow in the back that takes up about A 6x30 space.

front view

left and right

Top

 

[Ardeus]

Can I get your input on what you think of this scape (65 gallon 36x18x24h)

I would open up the centre area by removing this rock.

 

[Ardeus]

Hi there,

Currently I had to take out 90% of my corals to a QT due to flatworm issue. So it is a good time to re design the aquascape especially that I am not really happy and satisfied with the current one.

I would appreciate it if you help photoshop or give me some insight

Here is a picture of the tank.

20200718-052733 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20200718-052733 hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

You got lots of shelved and since you're rebooting your scape you could try placing those shelves into towers with different heights.

Just don't put a tower right in the middle. Odd numbers work best.

 

[Ardeus]

Nice

any suggestions for a 45 gallon that’s 2 feet high and 38 inches long?

here is what I have so far

You have all the shelves to the right and that creates a very long vertical line which doesn't look natural. Right angles also don't work.

I would try to move the structure a bit to the right and also place shelves on the left side. Try to soften those right angles by placing small rocks right and the intersection.

 

[Ardeus]

Here is my current predicament

the cardboard on desk is my tank length and width. The cardboard on back is my tank height. Wanted to do something interesting w dry rock using acrylic rods for support on left/right side. Will use live rock from current tank on the opposite side.
Wanted some shelves and swim through areas/caves for fish. Any suggestions?

Have you thought about rotating that structure?

 

[Ardeus]

Here is my latest iteration...my Lady likes the tree on the left as she saw some really nice tanks with sticks growing off a tree like structure and loved it. So that's her slice of heaven. Now i'm trying to build around that but keep the visual impact of the scape. I also have some live rocks I have to get in this tank as there are Nems on them. Also for tank cycling i'd like to add my live rock in. I have in yellow what/where it would be.

Im locking this down so any help is appreciated. It's not the "2 island" OP suggests for a rectangle but i'm working with what I have.

Thanks for your help! The tank is up so now getting rock in is next

If you're going with a bonsai look, go all in and build another one. A bonsai and an island doesn't seem to work well unless the bonsai is growing in the island, i.e., get more rock around the base of the tree.

Make sure that there's plenty of space on the left and right so that the 2 trees can "breath".

 

[Ardeus]

Any ideas on how to improve my rock scaping? The corals in the sand are there because i dont know where to put them.

I would try rotating that big arch so that the highest part is facing towards the centre. You can place the highest part towards the front of the back.

You can also join the the other 2 smaller structures.

 

[Ardeus]

How many I make my 10 gallon aqua scape more interesting. The tank is only 1.5 months old. Did the mistake of frying newly added Acropora with excess light.

I would try these 2 options. The rock on the left is interesting enough to be on its own,