Need opinions on first scape

[jtlmnop]

Hi all,

I am in the process of setting up my first reef tank. I will be posting a build thread in the coming days/weeks, but I’m looking for opinions on my initial scape design. Building on a table in my work room, blue tape marks the dimensions of the IM Nuvo 50. Trying to maximize caves, swim throughs, and hideouts while not overthinking it...

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I like it, lots of little ledges and a few swim throughs.... I like the look of a single on it's own as well if that interests you / have the room? Like a little reef bommie or even a large ledge/outcrop would be cool. I used to have one and just changed my scape a bit. I miss it and it'll likely return soon lol.

 

[Cell]

I think it looks nice. If this is going against a wall, consider shifting the right half back a bit so it skews toward the wall side to give you some more swim/viewing area in front. The front right corner of the tank (depicted as bottom left in the middle pic) looks a bit tight.

 

[MarshallB]

Looks good. The only thing I would suggest, and is totally not needed, is get 1 more piece of rock and break it into small pieces. Use those small pieces to hide the areas where the larger pieces intersect.

 

[ThePurple12]

IMO it's just a little boxy, maybe find a way to round off the right corner?

 

[Areeflover]

Looks great! Think about using epoxy in the tank. So you can cement the rocks together, so it doesn’t fall

 

[jtlmnop]

I like it, lots of little ledges and a few swim throughs.... I like the look of a single on it's own as well if that interests you / have the room? Like a little reef bommie or even a large ledge/outcrop would be cool. I used to have one and just changed my scape a bit. I miss it and it'll likely return soon lol.

Thanks. I have extra rocks and thought about adding an island or something. I’ll see if I can work something in

 

[jtlmnop]

I think it looks nice. If this is going against a wall, consider shifting the right half back a bit so it skews toward the wall side to give you some more swim/viewing area in front. The front right corner of the tank (depicted as bottom left in the middle pic) looks a bit tight.

Thanks, good idea

 

[jtlmnop]

IMO it's just a little boxy, maybe find a way to round off the right corner?

Thanks, I can add some smaller pieces to the top to give better dimension, but was also thinking about keeping some flat surface at the top for corals down the road

 

[jtlmnop]

Looks great! Think about using epoxy in the tank. So you can cement the rocks together, so it doesn’t fall

Thanks, I have gel glue and Insta dry spray from BRS. Just not quite ready to lock it in yet

 

[jtlmnop]

Looks good. The only thing I would suggest, and is totally not needed, is get 1 more piece of rock and break it into small pieces. Use those small pieces to hide the areas where the larger pieces intersect.

Thanks, I have lots of rubble from breaking the larger pieces already. So can probably all add some small pieces to mask and add stability. But good suggestion

 

[Waboss]

I think it looks good. If I were to give one piece of advice, based on my many re-works of my LR and wishing I could just start over again (but it's too much work and would cause too much stress on the critters in the tank), I'd suggest adding a little more negative space, maybe in the middle. Since you're still in "set up mode", you can add acrylic pins for braces or just cement pieces together with epoxy or Marco's cement stuff.

 

[Weasel1960]

I think it looks good. If I were to give one piece of advice, based on my many re-works of my LR and wishing I could just start over again (but it's too much work and would cause too much stress on the critters in the tank), I'd suggest adding a little more negative space, maybe in the middle. Since you're still in "set up mode", you can add acrylic pins for braces or just cement pieces together with epoxy or Marco's cement stuff.

+1 on an extra swim through. You have a small one already started middle top, see if you can make it bigger. Keep cleaning distance at glass. Make one swim through (at minimum) big enough for your largest adult fish.

 

[Areeflover]

+1 on an extra swim through. You have a small one already started middle top, see if you can make it bigger. Keep cleaning distance at glass. Make one swim through (at minimum) big enough for your largest adult fish.

Yeah that would be great

 

[jtlmnop]

Made some adjustments. Pics below. The first two are with a bridge piece connecting the bigger structures on the top, the second two without. Thoughts?

 

[Areeflover]

Made some adjustments. Pics below. The first two are with a bridge piece connecting the bigger structures on the top, the second two without. Thoughts?

I like the bridges, how tall is this tank