Opinions please..first ever attempt at aquascaping

[Sarah1990]

Hi guys can I have opinions on this aquascape? I want lots of caves and swim throughs for fish to hide and I also want room for coral placement.
I havent broken the rock up at all so that is a possibility but I dont really feel too confident that I wont end up with a load of dust
I might break my two left over rocks up to stabilise it a bit and put an island or two??

 

[arturoo1977]

I think its nice, I like it. Maybe those two rocks from left can be and island/tower as you mention.
Are you planning to glue rocks together?

Just be sure to leave enough clearence with glass to clean it.

 

[Dine]

Looks good. My one suggestion was to play with the depth a bit. Right now each rock extends towards the front of the tank the same amount. Makes a straight line. I’d maybe play with that a little?

maybe remove the 2 button Rocks on the left? See what that looks like. I’m a fan of less is more when it comes to aqua scaping

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

Looks great! As long as everything is secure in place, I'd say your good to go.

 

[Sarah1990]

Is this better I've turned the two middle top rocks to be flatter and moved the two left rocks to be an island slightly further back? Any other improvements?
I know the middle cave looks big but with an inch or so of sand it will look smaller wont it

 

[naterealbig]

Looks really good. Might do this to add to the "depth" even more, give a little more room for growth up top...

 

[Urtie]

Looks great! I agree with @naterealbig that it's a bit tall though, since corals need room to grow. It really comes down to if you want to show off the 'scape, or if it's just a platform to show off corals once they grow.

 

[Sarah1990]

Thank you both I definitely hope to be showing off lots of corals in the future. I think that does look better you're right.
Do you think it would be worth getting a piece of plating rock to create an overhang and a bigger area

for coral where the red line is?

 

[Reefpuck]

Just depends on what you put on the top and how big you let it get. Some sps colonies can get massive....you don't want the rocks too close to the surface.

If you want big colonies...I'd say your good to go. But if you want a bunch of smaller pieces and/or are frag happy...then maybe another shelf type rock on the top there would be good.

 

[ScottB]

For your first try, I think you are rocking it. Good iterations too. A few of those top pieces will likely require some cement. I recommend the Marco cement. Pretty easy to work with, reef safe, and stronger than the rock itself.

I'll add one more item for thought. You have a couple extra rocks right? With hammer and chisel break them up into smaller pieces of various sizes. Once you have your rock and sand in place, use those to compose what looks like tree or volcano "roots" growing out from the stacks. It enhances the look of depth and looks more natural than boulders sitting on the sand. It also gives you some space to mount some LPS and euphilia near the bottom but off the sand.

 

[Sarah1990]

Just depends on what you put on the top and how big you let it get. Some sps colonies can get massive....you don't want the rocks too close to the surface.

If you want big colonies...I'd say your good to go. But if you want a bunch of smaller pieces and/or are frag happy...then maybe another shelf type rock on the top there would be good.

I intend to start with softies as it's my first marine tank and then move to LPS and possibly a few SPS but that would be a long time I think

 

[Reefpuck]

I wouldn't add more rock if it were me. I liked your original formation on the 1st post.

 

[boacvh]

I like it a lot! I would say one thing to consider is your light placement. Which lights are you planning on? Make sure to take the shadow effects of your lights into account. I ask because for example I never thought about that, switched to 2 360x kessils, which are single point fixtures instead of the long LEDs I had before and then ended up with areas of my rock that were pretty shadowed.

 

[Sarah1990]

For your first try, I think you are rocking it. Good iterations too. A few of those top pieces will likely require some cement. I recommend the Marco cement. Pretty easy to work with, reef safe, and stronger than the rock itself.

I'll add one more item for thought. You have a couple extra rocks right? With hammer and chisel break them up into smaller pieces of various sizes. Once you have your rock and sand in place, use those to compose what looks like tree or volcano "roots" growing out from the stacks. It enhances the look of depth and looks more natural than boulders sitting on the sand. It also gives you some space to mount some LPS and euphilia near the bottom but off the sand.

Thank you I do have extra rock soni can do that.
I have some D-D underwater epoxy but i just thought i dont know if i can use this on dry rock or not?

 

[Sarah1990]

I like it a lot! I would say one thing to consider is your light placement. Which lights are you planning on? Make sure to take the shadow effects of your lights into account. I ask because for example I never thought about that, switched to 2 360x kessils, which are single point fixtures instead of the long LEDs I had before and then ended up with areas of my rock that were pretty shadowed.

It's a long maxspect LED so it should be ok I think. I'm thinking of hanging it from the ceiling rather than having the brackets on the tank

 

[Streetlamp]

I'd try pull the left rock forward towards the front of the tank.

 

[naterealbig]

i think it is PERFECT. Would not add/remove from this point.

 

[SaltFishTV]

Thank you both I definitely hope to be showing off lots of corals in the future. I think that does look better you're right.
Do you think it would be worth getting a piece of plating rock to create an overhang and a bigger area

for coral where the red line is?

I like this version!

 

[Sarah1990]

I'd try pull the left rock forward towards the front of the tank.

The rock on the left is actually two I'd put next to each other and I've now split them up so I can have some green star polyps on one and something else that needs to be isolated on another..good idea or no?
I've also tried swapping the top rock so it's not completely level and took the front rock out as I think it's too much?

 

[Streetlamp]

Looks good, one other thought to try. Move the upper right rock to the right on top of the bottom right to make a pinnacle. It will create a new object, and break up the mass of rock.

I'm not saying this is right or wrong, just ideas to try while you can.