Rockscaping help.

[shollis2814]

So, right now my rockscape is stacked and is pretty low in the tank. I know I might get some better growth from some corals by having them higher in the tank. I also have spread out my corals to give everyone some room, but I enjoy seeing pictures of established tanks that have a lot of corals close together.

So, after I spend my kids' college fund at the swap (kidding), would anyone in the Nipper's Corner area be willing to come over and help me do a rescape/reorganize and let me learn from your knowledge? I'm not talking that afternoon. I mean within the next week or so on a Saturday or one evening. I can get any materials (putty, etc.) beforehand.

No worries if no one can. I know schedules and life is really busy. Just thought I would throw that out there and it would be a neat way for me to get to know someone in the club better and increase my knowledge.

 

[seastar]

What a super cool idea! I've wanted to ask for help in my area as well from some of the more experienced reefers. I'm a little far to be of much help though!

 

[Reefrookie220]

If I were closer I'd definitely be up for this, I love to scape!

 

[bknapp]

I'm not 100% sure where Nippers Corner is or if we've met but I'm willing to come take a look. Note, I haven't won any scaping awards or anything.

 

[Dastins]

Not sure what you're rocks look like and this is a new tank mind you but you can see I've elevated my rocks for high light corals and the lower light, less flow corals will be embedded at the bottom. . Hope this helps, if I we're close I'd love to help.

 

[shollis2814]

Nipper's Corner is OHB and Edmonson on the South side of town between 65 and 24.
I have some beautiful pieces of old coral my dad got when he was in the Pacific in the 60's while he was in service. I am curing them in my fuge right now, and want to incorporate them in my tank.

I think I saw you briefly at the last meeting, but we didn't get a chance to meet. If you are close, I'd love to have you take a look.

Dastins, that looks cool. I like the arches.

 

[.AcroKiller.]

Sounds like we need to have a meeting at your house making the topic be aquascaping. Just saying. [emoji12][emoji12][emoji12]

 

[jonneyb]

I was going to suggest the same thing.

 

[renwah]

I would definitely be interested. I'm not far from there. This is what I did, I don't think it really follows what most would do, but I like it.

 

[Sabellafella]

I used glue and epoxy, but made some pieces accessible so i can take everything out if anything happens. This was my first shot at really trying to aquascape. Hopefully i helped,if i was closer i wouldve loved too

 

[shollis2814]

In regards to aquascaping as a topic, I think it's a great idea. As far as my house, I am afraid that I wouldn't have room for everyone if the February meeting is any indication of attendance.

Renwah. That looks great.

This is copied from the MTRC FTS thread because I am already at work and can't take a fresh picture.

I am using less than half of the tank height because I have just stacked and used that pink coral putty, and maybe I am not using it correctly, but some of the rocks come loose a little too easily for my taste. I am afraid if I stack too high and something shifts, that I will have water all over my floor and a busted tank. I also have all my corals evenly distributed because I don't really know how close is too close and who will make good neighbors. I'd love to get a more natural look with some things closer together. Everything but the Cyphastrea, GSP, and blastos can be moved to a different rock.

I also have these two pieces of coral my dad brought home from his Air Force journeys in the Pacific in the 60's.

The piece on the right is huge and easily 12" across and 8-9" tall. It would definitely be a big piece in the tank. Right now, both are curing in my sump and have been in there since early January. I'm not sure how to utilize it without it getting broken by rock shifting, or how to use it to its best effect.

I can easily overthink stuff and hit mental gridlock. If anyone has any suggestions based on the photos, I'd love to hear them. I can post more well lit photos later this evening.

 

[LaurenA]

Can you "under do" the amount of rock in your tank? I'm proposing .5 lb per gallon by the time corals are in there I'm thinking it'll be 50% reef and 50% open swimming. But I'm worried about a lack of hiding places and the biological effect. The extent of my aquascaping is an arch on one side and a curve on the other and my proposed livestock are semi aggressive at worst (tang and anthia) but mostly peaceful. Also hello I am new

 

[fishdoc11]

Can you "under do" the amount of rock in your tank? I'm proposing .5 lb per gallon by the time corals are in there I'm thinking it'll be 50% reef and 50% open swimming. But I'm worried about a lack of hiding places and the biological effect. The extent of my aquascaping is an arch on one side and a curve on the other and my proposed livestock are semi aggressive at worst (tang and anthia) but mostly peaceful. Also hello I am new

That looks like plenty of rock to me and looks like a nice arrangement. Lots of people have more sparse arrangements these days. It really depends on your personal taste and you can always add more rock to the sump etc... The one thing I would make sure you do is give yourself plenty of room between the rock and glass on all sides for a mag float (and razor blade when needed) and also for water flow.

 

[LaurenA]

The external edge of the tape is the glass and the internal edge is the gap I need for a magfloat. I hadn't thought about flow but that another thread I'm sure. Thank you fishdoc11

 

[fishdoc11]

The external edge of the tape is the glass and the internal edge is the gap I need for a magfloat. I hadn't thought about flow but that another thread I'm sure. Thank you fishdoc11

Sounds like you are on top of it then

 

[Dastins]

Your work looks fine depending on what you're going to have in the tank. If you have some skittish fish they may enjoy the hiding places that comes with more rock and depending on the flow in the tank they may not be able to find a place they can rest if you minimize your rock.