Thoughts on aquascaping

Jberge · May 15, 2017

I've been messing around with the aquascaping in my 72 bowfront trying to get the tank ready for some coral that's qt'ed. I'm looking for some input because it's driving me a little nuts.

mtraylor · May 15, 2017

Looks great. I would personally move the white rock in the middle and put in the sump. Other than that its good to go. Its all what you like when it boils down to it.

Jberge · May 15, 2017

mtraylor said:
Looks great. I would personally move the white rock in the middle and put in the sump. Other than that its good to go. Its all what you like when it boils down to it.

Thanks! I sometimes feel that I'm being too ocd or it looks too symmetrical. You'd move the one that's on the sand in the middle?

mtraylor · May 15, 2017

Yeah you did a great job and the swim through on the top left is awesome. You made a real fish friendly and coral friendly setup. Yeah the white rock in the dead middle in the sand blocks a sand path between the two rock works that you have. It would be a cool sand bed between the 2 if you got rid of it. Just a thought. It looks like nothing is resting on it from the looks of it. It would open up another area for a zoo garden the sand as well if you should decide.

Jberge · May 15, 2017

mtraylor said:
Yeah you did a great job and the swim through on the top left is awesome. You made a real fish friendly and coral friendly setup. Yeah the white rock in the dead middle in the sand blocks a sand path between the two rock works that you have. It would be a cool sand bed between the 2 if you got rid of it. Just a thought. It looks like nothing is resting on it from the looks of it. It would open up another area for a zoo garden the sand as well if you should decide.

I appreciate the advice and compliments. I was messing around with another tank tonight so I'm too paranoid to stick my arm in there and move it but tomorrow I'll post a pic. Thanks again

scriptmonkey · May 15, 2017

Amazing job! When I buy live rock you are more than happy to come do my interior tank design! Did you do any gluing or epoxing or is that straight friction holding it together?

Jberge · May 15, 2017

scriptmonkey said:
Amazing job! When I buy live rock you are more than happy to come do my interior tank design! Did you do any gluing or epoxing or is that straight friction holding it together?

Thank you lol. Friction and gravity. It's a little shaky sometimes if I'm trying to spot scrub some algae but besides that it doesn't move. Whenever I pick up just 1 rock to move the next thing I know it's an hr or 2 later

scriptmonkey · May 15, 2017

Jberge said:
Thank you lol. Friction and gravity. It's a little shaky sometimes if I'm trying to spot scrub some algae but besides that it doesn't move. Whenever I pick up just 1 rock to move the next thing I know it's an hr or 2 later

That is good to know, thanks. Yeah I can see that. My fiancee calls herself a saltwater widow the last few weeks.

MamaLovesHerReefTank · May 15, 2017

If you are thinking it looks too symmetrical, you could try bringing down the height of one of the structures. I really like the structure on the left. Looks like your fish likes it as well. In the end, it is you that has to look at the tank everyday. If it doesn't look quite right to you then change it around until it does.

Jberge · May 15, 2017

scriptmonkey said:
That is good to know, thanks. Yeah I can see that. My fiancee calls herself a saltwater widow the last few weeks.

Yeah mine thinks I'm crazy but has gotten somewhat used to it. I got into this 6 months ago with an established 29g her father gave me. The addiction escalated quickly. I see everything you're doing with your build so you already understand the insanity.

MamaLovesHerReefTank said:
If you are thinking it looks too symmetrical, you could try bringing down the height of one of the structures. I really like the structure on the left. Looks like your fish likes it as well. In the end, it is you that has to look at the tank everyday. If it doesn't look quite right to you then change it around until it does.

I agree. I like the left better too. Somehow I ended up with most of the larger rock on the right. I think I'll try re-working it a little

MamaLovesHerReefTank · May 16, 2017

Jberge said:
Yeah mine thinks I'm crazy but has gotten somewhat used to it. I got into this 6 months ago with an established 29g her father gave me. The addiction escalated quickly. I see everything you're doing with your build so you already understand the insanity.

I agree. I like the left better too. Somehow I ended up with most of the larger rock on the right. I think I'll try re-working it a little

I've changed my scape so many times, my kids just ask "Again?" I think I've finally gotten it right this time. I don't look at it and think somethings not quite right.

Jberge · May 16, 2017

MamaLovesHerReefTank said:
I've changed my scape so many times, my kids just ask "Again?" I think I've finally gotten it right this time. I don't look at it and think somethings not quite right.

I know that feeling and I definitely have to do a little more work to get rid of it. I think I have to do now

I'll post another pic when I'm through

mtraylor · May 16, 2017

Jberge said:
I know that feeling and I definitely have to do a little more work to get rid of it. I think I have to do now I'll post another pic when I'm through

Don't do it. You have a great aqua scape going and you will never get it back to the same after hours and hours. Trust me.... ben there and done that.

mtraylor · May 16, 2017

scriptmonkey · May 16, 2017

Yeah...that one looks pretty darn awesome.

Broadfield · May 16, 2017

Jberge said:
Thanks! I sometimes feel that I'm being too ocd or it looks too symmetrical.

I support your notion that it feels too symmetrical. There are two things I would recommend.

Don't have both structures end at the middle of the tank. This will help break it up and not seem so symmetrical. I would make one of the structures extend beyond the center point of the tank. Then some dead space between the other structure.
As mentioned by others, shorten one of the structures. Typically the longer structure, as mentioned above, will be the taller one. Make sure it's a noticeable difference in height.

I have my tank set up in a similar fashion for reference:

FTS by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr