Thoughts on my Rock Scape please

LagunaGlide · Feb 4, 2018

I have started building my scape. I don't seem to have a bunch of large pieces and am curious if I NEED more height. I want to have a decent sized swimming space above the rock, but also slightly concerned I won't get enough light down far enough. Opinions?

Jeepguy242 · Feb 4, 2018

Looks good so far. I would go with more height.

Get some bigger rocks. And I would move the pile on the right more to the right unless you are going to do another tower there

LagunaGlide · Feb 4, 2018

Jeepguy242 said:
Looks good so far. I would go with more height.

Get some bigger rocks. And I would move the pile on the right more to the right unless you are going to do another tower there

Thanks for the reply. Thinking of moving it to the right a bit and trying to go up some by adding some in front of that large piece in the back.

don_chuwish · Feb 4, 2018

Plenty tall already but yeah, needs balancing side to side. It's tough to arm-chair QB these things but I'm imagining a two island scene - larger one on the right, smaller on the left. Both at about 1/3 in from the sides.

LagunaGlide · Feb 4, 2018

don_chuwish said:
Plenty tall already but yeah, needs balancing side to side. It's tough to arm-chair QB these things but I'm imagining a two island scene - larger one on the right, smaller on the left. Both at about 1/3 in from the sides.

The original plan was for 3 islands with rock going from front side corners towards the back at an angle. The wife really wanted that big hole riddled rock in the tank, so the plan changed a bit. I wanted to have swim lanes on each side of the middle structure.

Chris Villalobos · Feb 4, 2018

I would consider the rule of thirds. Below is a great guide that really helped me:

https://www.fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main/how-to-hardscape-your-aquarium/

LagunaGlide · Feb 4, 2018

Chris Villalobos said:
I would consider the rule of thirds. Below is a great guide that really helped me:

https://www.fish-etc.com/aquascaping-main/how-to-hardscape-your-aquarium/

Ya I have a Cardboad setup all taped off etc that I have been assembling stuff on. I may not be doing a very good job following that rule

Chris Villalobos · Feb 4, 2018

LagunaGlide said:
Ya I have a Cardboad setup all taped off etc that I have been assembling stuff on. I may not be doing a very good job following that rule

I'm not the best at this so take my opinion and do with it what you will: The right side seems to be cut off. Every time I look at your scape I zero in on that vertical line of your right most structure.

Here is my hardscape: Notice that I made a purposeful flow so that your eye focuses from left to right. My focal point is the top right corner.

LagunaGlide · Feb 4, 2018

Chris Villalobos said:
I'm not the best at this so take my opinion and do with it what you will: The right side seems to be cut off. Every time I look at your scape I zero in on that vertical line of your right most structure.

Here is my hardscape: Notice that I made a purposeful flow so that your eye focuses from left to right. My focal point is the top right corner.

Good point thank you. I hadn't noticed, but it does seem very flat and straight. I will have to add something on that side to break that up a bit. Luckily I have yet to start on the right side yet

Brynn · Feb 4, 2018

I blocked mine off using a dry erase marker.

I dont have a photo, but I have an aquascaping example.

Brynn · Feb 4, 2018

Chris Villalobos said:
I'm not the best at this so take my opinion and do with it what you will: The right side seems to be cut off. Every time I look at your scape I zero in on that vertical line of your right most structure.

Here is my hardscape: Notice that I made a purposeful flow so that your eye focuses from left to right. My focal point is the top right corner.

So well scaped. Please start a build thread!

LagunaGlide · Feb 5, 2018

First off thanks for all the suggestions and thoughts on this. Once I got home I started thinking about how to "adjust" what I had currently to work with the rule of thirds etc. I moved it all around making the arch structure the focal point and used the piece on the far left to break up the right side that looked very straight. I think it looks way more natural now and gives me an opportunity to add another flat shelf type piece on the right side. What do you think now?

Webslinger · Feb 5, 2018

More rock, rule of thirds, I would reconfigure that O looking rock, it doesn't look natural to me.

MSOEME2009 · Feb 5, 2018

What's your overall goal? I'd maybe move your arch to the left most, place the left most rock on the right, and have some small setup in the middle. I also think you need more height. Too bad rock isn't free

.

If you like the two island look, check this out below. I'd recommend google images to find something you like and try to imitate it. If you're worried about stability try drilling/inserting fiberglass rods and then epoxy.

33eeda78d9d40045566a121db6d446d9--nature-aquarium-reef-aquarium.jpg

LagunaGlide · Feb 5, 2018

I have more rock. Still need to work out the entire left side. Moving on I guess. I'll keep at it

HB AL · Feb 5, 2018

I would add a lot more rock and build it up but it depends on what you like and what your plan is for corals and fish. I have a ton of rock in my reef tank with many corals and a lot of fish.

Susan Edwards · Feb 5, 2018

If you have more rock, get it all scaped so we have a better idea of what you're working with. I'd take that big piece on the left, and make it part of your right side scape. I'd also consider angling the arched piece a bit from left to right going front toward back just a bit. You can also use the 3 stacked pieces to build more to the right, depending on how much more rock you have. Just remember, stacked tall limits corals if that is your aim. As you work, focus on what YOUR eyes do. How they travel over the rock, if you feel them stop abruptly. I tried to imagine the flow of my 2 returns and have the rocks follow the flow. I also aimed for lots of terraces as well as crevices and smaller swim throughs. Also, have in mind your corals. What you want and where you'd put them. As I add each piece, I look at what it adds or takes away ie: does it add places for corals like forming a bit of a terrace, does it add a crevice or swim thru and how it affects a terrace, etc. The right side is pretty much done--hoping I can get it as it is into the tank (maybe even today), the left side will mostly likely change a bit, plus I have to leave some space to add a couple of live rocks from my display refugium once water goes in. Oh, also know what type of fish you want so you can scape to their needs. Scaping is hard...