Aquascape design critique

[ZooZ]

Hello all, would appreciate critique on my aquascape before I start to epoxy it all. Tank is a peninsula style tank 44x24x20.

 

[jrp1588]

I don't want to sound harsh, but...I see a small lump next to a big lump, stack it, do something interesting.

 

[Reef Frog]

Nice looking rock. I like the last photo but it's hard to be sure until I see it inside the tank. Having 2 islands looks natural, allows you to separate corals that are likely to sting one another and gives it a "spacious" look IMO. Also it looks like that arrangement will leave the top 25-30% of the tank clear, giving fall growing corals a chance to their thing. It also looks like it would leave plenty of room for a sand bed which is the ideal environment for interesting corals like plates & scolys if you happen to like those.

That arrangement looks pretty stable. If it is, you may want to forget about gluing the rocks together. Sometimes being able to remove a rock is a good thing in case you decide to change the aquascape, take the rock out for mounting frags or algae removal, removing a fish, etc. Just an idea...but stability is the paramount concern. Good luck with the build.

 

[ZooZ]

I don't want to sound harsh, but...I see a small lump next to a big lump, stack it, do something interesting.

It is more than that, take a look at these articles. Thank you for your input though.

http://www.reefsmagazine.com/forum/reefs-magazine/100520-aesthetics-aquascaping.html

http://www.reefsmagazine.com/forum/reefs-magazine/111388-aesthetics-aquascaping-part-2-a.html

 

[Reef Frog]

I don't want to sound harsh, but...I see a small lump next to a big lump, stack it, do something interesting.

Ah, differing opinions I suppose, lol. I like the channel look. Another consideration is having maximum real estate for coral. It's hard to imagine when starting out, but space can get gobbled up quickly as your wallet empties into the tills of the coral mongers.

On my next build, I am considering sawing the bottom of the rock flat. It will provide the ultimate stability and looks like a reef head in nature instead of a boulder on the sea floor. Many are reluctant to cut up these expemsive rocks but the technique is used to make terrestrial rock gardens & stacked stone fences look natural, mature & permanent.

The old "stack of rocks" look is kind of what I did in the begining with a few twists like varying peaks & caves. This is probably the most unimaginative style and usually provides the least horizontal space for coral mounting.

But after a few years of lush coral growth, the underlying rock contours become obscured and much less obvious as the eye focuses on the corals, fish and other aquatic life.

 

[ZooZ]

Ah, differing opinions I suppose, lol. I like the channel look. Another consideration is having maximum real estate for coral. It's hard to imagine when starting out, but space can get gobbled up quickly as your wallet empties into the tills of the coral mongers.

On my next build, I am considering sawing the bottom of the rock flat. It will provide the ultimate stability and looks like a reef head in nature instead of a boulder on the sea floor. Many are reluctant to cut up these expemsive rocks but the technique is used to make terrestrial rock gardens & stacked stone fences look natural, mature & permanent.

The old "stack of rocks" look is kind of what I did in the begining with a few twists like varying peaks & caves. This is probably the most unimaginative style and usually provides the least horizontal space for coral mounting.

But after a few years of lush coral growth, the underlying rock contours become obscured and much less obvious as the eye focuses on the corals, fish and other aquatic life.

Yeah, it is difficult to imagine how it will look once its an established reef but thats part of the fun of ongoing aquascaping. That is when you can play with colours and placement. I think I will use a hack saw for the larger structure base rocks though.

 

[jrp1588]

Ah, differing opinions I suppose, lol. I like the channel look. Another consideration is having maximum real estate for coral. It's hard to imagine when starting out, but space can get gobbled up quickly as your wallet empties into the tills of the coral mongers.

On my next build, I am considering sawing the bottom of the rock flat. It will provide the ultimate stability and looks like a reef head in nature instead of a boulder on the sea floor. Many are reluctant to cut up these expemsive rocks but the technique is used to make terrestrial rock gardens & stacked stone fences look natural, mature & permanent.

The old "stack of rocks" look is kind of what I did in the begining with a few twists like varying peaks & caves. This is probably the most unimaginative style and usually provides the least horizontal space for coral mounting.

But after a few years of lush coral growth, the underlying rock contours become obscured and much less obvious as the eye focuses on the corals, fish and other aquatic life.

Indeed, different strokes. I'm sure it'll look great once there are mature colonies growing on it, but until then, I stand behind my "big lump, small lump" assessment. haha