Aquascape feedback request...

[rovster]

I posted this in the SPS forum. Figured I'd get some local opinions while I'm at it.


I was hoping for some constructive criticism on my aquascape. I was working on it today, and I was hoping for some feedback and suggestions. Tanks is a custom Reef Savvy, 52" x 26" x 19" tall. The table the rocks are on is slightly smaller than that footprint. My goals for the aquascape:

1. Semi-open feel with some open sand areas. I would call it quasi-minimal but I know myself and my coral hoarding potential, so I wanted maximum area to mount corals. That said, I wanted to avoid the pile of rocks look.
2. Relatively low hard scape to allow branching corals to grow upwards and fill out the tank. The left bommie is 9" tall and the right bommie is 8" tall. I was planning on mounting some stags at the pinnacle of each bommie, and keep the tabling variety towards the bottom.
3. Have some ledges around the perimeter of the bommie s to provide shade for LPS and zoas.
4. Shallow slope to maximize mounting potential.
5. Lots of nooks and crannies for the ton of fish I want, LOL,

I really like the openness of the right side, my concerns with the left is its pretty densely packed, and I'm concerned with stagnant areas within the rockwork.

Here are the pics.....



I have a ton more pieces of rock, all Pukani and more shelf pieces. So I can change if you guys give me some good suggestions. Lighting will be 3 Radion pros, and flow will be 3 MP40s in addition to the return.

Here is the tank...(the third mp40 is mouthed on the right side of the tank)

 

[tdhnry]

What size is the tank? Nevermind I see it now

"Tanks is a custom Reef Savvy, 52" x 26" x 19" tall"

I would say you should start putting them in the tank and see how it looks. Then fix what you don't like and keep what you do. Then repeat for several hours.

This is the look I'll be going for on my tank:
<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/Dsc243Large1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/Dsc243Large1.jpg" border="0" alt="Islands photo Dsc243Large1.jpg"/></a>

 

[doggydoc]

This is how I am doing mine....

 

[S13<3]

this is how i am doing mine....

qfp

 

[rovster]

What size is the tank? Nevermind I see it now

"Tanks is a custom Reef Savvy, 52" x 26" x 19" tall"

I would say you should start putting them in the tank and see how it looks. Then fix what you don't like and keep what you do. Then repeat for several hours.

This is the look I'll be going for on my tank:
<a href="http://s1130.photobucket.com/user/tdhnry/media/Dsc243Large1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m539/tdhnry/Dsc243Large1.jpg" border="0" alt="Islands photo Dsc243Large1.jpg"/></a>

Stunning tank. Only thing I don't like is the rocks piled to the back wall. Love the open spaces.

 

[rovster]

This is how I am doing mine....

Very nice and interesting. Is this going to be bare bottom? I underestimated how much the sand woul shorten the rocks. I only used like 60 lbs of sand. Here is where I'm at. Tank is slightly cloudy, but nowhere as much as I thought it would be.

 

[doggydoc]

Yes
It's looking like BB. Unless I change my mind in the next couple of weeks...

 

[AquamanE]

All three of the above shown aquascapes are awesome. I tried but as i got more corals ended up with a wall. Lets see if you guys can actually achieve you goals.

Doggy Doc- youve been teasing for months. Rovster took 2 years to put water in his tank. I think thats a record. You seem to be on track for same. :uzi:

 

[rovster]

So true! I also have my concerns with how little rock I have. Hopefully I can show some restraint. That said, I am a professional coral hoarder. At one time I had 60+ varieties of corals in my 14 gallon. As it is, my current tank is a frag farm!

PS- I already added another tonga branch to my scape, space for like 4-5 more frags:lol2:

 

[doggydoc]

All three of the above shown aquascapes are awesome. I tried but as i got more corals ended up with a wall. Lets see if you guys can actually achieve you goals.



Doggy Doc- youve been teasing for months. Rovster took 2 years to put water in his tank. I think thats a record. You seem to be on track for same. :uzi:

Lol
Getting there. I am at 8 months and counting. Not in a hurry. I want to do it right.
I am almost done with plumbing!
Should be getting wet soon

 

[Hyperion1337]

Danny, if you have any extra sand, I'll take it! Go Barebottom!!!!
lol more sand for me

 

[oneilwiz]

Hey rovster your tank setup already looking sick yo, I would drugged using clear acrylic rod to form your structure plus you could hear the rod to bend it in shape. This is just my suggestion

 

[rovster]

Hey rovster your tank setup already looking sick yo, I would drugged using clear acrylic rod to form your structure plus you could hear the rod to bend it in shape. This is just my suggestion

Funny, I bought acrylic rods and everything, but wanted to keep hings low and simple. I had this extravagant scape planned out and in the end, after looking through countless SPS threads, my favorites kept being simple scapes and let the corals do the talking. Had I been going more mixed reef, then I would have used more rock and more ledges. Most of the rock I got had nice shapes and were on the large side. I felt it unnecessary to cut it all up (even though I did cut some) just to glue it all back together. Thanks.

 

[rovster]

Danny, if you have any extra sand, I'll take it! Go Barebottom!!!!
lol more sand for me

Lol, I actually had 1 1/2 bags of reef flakes and a small bag of mini flakes left over. Not ready to sell just yet, just in case I decide to add a little more. I could probably let the small bag of mini flakes go, would be perfect for a nano.

 

[Hyperion1337]

you're fine on sand, too much could be a dsb if ur going for that type of ecosystem.
First Dibs on sand (Reef flakes). My new tank should be coming in any day now.

 

[nivram]

I like the last version the best.

 

[Biggar]

More coral, less rock

 

[oneilwiz]

Hey biggar nice tank , I agree less rock more corals

 

[rovster]

Yeah Mikey, nice tank

Actually, that's kinda the look I was going for. Does that tank have a build thread? Love it!

 

[Biggar]

Yeah Mikey, nice tank

Actually, that's kinda the look I was going for. Does that tank have a build thread? Love it!

Danny, not sure. Someone posted it on Facebook Frag Swap Page.

You should Join: Search (South Florida Frag Swap) in search bar.