Aquascaping ideas needed

[tikireefer]

I am in the process of planning out how I would like to do my aquascaping in a 150 that I am setting up. I am looking for ideas on how to create a very natural look in the tank. I have seen people build walls of LR that cover the back glass so that you can't even see the glass on the back. The idea is to create a wall of LR almost like a background without losing a lot of "floor space” Then I would be able to have piles of LR in all the open areas of the tank. The thought is this would give the person viewing the tank that there is a level of depth. This would create a very "natural" looking reef tank by creating the impression that you are looking into a window of the ocean and not into a fish tank. I guess I am wondering if anyone has done this and how to best support the LR and yet not have any areas in the tank that will not have enough water movement. Any ideas are welcome! Thanks!

 

[drew55]

what i like

what i like

What I like is 1 main layer of rock and separte them and then in a few spots where the gaps are big put rock on top to make a bridge like structure. I also like to leave the spot in front of the bridge like structure open so no more rock in front of the bridge so you can see into the tunnel and it breaks in up so your bodom isnt covered with rock.

 

[redvipe2010]

I made a spray bar out of PVC that sits on top of the sand at the bottom, and back of the tank, with lots of holes in it to create water movement behind the rock. It's covered up with rock so you can't even see it. I just piled my rock in front and around it. Works great for me. PVC gets covered very quickly with coraline so it blends in with the live rock.

 

[rxinc]

I saw a nice looking display tank at IMAC, it too had a back wall of LR with some ledges and caves to provide shade and shelter. I want to try and recreate this in my new 220 gal. tank I'm setting up.

I just received yesterday some 1/4 " clear acrylic rod from USplastics that I will try and drill into the LR and then support w/ the rod.

Also at IMAC, Mike Paletta showed pics how he made a shelf from pvc pipes and placed egg crat on top to support it, yet allow water movement.

I also read about using a spray on black pond liner foam ( handi foam, link below) directly on the back or side walls of the tank, that then you can then stick the LR into to hold it. There is a thread somewhere on the large tank forum of a guy using this for several years w/o any problems. His pics looked great, and it too gets coraline'd quickly. - Fred




http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...k=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=0&Nty=1

 

[firefishbrain]

I personally like the island look, small mounds in random places gice you lots of floor space and you can do some pretty cool things, then again I am a nano reefer so it might look weird in a bigger tank...