Aquascaping opinions needed!

[Reefnub]

So I recently reaquascaped my tank. I had some collateral damage, but here are the results.

I feel I made it a bit unnatural and pulled the rocks forward too much. What do you guys think?
The goal was to eliminate some dead spots and maximize sps coral placement.
At the same time I wanted something that would give an illusion of more depth.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[Bugger]

What happened to all the coral line algea

 

[chris1292]

I like the before better but the after could be cool once the coral grows out

 

[biggles]

It looks good but the way all those columns are lined up so evenly at a distance from the front of the tank is the only thing i would suggest altering if at all possible to give a more natural look - what we all want in the end.

 

[Reefnub]

What happened to all the coral line algea

All the white rocks are brand new dry live rock.

I like the before better but the after could be cool once the coral grows out

I felt the previous was too low and had dead spots.

It looks good but the way all those columns are lined up so evenly at a distance from the front of the tank is the only thing i would suggest altering if at all possible to give a more natural look - what we all want in the end.

Yeah, it definitely looks too man-made. I also hate how I made it go from small to large cave.


I hate how my tank is only 4 ft and have 2 big overflows.
:deadhorse1:

 

[biggles]

You know it would look very cool if you filled those caves openings with non photosynthetic corals placed back from the openings, as if you're looking into a hidden grotto of corals - just an idea. You can also vary the depth of field viewing by careful placement of different growth pattern corals rather than attacking your rock work again.

 

[Reefnub]

You know it would look very cool if you filled those caves openings with non photosynthetic corals placed back from the openings, as if you're looking into a hidden grotto of corals - just an idea. You can also vary the depth of field viewing by careful placement of different growth pattern corals rather than attacking your rock work again.

I might end up reaquascaping depending on the suggestions and ideas I get. I thought of putting dendros inside but they need feeding. I was planning to keep the top full sps and bottom rocks all zoas and acans.

 

[SushiGirl]

I like the first one better, too. Could the dead spots not have been fixed with water flow?

 

[Reefnub]

I like the first one better, too. Could the dead spots not have been fixed with water flow?

The dead spots were the far left and right corner, also inside the whole caves in the back. With the new aquascape I tried to open the inside more.

I will most likely reaquascape my tank a little, I'm not sure how I will do it yet.

 

[kissman]

I like the first one better. However I think the other might be cool to once it grows out some

 

[jackson6745]

Replacing established live rock with dead stuff was a mistake. First scape was better.

 

[IdahoCindy]

I bet you put a lot of work into this. Perhaps just make a few changes to make it look more natural. Maybe you could make two structures, one larger than the other, with an open sandy space between. It looks to me, a newby, that you might have too many frags for a good result after grow-out. Good luck! And have fun with it.

 

[Tron_954]

too unnatural... neither.

 

[toothman]

does it really matter once the corals grow in you will not really see much of the rocks anyway.

 

[BrentH]

First pic better

 

[Reefnub]

I like the first one better, too. Could the dead spots not have been fixed with water flow?

I will need to modify my return hose to aim in those corners.

I like the first one better. However I think the other might be cool to once it grows out some

I visioned them just growing straight up at the top and then have the rest of the room for fish swimming

Replacing established live rock with dead stuff was a mistake. First scape was better.

Yeah it was a mistake, I should have fully cured and seeded the dry live rock before replacing them.

I bet you put a lot of work into this. Perhaps just make a few changes to make it look more natural. Maybe you could make two structures, one larger than the other, with an open sandy space between. It looks to me, a newby, that you might have too many frags for a good result after grow-out. Good luck! And have fun with it.

Oh yeah... more than 12 hours into this I had the 2 island look when I first started the hobby. I didn't like it and didn't maximize coral placement.

too unnatural... neither.

Yeah I know what you mean, hopefully once the corals grow out it will look better. Maybe once I full pack every inch of rock you won't notice the aquascape. :spin2:

does it really matter once the corals grow in you will not really see much of the rocks anyway.

Well the aquascape would help how flow gets around so in a sense it does matter. Hopefully it grows out nicely.

First pic better

Glad you like my first design.


Thanks a lot everyone for your opinions. So far I moved the 4th pillar back 2 inches. I also plan to move the 2nd pillar to inches back. I might change out the rock above my tabling acro to a lower piece too. The overall look will be about the same. Hopefully the finished results will allow chalices to be put on the ground without affecting fish feeding.

 

[jackson6745]

IMO if you vary the height of the rocks it would look much better, more natural. The old and new scape are both plateaus of rock. High and low spots would free up space for better flow, and allow for different light intensity areas for corals.

 

[toothman]

Agreed on flow, I personally have outlet into the center of my rocks to keep flow around them. It would be nice to have a powerhead in your tank exhausting in the lower back behind the rocks. Large columns can block flow, I think all acros grow better when water directly blows on them.

 

[parkavenuereef]

I like #1 better too... sorry... Separate the stacks and make two pillars.

 

[kissman]

i just redid my 55g and what I figured out was I had to do what I liked cause only see the long term vision. Some people like some people don't only one is important