Aquascaping Suggestions?

Brock Fluharty

New member
Ever since seeing the tank at the funeral home, i've bene looking for ways to make my tank look like a "real" reef. I see all of these cool aquascaping layouts, and I only have the live rock in my tank all in one mound in the center.

This is roughly what it looks like (can't find my camera).

Any suggestions? I kinda like how the FH had the two smaller mound things, then one larger space in the middle.
 
Ok, here is the real pic. I found my camera, and the last pic didn't load anyway...

I'm also adding some close-ups of some of the corals I got at the meet, and JoMarr's, and of my fish.

Grr...nvm, JPG images don't work...but anyway, I have one mound of rock against th back wall. Anything to make it look more "reefish"? There is probably about 70 pounds or so in there right now.
 
I mean, it is spread, but it's just one structure. I was wondering if I should make 2 structures, evenly spaced on either side of the tank. Would this make it more "realistic"? I know that's what the funeral home tank had...
 
Thats how I have my tank Brock, I have the two mounds with it more opent in the center. I was pleased to see the FH tank with the same scape, it gives me a good idea of how mine will look in the near future. My tank is the exact same as the one there. If you don't have enough rock to make two large mounds, just get some base rock and put your live rock on top, in time the base rock will become "live"
 
Which ever way you decide be sure not to just throw stones together, your not trying to build a wall. You need openings for fish to hide and water flow to flush out any detritus that collects. Keep in mind that we are not finished with Rogers tank by any means. He wants a tank of the month type tank and that's exactly what he's going to get if all goes well. We need to add a bit more flow in there as you could see the cyano on the sand, and start running O-zone soon. Aquascaping is as much an art as it is a science just remember your true goal is to make the animals happy and not just you.
 
Yep. I started on it, and it looks very fake, and unnatural. I got a TON of bristles in my hands...I can't find any gloves...:(

I think that I need to make it more "rugged" looking. All of my big rocks are smooth, so i'll get some littler pieces, and glue them together around the base rock. I also like this idea, because it gives my hippo tang more room to swim, and also give me multiple "shelves" to place higher light corals, like some SPS.
 
what kind of "bristles"? like little white, furry bristles? or rock shards? If they are furry they are Calsium Carbionate (i think...) spikes from a fireworm. Pour vineagar on it if it is...
 
Awesome! I got it exactly the way I want it, and myfish seem very interested in the new "Towers". The left mound is a little lacking in rock, but I remember Aleesa saying that she was gonna do a group buy on LR from somewhere.
 
They are not furry. They are white bristles, from bristle worms, not fireworms. Fireworms, from my understanding, burn very badly when you get "spiked". These just itch, and if you accidentally rub them when they're in you, they sting a little.
 
Guys be careful with buying LR on line I have only bought from Fosters and Smith and even one of those shipments was uncured when it was supposed to be cured. If you have a place to cure it (I did) then go for it, but if not you can wipe out your tanks at worst, and at least stink up your houses. Just some friendly advice.
 
Hey Ron, not sure if you got my PM or not, but I finally figured out that you have to clear out your sent messages too, lol. :P

It's clear now. I PMed a few people tonight, not sure if anyone responded.
 
Brock, I already purchased my tonga branch live rock. I have been curing it in a 29 gal for 2 1/2 weeks. I'm running 2 power heads on it and changing the water every 4 days. When I first got it I had only 1 ph on it and within 3 days it stunk! No odor now, but ammonia is still showing...I plan on scrubbing it down tomorrow. It is covered in green coraline (looks like small bumpy polyps on cauliflower) and some reds. When I get this cured you can come over and get some pieces. I bought some nice coraline encrusted figi from Phillip a couple of weeks ago so I should have plenty to set-up my 125. My 55 has 3 caves that my sailfin weaves in and out the back to the front. The tonga is nice to make caves and create odd structures. I think it looks very natural with different types of rock.
 
Hey Brock, someone did a group buy on some sps frags and they said that it was some nice stuff. I am wanting to get in on the next one. I will look in the past threads and see if I can find it again, if you are interested I will let you know.
Nancy
 
Go to your local scuba shop and get some diving gloves. They are designed specifically to protect you from little nasties like that.
 
Very interesting on the gloves. Can you get them to fit small hands? I bought the arm length glove-(blue w/orange hand). They are made for gorilla hands and very clumsy. They are only good for large objects. I bought the arm length tunze gloves which puncture easily. Currently I use 2 pair surgical gloves w/rubber band on wrist, next tunze full length glove using rubber band on upper arm, last layer is playtex living glove or nitrex cleaning glove w/rubber band on cuff. I have been very lucky and not stung by a bristle worm. But, I have had a bad reaction to the toxins from anemones. It would be great to find "A" glove that fit my hand and protected my skin! I've looked everywhere but a scuba shop!
 
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