Common Aquascaping Mistakes

[alexander_ktn]

The most common mistake I find is that most beginners aren't aware how fast and large most corals grow and thus put way too much rock in their tanks.

One mistake I made in a tank was using pillars nearly up to the water surface - they look great at the beginning, but once your corals get large you end up with lots of shadowy areas...

Edit: oh and another big mistake: putting table acroporas high up in the tank... They are nature's parasol...

 

[thanatos05]

I am starting to remove rock (especially the dense stuff) hoping to eliminate dead spots. I am kind of luck I did not epoxy but at the same token no using epoxy has resulted in rocks shifting an moving. I even had an incident when my hands were in my tank were I accidentally knocked over a rock and it caused an avalanche which resulted close to my glass. Take your time and plan it out.

 

[Ron Reefman]

There is a lot of "I don't like LR walls' in this thread, but I guess I just disagree.

My rock goes from 6" off the front glass almost to the water surface at the back glass. I have taken steps to improve water circulation, like 2 long, square 'S' shaped spray bars down the back glass with alternating flow from one side to the other and 95% of my rock is 1.5"-2.5" off the sand on eggcrate sheets standing on pvc pipe pilings so I get flow behind and under my rock. But then this is my 3rd set up and I had lots of advise and help from fellow club members.

 

[cklayko]

look to create islands - this will hinder "coral jumping" if your keeping softies. I agree with many of the above, the rock walls of the past make it tough for flow... my $.02

 

[bjmd22]

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

 

[PaulieReef]

Not sure if I have to much rock.. I do however have it leaning against the back wall :/

And before the tang police come along, these guys are being held in my tank until my buddies 150g tank is done cycling.

 

[Pluedke1]

Seeing friends tanks over stocked with live rock, even with tunze wave box you will have dead flow spots and build up.

 

[Bilk]

When I got my 60g cube (1992) I wanted to do something unique. Being an active diver, I tried my best to recreate a reef scene. I used a piece of pumice I got from the local landscaping company that weighed in at about #150, then spent the next month or so in my basement (no garage) with hammer, chisel, and electric drill with several large spade bits to carve it to it's finished shape. By then it was down to ~#80. I put it in the tank and added water. Much to my surprise, it FLOATED! Drained the tank, dried the rock and then used a couple tubes of silicone to fix it to the bottom. All in all, it has been a good tank, but because the single rock in the tank is fixed to the bottom, there is no way to reaquascape, much less catch the occasional troublemaker. The only way to catch anything is to drain the tank almost completely, until the fish are pretty much just flopping around in the sand.

The good news is - after a recent move of the tank to allow for new carpet, the wife has agreed to allow me to upgrade!!! I'll be ordering the 120 tomorrow. (no pumice this time!!!)

I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at this. Wish I was there to see the look on your face when an 80lb rock started to float in your tank. It must have been priceless :spin1: