BiochemRobyn
Member
Very nice tanks. Very clean, sleek look.
Minimalist Aquascaping
- Thread starter E.intheC
- Start date
ReefingBuddha
New member
Here is my 3 month old 300g. The dimensions are 72"x36"x27". I feel its fairly minimalistic. The tank is 36" wide so its hard to get a sense of depth from this picture. For reference the blue carpet anemone (now sold) is about 12" from the front glass. The rockwork on the right is at least 10" form the front as well.The rockwork has also been tweaked a few times since this picture was taken. The idea is to leave a lot of room for coral growth and swimming room.
One interesting observation from my tank and a issue I had not considered during planning was a increase in fish aggressiveness due to the lack of hiding places. Even though the tank has close to 240 pounds of liverock with a lot of little hiding places, I had to add another 45 pounds. Luckily it seems like everyone has there little area now and all is well.
One interesting observation from my tank and a issue I had not considered during planning was a increase in fish aggressiveness due to the lack of hiding places. Even though the tank has close to 240 pounds of liverock with a lot of little hiding places, I had to add another 45 pounds. Luckily it seems like everyone has there little area now and all is well.
ReefingBuddha
New member
Thanks Sunny X! You have some crazy aquscaping and coral placement skills. Well done.
[WDT]TardFarmer
The Watcher
Awesome Tanks!! I have been really wanting to do something similar for a while now. I recently moved a bunch of my rocks to the basement sump and made a sloping wall with a clam garden at the end. I want to open up more of my sandbed though so I need to figure out a way to mount the rock aesthetically to a pvc frame without destroying the colonies on the rock now. I am terrified to do this.. I guess I have to just chin up and do it. I am going to start with a drawing and move from there.
Anywhoo thanks for all the inspiration!!
Anywhoo thanks for all the inspiration!!
kmu
New member
Im happy with it, the glass, corners, silicon is very nice looking. I had to get a larger sump, the stock 16g almost spills water because water siphons back down from everywhere on the overflow design... I got a 20g sump and Im happy with it.
Im using the stock pump, which is quiet.
This is my second current usa tank, my previous was a solana 34g cube, I will probably not buy one again because I could get more done with alot less money...
ReefingBuddha
New member
Has anyone else noticed issues with their fish in these minimalistic setups? I noticed a couple of tanks with just a couple of large rocks that don't appear to have any hiding room, how do your fish respond to these conditions in the long run? More jumpers? High stress? Any issues at night?
Mine's not as minimalist as some in this thread (nor half as good looking!) but the intent was to create something a bit different while still remaining 'clean' looking.
Future TOTM!
This should be nominated for thread of the month. 
there are some really beautiful tanks in here!
there are some really beautiful tanks in here!
RVANANO
SWAGON
Here is mine. Just up and running for a week so nothing in it yet. I will still add a little bit more rock but not too much. I basically want to have a similar set up to SonnyX's tank even though I just saw his for the first time this morn 
BTW... Serpentman... Your tank is the most realistic looking tank I have seen. Looks just like a real reef Wonderful job!!!
Andre... Your rock work is spectacular as well.
The 3 prementioned tanks will be great inspiration for my build
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411804954/" title="IMG_6761 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4411804954_2a90f398b5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6761" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411805488/" title="IMG_6753 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4411805488_fd86d740b8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6753" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411806074/" title="IMG_6765 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4411806074_63fb66c4cc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6765" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411836274/" title="IMG_6766 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4411836274_9217f99ed4_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6766" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411070053/" title="IMG_6769 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4411070053_f54934ee81_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6769" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411072969/" title="IMG_6771 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4411072969_0f27f3dfac_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6771" /></a>
BTW... Serpentman... Your tank is the most realistic looking tank I have seen. Looks just like a real reef
Wonderful job!!!Andre... Your rock work is spectacular as well.
The 3 prementioned tanks will be great inspiration for my build
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411804954/" title="IMG_6761 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4411804954_2a90f398b5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6761" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411805488/" title="IMG_6753 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4411805488_fd86d740b8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6753" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411806074/" title="IMG_6765 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4411806074_63fb66c4cc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6765" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411836274/" title="IMG_6766 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4411836274_9217f99ed4_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6766" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411070053/" title="IMG_6769 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4411070053_f54934ee81_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6769" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14049800@N00/4411072969/" title="IMG_6771 by RVAE34, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4411072969_0f27f3dfac_b.jpg" width="1024" height="684" alt="IMG_6771" /></a>
Last edited:
[WDT]TardFarmer
The Watcher
That is a very good question. Has anyone noticed stress from the minimal rockwork?
nj_evoIXgsr
New member
i figured out my aquascape last night for the new tank and can't wait to show it off. love the minimalist look. ANDRE and SonnyX your tanks are just amazing.
André Silvestre
Reefaholic
Thanks to all who liked my tank.
Since the pics in this thread were taken after aquascaping the tank, whithout water, here´s some with water, in the beginning and as it is now:
Tom, I like your rockwork.
Your question is well pointed out. I think it all depends on how big the tank is, what fish do you plan to keep and make the layout around these factors ( amongst others). There´s a thin line between minimalist layouts and exaggerated empty tanks regarding rocks and, imho, choosing the fish before making the layout is what dictates success. FWIW, I think a good aquascaping, no matter how minimalist is intended to be, should have sufficient and spacey hiding spots for the fish to feel safe. We can provide shelter for the fish in the long run with corals but in the short and medium run, they will miss those hiding places and that can have consequences. In my case, the right island was built with such volume on the outside because in the inside it´s full of caves and crevices that are all connected, where fish can rest or take cover when feel threaten. I also made this layout to keep small and peaceful fish like Apogons, gobys, Blennys, etc. No tangs or other big fish.
I focused five " rules" that one can take in consideration when creating his/her aquascaping. They are:
- Good water flow around and through the whole rockwork
- Fish shelters
- Fish swimming area
- Coral area
- Natural and aesthetic feeling of the rockwork
I think it should turn things easier for people who are thinking in dedicating a little more time to their aquascape and it´s something I am focusing on a new article I´m writing about Aquascaping and reef layouts that will be shared soon.
André
Since the pics in this thread were taken after aquascaping the tank, whithout water, here´s some with water, in the beginning and as it is now:
Tom, I like your rockwork.
Your question is well pointed out. I think it all depends on how big the tank is, what fish do you plan to keep and make the layout around these factors ( amongst others). There´s a thin line between minimalist layouts and exaggerated empty tanks regarding rocks and, imho, choosing the fish before making the layout is what dictates success. FWIW, I think a good aquascaping, no matter how minimalist is intended to be, should have sufficient and spacey hiding spots for the fish to feel safe. We can provide shelter for the fish in the long run with corals but in the short and medium run, they will miss those hiding places and that can have consequences. In my case, the right island was built with such volume on the outside because in the inside it´s full of caves and crevices that are all connected, where fish can rest or take cover when feel threaten. I also made this layout to keep small and peaceful fish like Apogons, gobys, Blennys, etc. No tangs or other big fish.
I focused five " rules" that one can take in consideration when creating his/her aquascaping. They are:
- Good water flow around and through the whole rockwork
- Fish shelters
- Fish swimming area
- Coral area
- Natural and aesthetic feeling of the rockwork
I think it should turn things easier for people who are thinking in dedicating a little more time to their aquascape and it´s something I am focusing on a new article I´m writing about Aquascaping and reef layouts that will be shared soon.
André
tahoe61
New member
Great
Great
Sounds jaded I know, but it has been along time since I viewed a thread that gave me so much inspiration. I just want to tear down my tank now and go with much less rock. Great tanks and it's the type of tank I have always been going for, just did not know how to make it so. Thank you.
Great
Sounds jaded I know, but it has been along time since I viewed a thread that gave me so much inspiration. I just want to tear down my tank now and go with much less rock. Great tanks and it's the type of tank I have always been going for, just did not know how to make it so. Thank you.
ReefingBuddha
New member
Thanks to all who liked my tank.
Since the pics in this thread were taken after aquascaping the tank, whithout water, here´s some with water, in the beginning and as it is now:
Tom, I like your rockwork.
Your question is well pointed out. I think it all depends on how big the tank is, what fish do you plan to keep and make the layout around these factors ( amongst others). There´s a thin line between minimalist layouts and exaggerated empty tanks regarding rocks and, imho, choosing the fish before making the layout is what dictates success. FWIW, I think a good aquascaping, no matter how minimalist is intended to be, should have sufficient and spacey hiding spots for the fish to feel safe. We can provide shelter for the fish in the long run with corals but in the short and medium run, they will miss those hiding places and that can have consequences. In my case, the right island was built with such volume on the outside because in the inside it´s full of caves and crevices that are all connected, where fish can rest or take cover when feel threaten. I also made this layout to keep small and peaceful fish like Apogons, gobys, Blennys, etc. No tangs or other big fish.
I focused five " rules" that one can take in consideration when creating his/her aquascaping. They are:
- Good water flow around and through the whole rockwork
- Fish shelters
- Fish swimming area
- Coral area
- Natural and aesthetic feeling of the rockwork
I think it should turn things easier for people who are thinking in dedicating a little more time to their aquascape and it´s something I am focusing on a new article I´m writing about Aquascaping and reef layouts that will be shared soon.
André
Couldn't agree more all around. Those are the exact design criteria I had for my setup (once I realized I need some extra shelter for the fish). The right side of my rockwork is also designed to have tunnels and crevices for fish. I added and additional 45 pounds and drilled a bunch of big holes in large pieces of rock.
That tank looks great. can't wait to see it 2 or 3 years from now when its all grown in.
Last edited:
E.intheC
Active member
I agree, both Sonny and Andre's tanks are amazing:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Post your pictures nj_evo!
My tank is much less cluttered then these pictures convey. When I get rid of the X-large leather coral it will greatly open up the front half of the tank. Enjoy...
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo89/karsco/FTS2.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo89/karsco/FTS1.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo89/karsco/FTS2.jpg
http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo89/karsco/FTS1.jpg
