playing with rocks

[digidana]

i finally found some time last nite to play with rocks...

i never liked how i had them set up in the 55, but i'm liking the 240 better. i'm open to suggestions. i'm thinking the left side of the tank might be too dark in the "cove." i've got some more rock in the 55 to play with, but can't move it yet cause there's still creatures in there.

we still have a long way to go...still waiting on the sand, and the lights are temporary.

so...suggestions?

 

[Mark75]

Here is what I have learned in recently aqua-scaping my tank.

1.) Make sure it is sturdy! Nothing worse than trying to secure frags to unsecure rocks.

2.) Leave plenty of room between the rock-work and the glass. Twice the room you think you might need.

3.) Do not worry so much how it looks now, imagine it "grown out". If you are successful with corals you will not see much of the rock any way.

4.) Any where you can't reach is where that pest you need to remove will grow. Keep these nooks and crannies to a minimum.

By the way, I am not saying your current rock work is bad, looks good to me.

 

[EvilMel]

I think it looks pretty ding dang awesome.

I suuuuuck at aquascaping rocks.

 

[Runner]

I'll second the room between rock and glass. I hate having to reach in and manually move something around when all I want to do is a quick scrub.

Make overhangs and caves and places fish would like to hide The more places they have hide, the more they'll be out where you can see them. I rarely saw my yellow watchman goby until I removed a piece of base rock to my sump leaving a 2" high, 8" deep and wide "cave" of sorts. He sits under there all the time now and wanders his corner of the tank more. I am going to miss the guy. *SNIFF*

 

[fishdoc11]

I think that looks really nice Looks like you have left lots of room for things to grow in, left some swimming space and created some nice ledges/hideouts for the fish. I always put too much rock in when I aquascape. I second the notion that it's best to keep rocks away from the glass a bit. You can typically get away with putting them touching the overflows though.
Chris

 

[Runner]

Oops. Sorry -- didn't see the photos at work (they were blocked). You have good ledges and hideouts.

 

[digidana]

thanks for the input! the overflows are set in about 6 inches or so from the side of the tank, and i started with putting rock at the overflows. is that enough space? and you're only talking about the sides and front, right? it can go up against the back? i dont think i could clean the back if i wanted to.

it looks so empty to me. i'll probably add more rock later...or maybe it'll grow on me? fish will probably enjoy the elbow room! thanks guys!

 

[ct_vol]

Yeah, just worry about keeping it away from the glass you want to see through... If you don't leave yourself enough room to scrape/scrub, it will be covered with coraline/algae...