Redoing my rock layout....before & after...any improvement??

[ken123]

Pictures look one dimensional. And after moving the rock around the sandstorms settled and the sand does not look as white or clean anymore. Plus have some algae growing on the sand. Does it look any better to you????

Here is before...

Left side

Right side

After...right side, did not change left side. 2 caves for the clowns.

 

[michaelm2431]

Looks good.

 

[BobCReef]

looking much better

 

[revclyburn]

great work Ken,

as the tank matures and you add coral, it will take on a whole different appearance, and be spectacular!

rev

 

[ken123]

To me it still looks so blahhhh. Of course since there's not much color or coral. I'm not totally satisfied with the rock arrangement, but oh well.
I think if I did it in a dry tank I could probably get it much better and be happier with it.

 

[revclyburn]

Just picture it with more corals, something like a green carpet coral in one of the caves. They grow pretty well, so it might spread acroos to the other cave. Just have to vision it with stuff in it. When you get more corals and arrange them it will be easier to see how good it looks.

Edwin

 

[Rhinecanthus]

Looks good.

Stick that heater in the overflow.

 

[jer1198]

i think the rockwork looks pretty good, let it mature, it will grow on you, also, thats cyano algae, normal for a new tank, it will pass (it will be the 1st of many different outbreaks) just let them happen, dont freak out about them.

 

[ken123]

Good idea!!! ....heater in the overflow. Thanks!

I knew the algae was part of the cycle. So far it's the only outbreak I have had. Tank's been up since about 10/1. I guess it will grow on me.

 

[steve68]

looks much better.

 

[momof6kids]

I think it looks much better. As you fill it up with corals the color with help with the 'blahness" of it.

 

[Nagel]

I like the after shots.. The caves and arches will look much more natural as you add corals. It also helps to provide hiding spots for fish..

 

[JohnS_323]

Looks much better, Ken. As others have said, the look of it will grow on you. Most likely, as you add coral, you'll aquire pieces already mounted to smaller pieces of rock. These additions will help add character to the overall appearance.

You're definitely headed in the right direction!

 

[ken123]

Thanks all for the words of encouragement!!! It is looking better to me the more I look at it the last few days.

This week I'm going to order five green Chromis, another skunk cleaner, some more snails, feather dusters and a peppermint shrimp.

Going to try the peppermint to get rid of some aiptasia.

 

[Sk8r]

It looks very good. I wish I'd done the initial laydown of rock myself. Note on the peppermints: they take a long drip acclimation, and they're sensitive to water conditions. Mine don't so much eat aiptasia as they harass them to death. But they do it quite happily if the water's good and go on strike otherwise.

 

[ken123]

Going to Trop for the peppermint, only want one, if they have them. OK on that long drip acclimation!

Looking back the best thing to do with the rock would have been to arrange it outside of the tank, dry. Then add it to he tank. It seems to be much harder to do it in the tank in the water. Live and learn.