Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

[MegNut]

So I finally have my 150g up and cycling for a week and a half and we have managed to recreate my initial idea. This current layout had lots of caves and shelves and provides a good layout for lots of corals. So far everything is simply stacked and gravity is doing the job.

Right side...

Left side...

 

[NanoJosh]

I went from this

To this

The large piece in the center is one huge piece of Haitian shelf rock shaped like a distorted baseball mit.

This is the 29g display fuge.

I sometimes feel like there is too much rock in the display. Thanks.

 

[vic8361]

So I finally have my 150g up and cycling for a week and a half and we have managed to recreate my initial idea. This current layout had lots of caves and shelves and provides a good layout for lots of corals. So far everything is simply stacked and gravity is doing the job.

Right side...

Left side...

I really like the way it turned out.
Looks great,
Vic

 

[MegNut]

I really like the way it turned out.
Looks great,
Vic

Thanks for the input. I do have 1 more large (dry) rock and 3 more medium live rock available but I wouldn't know where to add then to the current scape without making to look like a hunk of rock...

 

[vic8361]

It looks good the way it is . The corals will fill it in quite quickly.

 

[dlai531]

first stab after reading this thread.

 

[KCFITZ78]

Here is my first attempt at the aquascape for my 65 gallon acrylic hexagon tank. What do you think?

[/QUOTE]


I need to bond my arch and not sure what is the best and safest way to make the bond between dry rocks. Right now I have drilled holes in the dry rock and used ridged aquarium airlines, but need more of a stable bond. I have read to use the following: JB WaterWeld, Gorilla Glue, Super Glue Gel, Loctite Super Glue and 2-part Epoxy.... but what brands of 2-part epoxy? Also would silicone or hot glue work?

 

[jbraslins]

first stab after reading this thread.

I dig it, very nice.

 

[dmazz63]

1st re-scape attempt

1st re-scape attempt

Only used about half of the rock

 

[Jeffie]

my 3' x 3' x 2', 135 gallon cube. Original scape. Only ended up using 2 of the rock structures.

A few years later...you'll have to excuse the mess on the bottom. Has since been removed.

 

[KCFITZ78]

Now that I have taken the arch out of the tank to epoxy it, I kind of like this look. Thinking of moving everything forward a little, rotating the right side forward and putting a pukani rock with a shelf behind & overhanging the low rock pile on the right...... What ya think?

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I think your headed in the right direction but those random rocks and shells are in attractive to me... Not very natural looking. Sorry I don't have much input but that's my opinion.

 

[KCFITZ78]

I think your headed in the right direction but those random rocks and shells are in attractive to me... Not very natural looking. Sorry I don't have much input but that's my opinion.

The pillar and arch are out of my tank now. The really small rocks are rock footers that poke out of the sand for the bigger rocks.... to give it anchor look like in this example pic below (found on the first page of this thread)..

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I feel like the type of rock your attempting to use for that look are incorrect? Really solid looking rocks and the shells are wrong for that look... More of the pukani rock vs shells

 

[KCFITZ78]

I feel like the type of rock your attempting to use for that look are incorrect? Really solid looking rocks and the shells are wrong for that look... More of the pukani rock vs shells

Nevermind... was not using shells for that.

 

[KCFITZ78]

Here is my second scape....

 

[KCFITZ78]

"Arch" vs. "Pile & Shelves"

 

[Lavoisier]

The pillar and arch are out of my tank now. The really small rocks are rock footers that poke out of the sand for the bigger rocks.... to give it anchor look like in this example pic below (found on the first page of this thread)..

Very nice proportions with plenty of open space. Beautiful!

 

[KCFITZ78]

Very nice proportions with plenty of open space. Beautiful!

Not my tank.... that was an example photo that is found in the first page of this thread.

 

[Vadafallon]

Ok i think i might start my rescaping today. I have a bunch of rock i bleached out, and then ran it in RO for a few days and then let it set out and dry. Do you think i should run it in saltwater for a few weeks and test for pho and nitriates before using it in my tank?

On a side note do you think this is a good process.
1) take rock out of the tank and put it in a rubbermaid container with saltwater
2) take pieces out of the water to drill as needed and put rods in the rock to put them together.
3) This will be for the back most part of the rock work and then i think i can use some of the other rock for whatever struct i want to do up front

I have a 60 gallon cube. I will to use as much rock as possible but make it look minimal. If that makes any sense. Suggestions tips tricks?