Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

[youcallmenny]

Thank you! I'll make it black today.

@neededahobby, I like your middle and right structures a lot. Your left structure needs a feature, cave/arch/horseshoe ect. Maybe even connect two of them via a bridge and then add some more height to some of the scape. You have a lot of head room. Your tank and rock look beautiful, excited to see what you do!

 

[Hoopz87]

Did you intend to make this sculpture look like a 3 legged dog? :lol2:

Lmao that's awesome, your the second person that said that

 

[Chiromanta]

Hi everybody.
I am finally reaching the end of my aquascaping project and really need your help.
I have 165G tall tank with central overflow. 48/22/33. It would be mixed reef LPS dominant, but with some SPS on the upper shelves. the light is 300W LED.
Please take a look at my aquascape and help me with the chalenges i have.
I have read through this thread several times and got a lot of really cool ideas.
Challenges:

1. I did apply 2:3 ratio, but fail to achieve depth perception. Please look at my side shot of the tank and advice me on how can I fix it.

2. On both islands the top is not glued yet, so if it could be changed for some thing more dramatic it would be cool. Originally it started as an banzai project and after I build The Wall a few times (lol) I end up with this. I really want to have a lot of open space with overhauls, so I can bring my corals closer to the light source.

3. The tank can only be seen from the front and Left side, so if you add some thing to it please keep in mind the visual angle, and also there is a drain system under right island.

4. It would be a SSB about 1-1.5" and All the rocks that I have would be on display, about 80LB. Is it enough to handle heavy bio-load? I also will run a skimmer for 500G system on this 165G tank.
this is how it looks as of today, no send yet.

 

[Butchhe]

I'm not an expert but I would move the island on the left up closer to the front of the tank to give it depth. Maybe add a few small rocks on the left side of right island that extend out to the left arcing towards the now moved left island.

 

[Chiromanta]

I'm not an expert but I would move the island on the left up closer to the front of the tank to give it depth. Maybe add a few small rocks on the left side of right island that extend out to the left arcing towards the now moved left island.

Thanks. I will try it today.

 

[Isaacs55]

Here's mine as promised! I hope you like it!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/em9rkrMRkUY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[malira]

Fantastic thread. Now to try and read through it.

 

[Hoopz87]

View attachment 320907View attachment 320908View attachment 320909

 

[Lavoisier]

Thanks. I will try it today.

Also remember that the 5::3 ratio should be applied horizontally as well as vertically. Your islands are to evenly spaced across the width. Move one towards the center (maybe the smaller of the two). Finally, and you may have done this already, you can sometimes create some asymmetry by rotating your islands so that the shelves are angled relative to the front viewing panel. Nice islands by the way...

 

[Chiromanta]

Also remember that the 5::3 ratio should be applied horizontally as well as vertically. Your islands are to evenly spaced across the width. Move one towards the center (maybe the smaller of the two). Finally, and you may have done this already, you can sometimes create some asymmetry by rotating your islands so that the shelves are angled relative to the front viewing panel. Nice islands by the way...

Thank you. cool idea. what about adding a small structure that slopes down towards the center of the tank.

 

[Lavoisier]

Thank you. cool idea. what about adding a small structure that slopes down towards the center of the tank.

Personally, I like what you have now. Additional structures might make it look cluttered. Remember once your corals start growing your aquascape will fill in.

 

[WAfrican]

My tank after 7 months of tedious work and adjusting. Though I love this setup I'm always looking to better it. This is 55-60lbs of rock in a 40 breeder. The tank is better lit than shown and has a cave on the right side with along with one under the left arch way. I have a koralia 850 behind the rock work on the right which has about 4-5" of space between the glass and a 1150 on the lower left. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hoopz87]

View attachment 321164View attachment 321165

 

[SLICKTOP]

65 Show before new build

65 Show before new build

This is my aquascape after tank move

 

[SLICKTOP]

More pictures of 65 show. 30 x 30x 24 Cube should be here in Sept. Sorry about poor picture quality

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Couple of months into a 40 Breeder reef tank. Back wall is all artificial and rounds out the back corners...

 

[jaferreira]

 

[Jay_R]

Here's my 55g corner.. I have some more sps growing in the garage to add in due course, but would welcome some pointers...

 

[Jay_R]

Side view.. For some reason I couldn't add the 2 pics on the same post..

How do you guys get your image in the body of the message rather than as a thumbnail?

 

[shaggss]

Side view.. For some reason I couldn't add the 2 pics on the same post..

How do you guys get your image in the body of the message rather than as a thumbnail?

You need to open a photobucket account or something similar. Once you upload an image to Photobucket there will be a few codes associated with the photo. One will be an code. Copy that link and post it in your thread.

It will look something similar to this:

[IMG] [url]http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f298/oxbow70/DSCF5717_zpsjxa0z9.jpg[/url] [/URL]