Why does my tank look so blah...pics

[JRPhd]

Agreed, the pile on the left is pretty decent. Not a lot of openings, but I see lots of places where you can attach corals. The only thing I don't like on the right smaller pile is the vertically stacked rock. I also agree with adding tank backing.

At some point I can post a pic. of my tank, and although I am certainly no reef keeping savant, ppl. do say it looks very bright and busy. And, I don't have any corals yet. In fact, it's just the amount and types of coralline. Lots of colors from Marshall Island LR, including violet, dark purple, and deep maroon. So I guess I owe the beauty of my tank to the Marshall Islands...

 

[zimmy1979]

I am proud of my tank and most people like how I aquascaped. I have room in the back and I have plenty of places to put corals I think (I am running out of sand room especially after the latest additions which you don't see in this picture):

 

[mecold]

Be careful bout adding rock as you may have too much rock after you start adding coral. Example is buying zoanthids which are almost always on a piece of lr. Lately I have been seeing zoo's on larger and larger pieces of rock, or on long pieces of branch rock. Believe me, it is always fun trying to find a spot to put your new zoos that won't deprive them of light and flow, while at the same time not destroying your aquascaping.

As far as coraline in concerned.. I can say that I used a two part from the time I started to cure my rock, and coraline never disappeared totally, and came back with a vengance. Now I use a calcium reactor, and the coraline receaded a little but is making a comeback.

 

[serob]

You never answered?

You never answered?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6753932#post6753932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by serob
If you have been running the MH the whole time, keep that in mind for the lifetime expectancy of the bulb. Would hate to see you get a lot of corals and in 3-6 months, wonder why all of a sudden they look...well, blah.

Good Luck,

Sean

Have you been running the MH since you got the tank?

 

[Dubbin1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6689975#post6689975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lfjewett
O'boy.. I hate critisizing others work expecially if they really like what they've done.. BUT you asked for it..

Your rocks really look like you droped them from the buck straight into the tank. Having the smaller rocks on the right discnnected from the main body completes the "dropped" look. This is not a recent picture of my tank but I think it underscores "one" method of aquascaping.

IMO Kens looks MUCH better then yours. All he needs in there is some corals to help color things up a bit.

Ken, look for some xenia and and maybe a kenya tree leather. They will give the tank movement from the flow.

 

[Fmellish]

Ken, I think its fine. While structure is important, and for more reasons than just looks; you are in more need of color.

Get some corals or something. Or do what I do and cultivate algae on your glass!

 

[nemo g]

try getting some purple up and reducing the light until you need it

the coraline likes lower light and calcium

good luck

nemo g

 

[serob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6761269#post6761269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nemo g
try getting some purple up and reducing the light until you need it

the coraline likes lower light and calcium

good luck

nemo g

The big thing with the light is the cost of bulb. If you burn you MH till they need replaced you are looking at "about" $55 or more a bulb. Do you know how many zoo and mushrooms you can get for $110, especially on RC? My thought has two parts. Each depends on your budget.

1. Shut off the MH and put on a NO(normal output) Flo. There are several great suggestion to get coraline to grow in this thread. Save money, look here for deals on corals. (Do you belong to a reef club near you or a forum on RC near you?)

2. Keep the MH on and start looking for deals on RC. I posted that I was looking for small stuff to fill my tank and one member, who was pruning his tank, gave me about $200 in corals for free. He needed to cut back and I needed corals.

Hmmmm..... Well, I just looked at those two points and see the same thing. Keep on RC and things will work out for you.

Post more pics when you get anything....... I have pics where I have to say," See the little green/pink thing on the top edge of that rock"....and they say no.

Best of luck,
Sean

 

[ken123]

Thanks for all the great suggestions and comments!!!! :thumbsup:
Been a few days since I read this thread. I will be ordering some green chromis soon and some zoas. There are plenty of holes on the large pile to the left that the cleaner shrimp love's to move through, you just can't see them in the pictures. This pile is up against the back of the tank so there is room up front. I am also going to try a blue background for a while. I have not been running the MH's since there's not much in the tank that needs them for now. I fire them up when people are over. I wanted an open area near the center and I think I may move some of the rock on the middle & right side around alittle bit. I like the one rock I have in the middle where it is. It has some nice fingers sticking straight up and some holes on the bottom that the hermits like hanging out in. I will post some pics after I make some changes and get the zoas. Everyone that posted pics, your tanks look good too. Gave me some ideas
Thanks all!