Weird Tank Size leaves aquascaping nightmare

apreich · 02/13/2014, 02:41 PM

Hey fellows reefers. I just got a new tank (impulse buy, $200 bucks for a tank and stand) The problem is that it's dimensions are: 36" long x 30" tall x 13" deep. I'm having a hard time placing my rocks without leaving a bunch of space up top. Any suggestions?

ReeferKimberly · 02/13/2014, 02:46 PM

Sounds kinda like my 65. I made two big islands, one taller than the other. Pretend the frag rack of xenia is not there.

If I could go back I might have made two rock walls (or one) actually epoxied to the glass, but the islands work too.

greech · 02/13/2014, 03:24 PM

If you are going to have acros, gorgorians, euphyllia, etc. up top, they will fill in the void up yop. Otherwise you can using epoxy, acrylic rods, etc to create a taller scape.

leveldrummer · 02/13/2014, 03:45 PM

sell it.

mrsixstrings12 · 02/13/2014, 06:18 PM

You just have to use your imagination and pick good looking rocks with some character. When I got my 38 gallon (similar dimensions like yours) instead of a 40 gallon I was fearing about aquscaping, but after starting the project I'm very glad I got the 38 instead of a 40

Pigpen17 · 02/13/2014, 08:34 PM

That is stunning ReeferK! WOW!

Not sure if I can help, but sometimes an answer is beter than none. I too have been battling this.

My tank is empty right now, but this is the start. I'll be doing mixed tank most likely, so for me I need some swim room.

I decided on doing heavy on one side, and sloping down to the other.
That way the left side is packed with rocks and can be high, but the right has more open area.

As well. I am going to add more rock to the front right side front "Wall" to make a trench, but my tank is veiwable from that side.

I need to add more rock to make it really work, but I hope you get the idea and I hope that helps in some way.

apreich · 02/14/2014, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

sell it.

lol...That's what my roommate said too! Thanks for all of the ideas folks! I tried to keep the rocks off the glass (to make cleaning easier) but I guess some good looking coraline algea growth with fill in perfectly. I really like the ideas of rock walls on the side(s). More area for corals to soak up the light too. I'm going to get this guy rolling now! I'll try to get a picture up within the week.

Lincutis · 02/14/2014, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apreich

Hey fellows reefers. I just got a new tank (impulse buy, $200 bucks for a tank and stand) The problem is that it's dimensions are: 36" long x 30" tall x 13" deep. I'm having a hard time placing my rocks without leaving a bunch of space up top. Any suggestions?

That space up top is a good thing. It gives things room to grow and creates an open swimming area for active fish.

Dozer1one · 02/14/2014, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

sell it.

To meeeeee

Pigpen17 · 02/16/2014, 01:02 PM

Hey again. So I added an arch to the tank. I am very happy with it. Not only does it look nice, but it has created a "figure 8" swim track in the tank as well as a "loop" track. Plus the arch created a "fork in the road" where the fish can decide which way to go. I think this makes for a more interesting swim for the little guys than just back and forth.

Lincutis · 02/16/2014, 06:24 PM

Pigpen17 I like the tank, but IMHO you need a background on that tank to increase it's beauty and enhance the rockwork.

Pigpen17 · 02/16/2014, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lincutis

Pigpen17 I like the tank, but IMHO you need a background on that tank to increase it's beauty and enhance the rockwork.

Thanks.

Yeah, the background is on the "To Buy" list, along with new power heads (two 700gph vs the one 950 gph) and a hob refugium.....possibly. Funny. The more I learn about this hobby the more I WANT! heh heh heh.

Lincutis · 02/17/2014, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigpen17

Thanks.

Yeah, the background is on the "To Buy" list, along with new power heads (two 700gph vs the one 950 gph) and a hob refugium.....possibly. Funny. The more I learn about this hobby the more I WANT! heh heh heh.

One think is for sure. When you have this hobby, the expression, "extra money" is removed the vocabulary.

apreich · 02/17/2014, 01:07 PM

Here is what I have so far. Do you think I should add some more rocks?

apreich · 02/17/2014, 01:09 PM

Oh, I'm still waiting on my new LEDs to come in the mail, so i just slapped my old T5s over the top. And sorry for the poor quality pic. The heater will hopefully be removed once I get my sump situated. (waiting on the tank I purchased to mod as my sump) This waiting game on parts is killing me! :-P

Lincutis · 02/17/2014, 01:16 PM

I think it is looking good.

Pigpen17 · 02/17/2014, 02:15 PM

Yeah, I like it too. The offsetting height looks great.

And yes, the waiting is the hardest part...but I have been spending most of my "waiting" time reading everything I can in here and absorbing as much as possible. Oh and staring at my empty tank.

02/13/2014, 02:41 PM	#1
apreich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 15	Weird Tank Size leaves aquascaping nightmare Hey fellows reefers. I just got a new tank (impulse buy, $200 bucks for a tank and stand) The problem is that it's dimensions are: 36" long x 30" tall x 13" deep. I'm having a hard time placing my rocks without leaving a bunch of space up top. Any suggestions?

02/13/2014, 03:24 PM	#3
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	If you are going to have acros, gorgorians, euphyllia, etc. up top, they will fill in the void up yop. Otherwise you can using epoxy, acrylic rods, etc to create a taller scape. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

02/13/2014, 08:34 PM	#6
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	That is stunning ReeferK! WOW! Not sure if I can help, but sometimes an answer is beter than none. I too have been battling this. My tank is empty right now, but this is the start. I'll be doing mixed tank most likely, so for me I need some swim room. I decided on doing heavy on one side, and sloping down to the other. That way the left side is packed with rocks and can be high, but the right has more open area. As well. I am going to add more rock to the front right side front "Wall" to make a trench, but my tank is veiwable from that side. I need to add more rock to make it really work, but I hope you get the idea and I hope that helps in some way. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/16/2014, 01:02 PM	#10
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	Hey again. So I added an arch to the tank. I am very happy with it. Not only does it look nice, but it has created a "figure 8" swim track in the tank as well as a "loop" track. Plus the arch created a "fork in the road" where the fish can decide which way to go. I think this makes for a more interesting swim for the little guys than just back and forth. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/16/2014, 06:24 PM	#11
Lincutis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus Posts: 1,911	Pigpen17 I like the tank, but IMHO you need a background on that tank to increase it's beauty and enhance the rockwork. __________________ Lindsey ( That's Mr. Smith to you ) . Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder with 20 gallon sump./Apex, AI Sol Blue, In Sump Skimmer, Geo Calcium Reactor, WP-25 Wave Pump, Tunze Nano ATO, Carbon/GFO Reactors

02/13/2014, 02:46 PM	#2
ReeferKimberly Marley & Me Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Roseville, California Posts: 1,452	Sounds kinda like my 65. I made two big islands, one taller than the other. Pretend the frag rack of xenia is not there. If I could go back I might have made two rock walls (or one) actually epoxied to the glass, but the islands work too.

02/13/2014, 03:45 PM	#4
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	sell it.

02/13/2014, 06:18 PM	#5
mrsixstrings12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 132	You just have to use your imagination and pick good looking rocks with some character. When I got my 38 gallon (similar dimensions like yours) instead of a 40 gallon I was fearing about aquscaping, but after starting the project I'm very glad I got the 38 instead of a 40

02/17/2014, 01:07 PM	#14
apreich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 15	Here is what I have so far. Do you think I should add some more rocks?

02/17/2014, 01:09 PM	#15
apreich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 15	Oh, I'm still waiting on my new LEDs to come in the mail, so i just slapped my old T5s over the top. And sorry for the poor quality pic. The heater will hopefully be removed once I get my sump situated. (waiting on the tank I purchased to mod as my sump) This waiting game on parts is killing me! :-P

02/17/2014, 01:16 PM	#16
Lincutis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus Posts: 1,911	I think it is looking good. __________________ Lindsey ( That's Mr. Smith to you ) . Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder with 20 gallon sump./Apex, AI Sol Blue, In Sump Skimmer, Geo Calcium Reactor, WP-25 Wave Pump, Tunze Nano ATO, Carbon/GFO Reactors

02/17/2014, 02:15 PM	#17
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	Yeah, I like it too. The offsetting height looks great. And yes, the waiting is the hardest part...but I have been spending most of my "waiting" time reading everything I can in here and absorbing as much as possible. Oh and staring at my empty tank. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130