Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

[goreef170]

I like it, altho I would add maybe a few more rocks to the one , just to the left of the large mound.

[Giga]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2300906


there's my build thread that I'll be updating tomorrow

[Jwey]

Here is my 100 Gallon
I need some advice on the aquascaping, I couldnt get the flow and ended up with this.
Maybe I need to break up the rock for smaller pieces to get the flow as described on Page 2.

[ctopal]

Wow, wonderful thread, thank you! I've got a 90 that I'm redoing. Previously I was a rock wall kind of girl, I'm thinking of trying out more white space. I liked the idea of a floating ledge but not sure this is looking to good. I may try and extend one more rock further out up top. I also planned to put a small shape on the right, but it's from live rock in my tank that I'm not taking out yet. Any thoughts on this left hand side?



actually, just changed it around and I think I like the below much better.

[jolopy409]

My shot at the grid pattern on page one. I kept everything just lower than the grid they should be in so that when the corals grow out they will fit right into the proper grids.

[DrDelay]

Looks good but I think your center pile should be turned a bit to either side doesn't flow with the rest of the rocks since is straight on.

[Heelfiend]

Changed it around before I set up my new tank. The area to the right of the big island IS an arch, just can't see it well from this pic. The small island on the left will be a bit more forward maybe when I put it in the tank. Only rocks on the carboard are going in the tank (the one behind is not part of it).

Whaddya think?

[IMG]http://i60.*******.com/2yvkm89.jpg[/IMG]

[claudiojr]

I´ve spent almost 2 weeks just landscaping.
Results are great (at least to me )

[BrandonMason]

I wanted to create large openings as fish swimming in and out of rock is more attractive to me than just in front.

[reefcoco]

Originally Posted by claudiojr

I´ve spent almost 2 weeks just landscaping.
Results are great (at least to me )

Beautiful, this is like an art work on the wall, can't wait to see the finish look

[maddmaxx]

just redid my rock a couple days ago...





based on how everything today is minimal aquascaping, im old school i guess. im a fan of the "rock wall" lol.. i like this cause it allows multiple multiple hiding places if you have many fish and not forced to share only a couple rock piles. also when its filled in with coral it literally a wall of corals. plus you get to see fish pop out of nowhere or you see a fish enter on one side of the rocks then appear on the other side of the rocks out of no where.

any body like the old fashioned rock wall???

[Potsy]

Originally Posted by Jwey

Here is my 100 Gallon
I need some advice on the aquascaping, I couldnt get the flow and ended up with this.
Maybe I need to break up the rock for smaller pieces to get the flow as described on Page 2.

I think the aquascape could be improved with some negative space. Rather than one continuous line of interconnected rock, consider leaving some gaps where the viewer's eyes can pause.

[Adam_Gamberutti]

55gallon tank. My first SW tank.

[Potsy]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

just redid my rock a couple days ago...





based on how everything today is minimal aquascaping, im old school i guess. im a fan of the "rock wall" lol.. i like this cause it allows multiple multiple hiding places if you have many fish and not forced to share only a couple rock piles. also when its filled in with coral it literally a wall of corals. plus you get to see fish pop out of nowhere or you see a fish enter on one side of the rocks then appear on the other side of the rocks out of no where.

any body like the old fashioned rock wall???

Back in the late 90s my tanks featured the rock wall, but when they filled up with coral they started to look like a crowded curio cabinets. Now that my aquascape is rather minimalist, I find that I can group or isolate corals for a more pleasing "composition" and there is an appearance of depth with all the negative space. I feel that my tank, which is soft coral dominated, has areas of swaying movement contrasted with calm open space. But it all comes down to whatever floats your boat... different strokes for different folks.

[maddmaxx]

potsy this is my old 125g with a rock wall also. i like the look of rocks just covered in corals. to me its if you were diving and came across a cliff on a reef where everything was covered.. i will admit tho. if i had a wider tank at 36" or wider, i would go with a more minimal look cause to me then it would really add depth like your saying, but anything under 30" wide is just to narrow for me, so i go with the rock wall....

[Lavoisier]

Originally Posted by Heelfiend

Changed it around before I set up my new tank. The area to the right of the big island IS an arch, just can't see it well from this pic. The small island on the left will be a bit more forward maybe when I put it in the tank. Only rocks on the carboard are going in the tank (the one behind is not part of it).

Whaddya think?

[IMG]http://i60.*******.com/2yvkm89.jpg[/IMG]

Nice proportions. Your tank should look great.

[Potsy]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

potsy this is my old 125g with a rock wall also. i like the look of rocks just covered in corals. to me its if you were diving and came across a cliff on a reef where everything was covered.. i will admit tho. if i had a wider tank at 36" or wider, i would go with a more minimal look cause to me then it would really add depth like your saying, but anything under 30" wide is just to narrow for me, so i go with the rock wall....

That looks great, and you seem to have knack for placing coral in a manner that avoids the fruit stand look that some rock wall tanks take on.

My tank is rather smallish at 50 gallons, so a more open aquascape lets me clean more thoroughly, and the water flow more effectively keeps detritus in suspension. It also seems to create an illusion of space. But again, yours looks really good.

[maddmaxx]

totally understand the fruit stand look your talking about. where the same coral is just grouped together and everything looks like its in sections. i fill the tank wit frags and let the natural coverage happen...

[JPMagyar]

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox

You make a very good point and one that I have been considering as well. We seem to put a lot of effort into the aesthetics of our rock structure when in reality, unless we are running a FOWLR, the goal should be to establish a rock base for mounting corals that in the end will hardly be seen. And to also allow enough negative space to set off the corals and provide swim room for your fish. Very nice reef BTW!

I think I'll repost this every 10 pages or so on this thread.

I absolutely love the artistry many have shown in building their initial rock work, BUT . . .


. . . . interesting rock work is irrelevant IF you plan on growing out a full reef. How your corals grow and their coloration is a WAAAAY more important factor. If you put a stag in front and below a coral that is growing outward in plate form it won't work. If you put two purple corals next to one another you don't emphasize your colors. Rock work is fun the day you set it up and you definitely need to consider height but you can do that with shelfs or mounds and either way once the corals grow in the rock work will be invisible.

[echoreef]

Here is my attempt keeping note of proportions, symmetry, and open space for fish and coral growth.

[goreef170]

Originally Posted by echoreef

Here is my attempt keeping note of proportions, symmetry, and open space for fish and coral growth.

Very nice !! Looks very clean.....

[odietel]

My rock work so far , just need to rework the right side and open up the island a little . Just opened up the left and middle using a lot of epoxy and a new piece of dry rock and 70 pounds of live. What do you think ?

[Jeff000]

I'm really not creative enough to make my rockwork look good.
It looks very bland, like a couple piles of rock right now.

Can someone please help, I can add more rock, move it around, or whatever. Although I do like lots of hiding spots for my fish

[iCraigerz]

Originally Posted by echoreef

Here is my attempt keeping note of proportions, symmetry, and open space for fish and coral growth.

I'm into it! Lots of negative space. This is kind of the look I'm going for in my 165 I'm about to set up.

[odietel]

This is my 300 , just opened up the left and center with a piece of dry rock and about 70 pounds of new live rock . Will be finishing up the right side in a couple of weeks . What do you think ?