Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

[EuroGTI]

Here's my scape. Minimalist island look. Lots of cool little features

Untitled by touchofklasse, on Flickr

Untitled by touchofklasse, on Flickr

Fts with first corals

DSC_1124 by touchofklasse, on Flickr

[chrismhaase]

I am pending a new SPS 180 tank and I have read through this entire thread trying to pick and choose all the awesome designs many of you have incorporated. Check out this company I found, they make rock that is supposedly inert and not harvested from the wild, therefore no impact on nature. Also, it is PH neutral and can be added to already running tanks. I thought this may be a good idea so you don't have to cook your rock worrying about what undesirable creature may be hitchhiking. Anyway, take a look and let me know your thoughts. Also anyone have any experience with this company??

http://cerameco.com

[FirstContact]

Wondering how the rule of thirds would apply to tonga branch rock, and if anyone had examples.

Found this on the internet and liked it, but I don't see how it uses the principles described earlier in the thread. There is some negative space created by the "shelf", but basically, it looks like one big structure to me although I like it.

http://www.spsholic.com/attach/1/6324488143.jpg

[aleithol]

Originally Posted by FirstContact

Wondering how the rule of thirds would apply to tonga branch rock, and if anyone had examples.

Found this on the internet and liked it, but I don't see how it uses the principles described earlier in the thread. There is some negative space created by the "shelf", but basically, it looks like one big structure to me although I like it.

http://www.spsholic.com/attach/1/6324488143.jpg

I think it depends a lot on what sort of branches you receive... Not all are what I'd call "clusters" like in the picture you reference ... some are long and straighter, others are more complex. One of mine is a natural physically connected oval of two branches that grew together (on right end of photo below); another came as a rather long and heavy base structure almost looking like a hand (middle bottom coming out towards you). I have another single piece I didn't use that is almost like a club -- close to 4" across and nearly 18" long. A monster that would have worked well for a structural support perhaps, but just didn't fit in for me in the end.

I personally elected to go with a combo of Fiji, a few shelves and then used branch to set things off as I was looking for something perhaps a bit more realistic, but with plenty of caves, overhangs, and varying levels for corals I may get into. I'm pretty happy with what I have cycling at the moment. This does not quite do it justice in terms of 3D, but I did a quick snapshot for you below and put the rule-of-thirds over it. The photo is a bit askew, but I think you can still get the gest of where I started.

Again, depending on the type of branches you actually receive, using rule-of-thirds to get you started should be very possible.

[dahos]

I decided, while removing a sps loving flame angel, to redo the layout of my rock work. Let me know what you think. The old layout was a rock wall.

[airtime23]

dahos, I think it looks great!

[dahos]

Thanks. I was tired of the solid wall look. I tried to define a curving channel between the two for interest. This definitely gives me a lot of additional options when placing corals.

I must admit i stole the idea from an earlier post here. Lol.

This is a great thread and appreciate all the different scapes and recommendations people have made on here.

[GrampaDon]

Night n day difference. Looks great.

[aleithol]

Originally Posted by dahos

I decided, while removing a sps loving flame angel, to redo the layout of my rock work. Let me know what you think. The old layout was a rock wall.

Agree. The changes were well worth your time and trouble. Great!

[imfortney]

Originally Posted by dahos

I decided, while removing a sps loving flame angel, to redo the layout of my rock work. Let me know what you think. The old layout was a rock wall.

Looks awesome!

[dahos]

Thanks everyone.

[FirstContact]

Originally Posted by aleithol

I think it depends a lot on what sort of branches you receive... Not all are what I'd call "clusters" like in the picture you reference ... some are long and straighter, others are more complex. One of mine is a natural physically connected oval of two branches that grew together (on right end of photo below); another came as a rather long and heavy base structure almost looking like a hand (middle bottom coming out towards you). I have another single piece I didn't use that is almost like a club -- close to 4" across and nearly 18" long. A monster that would have worked well for a structural support perhaps, but just didn't fit in for me in the end.

I personally elected to go with a combo of Fiji, a few shelves and then used branch to set things off as I was looking for something perhaps a bit more realistic, but with plenty of caves, overhangs, and varying levels for corals I may get into. I'm pretty happy with what I have cycling at the moment. This does not quite do it justice in terms of 3D, but I did a quick snapshot for you below and put the rule-of-thirds over it. The photo is a bit askew, but I think you can still get the gest of where I started.

Again, depending on the type of branches you actually receive, using rule-of-thirds to get you started should be very possible.

I am working just with complex multi branch so far. But I really like the separate islands mountain look after having read this forum. I'll take my time and try to build a shelf from tonga branch rock. If the result isn't good, I'll try the island look.

Thanks for info and the pic.

[vanillagorila]

Here's mine
60g cube

[theaquareef]

Originally Posted by vanillagorila

Here's mine
60g cube

That is one very nice scape! Did you use rods or zip ties to hold it up? I'm impressed

[sellmecorals]

Yea man, that is a nice scape how is that holding up lol

[sellmecorals]

I need to take out some rock

[vanillagorila]

Originally Posted by sellmecorals

Yea man, that is a nice scape how is that holding up lol

I used 1/2" acrylic rods. The rock was really easy to drill and there was a lot less breakage than I thought there would be.

[sublime9182]

46 bowfront any comments or suggestions anyone

[IMG]http://i57.*******.com/2rr0vag.jpg[/IMG]

[Tiki God]

Originally Posted by EuroGTI

Here's my scape. Minimalist island look. Lots of cool little features

Untitled by touchofklasse, on Flickr

Untitled by touchofklasse, on Flickr

Fts with first corals

DSC_1124 by touchofklasse, on Flickr

That's amazing! I am looking to do something similar in my 40 breeder, I'm getting rock in on tuesday, can't wait! Mind if I print this out as a reference?

[EuroGTI]

Originally Posted by Tiki God

That's amazing! I am looking to do something similar in my 40 breeder, I'm getting rock in on tuesday, can't wait! Mind if I print this out as a reference?

Thank you for the compliment! Print away...always nice to hear something nice! Good luck with your scape.

[SethTheWineGuy]

True yellow in a reef tank is so illusive. The contrast it provides is unmistakable though.

[sellmecorals]

True dat

[Sharkman999]

Very early days in my new set up

[leveldrummer]

Here are some shots of my 250 Deep Dimension.

[TripleJ21]

Here is my aquascape before I added fish and some corals. I like my arch in the middle, and i like my rocks on the ground for Zoanthid gardens. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make my towers seem more appealing to the eye? None of the rock is attached, so anything can be moved around fairly easily. Thanks for any input!

The picture is attached to the next post, for some reason it did not attach to this one.