my first attempt @ aquascaping

boomer135 · 03/15/2009, 07:32 PM

Well I pick up the rest of the live rock I now have 140lbs...The pics arent great still cloudy...but here is my fisrt atempt to aquascape... I tried to make hidy hole and stuff...but leave enough room in front to swim the lenght of the tank...

boomer135 · 03/15/2009, 07:33 PM

now I just have to buy those darn powerheads...lol...will most lieky order them from Pet mountain in a couple days while on sale

speer · 03/15/2009, 07:40 PM

Looks good. Make sure you have enough room between the rock and the glass for cleaning. Makes like a whole lot easier.

drparker · 03/15/2009, 07:42 PM

Great job for your first try. I like the arches and caves.

lancer99 · 03/15/2009, 09:12 PM

Wow, I wish my first attempt at aquascaping had been as good!

I only have two suggestions:

1) I wouldn't put anything on that rock that sticks out nearly to the front of the tank, just over the half way mark. That adds great depth to your tank.

2) The rock on the left side that has a nearly horizontal top...would you consider removing it? I know it has a cave under it...but by removing it, you could have have corals growing horizontally from both sides, and that would be very dramatic.

-R

IFbettas · 03/15/2009, 10:02 PM

Looks really nice! Nice gorgonians too.

lordjnx · 03/15/2009, 10:05 PM

Nice first attempt...

as above Make sure your mag cleaner has clearance between rock and glass....

awesomefam · 03/15/2009, 10:09 PM

Looks good, would like to see a picture after it has time to clear up a little.

otrlynn · 03/16/2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lordjnx
Nice first attempt...

as above Make sure your mag cleaner has clearance between rock and glass....

Very nice looking layout but as noted by two people above, make sure you have room between the rock and the glass for a mag-float to get through. It looks like maybe you don't have this much space on the left side of the tank, but it could just be the photo.

Stormvillefish · 03/16/2009, 06:12 AM

Nice! Would like to see more pics after the water has cleared. And as many people have already said ... be sure to leave enough room between rock and glass for cleaning.

boomer135 · 03/16/2009, 06:28 PM

The overflow is not centered in the tank. and I need to move one piece as the mag float wont clear...But so far I like it for the first shot...Im sureI re arrange things slightly...I started with a tarp to stack pieces out side of the tank...But then I just put heavy rock on the bottom and said i'll wing it...Iwould stack a few rock look at it for a couple mins then add a rock and so on...

here are some pics with the water cleared up a bit not all the holes and caves would show up on camera

lordjnx · 03/16/2009, 06:49 PM

much better cleared up some .....

boomer135 · 03/16/2009, 09:14 PM

well I wanted to rearrange some rocks so after getting frustrated I took them all out and played around for aboutan hour...I couldnt get it right so I just put the rocks in the tank and will have another go at it tomorrow....Kinda mad , but glad i did because I found a 2" mantis shrimp...

boomer135 · 03/18/2009, 01:06 PM

well I removed all the rocks and re did it.. I liked my first attemp a lot better but here is what I came up with..I made a little more room on the sides of the glass and also some room up front...

awesomefam · 03/18/2009, 01:09 PM

Still looks pretty good. I am thinking about re-doing my rock now

lordjnx · 03/18/2009, 01:19 PM

I like em both...

looks great

boomer135 · 03/18/2009, 01:26 PM

I like the second attemp a lot better now...more room up front and not the crowded look as before...

thegrun · 03/18/2009, 01:29 PM

I actually prefer the second; it has a better balance to it. I've always regretted not doweling my rocks together after I found a good design, better to do early, after the corals start to grow, it is too late.

Ms_Jerk · 03/18/2009, 01:33 PM

I like the last pic you posted the best. Looks nice and uncrowded.

boomer135 · 03/18/2009, 01:36 PM

agreed..looks like i'll stck with it...every thing seems solis and balanced...will the coraline make the rock stick together better in the future or should i add epoxy?

Quote:

Originally posted by Ms_Jerk
I like the last pic you posted the best. Looks nice and uncrowded.

Ms_Jerk · 03/18/2009, 01:44 PM

I don't think it's necessary (but it might be a good idea if you really like it, just in case you have to tear it down) since you say everything is sturdy and balanced. Just as long as, if you think a fish bumps it and it doesn't fall over, it should be a OK. Thats how I think of it when I set my rocks up.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/18/2009, 01:48 PM

Looks really nice. I see you have a damn-sel in there. You are aware of their extremely aggresive behavior right? IMO, you should get it out now, rather than waiting for it to attack/kill any new additions. My .02.

wondermidget · 03/18/2009, 04:45 PM

Realy nice. Makes me want to change mine around. Good job

boomer135 · 03/18/2009, 05:27 PM

there are 2 damsels in there...and half doz pepermint shrimp along with some snails and hermits...I'm gonna keep the damsels untill I ready to add some real fish.thx for the comments and help forum members

cdbias2 · 03/18/2009, 06:06 PM

You wont be able to catch your damsels till you tear up your rock again.

03/15/2009, 07:32 PM	#1
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	my first attempt @ aquascaping Well I pick up the rest of the live rock I now have 140lbs...The pics arent great still cloudy...but here is my fisrt atempt to aquascape... I tried to make hidy hole and stuff...but leave enough room in front to swim the lenght of the tank...

03/15/2009, 10:02 PM	#6
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	Looks really nice! Nice gorgonians too. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

03/18/2009, 01:44 PM	#21
Ms_Jerk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 126	I don't think it's necessary (but it might be a good idea if you really like it, just in case you have to tear it down) since you say everything is sturdy and balanced. Just as long as, if you think a fish bumps it and it doesn't fall over, it should be a OK. Thats how I think of it when I set my rocks up. Last edited by Ms_Jerk; 03/18/2009 at 01:55 PM.

03/18/2009, 01:48 PM	#22
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Looks really nice. I see you have a damn-sel in there. You are aware of their extremely aggresive behavior right? IMO, you should get it out now, rather than waiting for it to attack/kill any new additions. My .02. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/18/2009, 04:45 PM	#23
wondermidget Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cadillac, MI (BFE) Posts: 279	Realy nice. Makes me want to change mine around. Good job __________________ Cheri Current Tank Info: 85 gal. reef.

03/15/2009, 07:33 PM	#2
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	now I just have to buy those darn powerheads...lol...will most lieky order them from Pet mountain in a couple days while on sale

03/15/2009, 07:40 PM	#3
speer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 82	Looks good. Make sure you have enough room between the rock and the glass for cleaning. Makes like a whole lot easier.

03/15/2009, 07:42 PM	#4
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Great job for your first try. I like the arches and caves.

03/15/2009, 09:12 PM	#5
lancer99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Falls Church, VA Posts: 1,100	Wow, I wish my first attempt at aquascaping had been as good! I only have two suggestions: 1) I wouldn't put anything on that rock that sticks out nearly to the front of the tank, just over the half way mark. That adds great depth to your tank. 2) The rock on the left side that has a nearly horizontal top...would you consider removing it? I know it has a cave under it...but by removing it, you could have have corals growing horizontally from both sides, and that would be very dramatic. -R

03/15/2009, 10:05 PM	#7
lordjnx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 46	Nice first attempt... as above Make sure your mag cleaner has clearance between rock and glass....

03/15/2009, 10:09 PM	#8
awesomefam Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UT Posts: 68	Looks good, would like to see a picture after it has time to clear up a little.

03/16/2009, 06:12 AM	#10
Stormvillefish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 152	Nice! Would like to see more pics after the water has cleared. And as many people have already said ... be sure to leave enough room between rock and glass for cleaning.

03/16/2009, 06:28 PM	#11
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	The overflow is not centered in the tank. and I need to move one piece as the mag float wont clear...But so far I like it for the first shot...Im sureI re arrange things slightly...I started with a tarp to stack pieces out side of the tank...But then I just put heavy rock on the bottom and said i'll wing it...Iwould stack a few rock look at it for a couple mins then add a rock and so on... here are some pics with the water cleared up a bit not all the holes and caves would show up on camera

03/16/2009, 06:49 PM	#12
lordjnx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 46	much better cleared up some .....

03/16/2009, 09:14 PM	#13
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	well I wanted to rearrange some rocks so after getting frustrated I took them all out and played around for aboutan hour...I couldnt get it right so I just put the rocks in the tank and will have another go at it tomorrow....Kinda mad , but glad i did because I found a 2" mantis shrimp...

03/18/2009, 01:06 PM	#14
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	well I removed all the rocks and re did it.. I liked my first attemp a lot better but here is what I came up with..I made a little more room on the sides of the glass and also some room up front...

03/18/2009, 01:09 PM	#15
awesomefam Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UT Posts: 68	Still looks pretty good. I am thinking about re-doing my rock now

03/18/2009, 01:19 PM	#16
lordjnx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 46	I like em both... looks great

03/18/2009, 01:26 PM	#17
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	I like the second attemp a lot better now...more room up front and not the crowded look as before...

03/18/2009, 01:29 PM	#18
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I actually prefer the second; it has a better balance to it. I've always regretted not doweling my rocks together after I found a good design, better to do early, after the corals start to grow, it is too late.

03/18/2009, 01:33 PM	#19
Ms_Jerk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 126	I like the last pic you posted the best. Looks nice and uncrowded.

03/18/2009, 05:27 PM	#24
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	there are 2 damsels in there...and half doz pepermint shrimp along with some snails and hermits...I'm gonna keep the damsels untill I ready to add some real fish.thx for the comments and help forum members

03/18/2009, 06:06 PM	#25
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	You wont be able to catch your damsels till you tear up your rock again.