20 gallon long nano reef- help with aquascape and powerhead placement.

KJL84 · 08/27/2014, 02:18 PM

Hey everyone. I'm new to the forum. I have had my tank up and running for about a year now. So far no problems. I'm just not too happy with the aquascape I currently have, looking for some tips. I also need advice on powerhead placement. I'm lacking flow in the tank. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have two koralia powerheads in the tank now, A 240 and a 425, I'm having no luck. I have a feeling my coral placement isn't too good either. Any tips would be huge. Thanks again.

coralsnaked · 08/27/2014, 02:28 PM

Nothing wrong with the rock placement except maybe more rock needed

I personally like the stacked look close to the back wall for coral placement along the front of the rock. this also leaves some beach for placement of LPS like open and closed brains or Chalice.
Power heads on a long are most often best on either end and shooting straight forward close enough to the surface to just see a little agitation.

tomreefer · 08/27/2014, 02:30 PM

more rock needed looks like. Have a sump or no?

KJL84 · 08/27/2014, 10:26 PM

No sump, just a hob refugium with some rubble and cheato.

Would you guys suggest pushing the live rock up against the back wall and making at least one of the sides higher? I would definitely like to have more of a "beach" look in front. As for my coral placement, should anything be moved around? Do different corals and zoos need different spots in the tank?

SkullV · 08/27/2014, 11:08 PM

Boo, I say go with the minimalist look. Needs less rock! With no sump you would have to go light on the fish stocking though. I have a TON of flow on my 20g peninsula since it's pretty much all SPS. 2xWP10 on the right side with the overflow pointed up and across. 1xWP10 on the back left pointing over the rock towards the front of the tank.

I probably only have around 8lbs of rock in the display but around 20lbs of rubble in the fuge.

ktownhero · 08/28/2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emma125

So far no problems. I'm just not too happy with the aquascape I currently have, looking for some tips. I also need advice on powerhead placement........

The scape is too two-dimensional and symmetric, IMO. Try experimenting with an asymmetrical layout and creating more of an illusion of depth. Think "rule of thirds" (google it if not familiar) and try to create an off-center focal point, as that is ALWAYS more attractive than a tank that makes you look at it dead center or gives your eye no place at all to be attracted to.

Since you are going for a "minimalist" look, you may try creating a high stack of rock (preferably with a shelf of some sort) on one side, a small open space, and then a lower-profile layout of rock. Try to make the open space just a bit off-center, not dead in the middle.

It's hard scaping a smaller tank, but with some patience and experimenting you can do it!

SkullV's scape subtly follows the rule of thirds and it is an excellent scape for a small tank. If you notice, he placed his largest (and arguably, most interesting) piece of coral off-center to the right of the tank in the sandbed. And there is a sort of "cut" in the rock there as well, such that as you follow the reef line your eyes are forced downward and directly to that coral. That, coupled with a jagged reef-top and well placed coral type and color diversity has a way of naturally causing your eyes to want to walk the reef line. Looking at that aquascape, I just find that it does all of the work and my eyes just follow... if that makes sense to anybody but me

08/27/2014, 02:28 PM	#2
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Nothing wrong with the rock placement except maybe more rock needed I personally like the stacked look close to the back wall for coral placement along the front of the rock. this also leaves some beach for placement of LPS like open and closed brains or Chalice. Power heads on a long are most often best on either end and shooting straight forward close enough to the surface to just see a little agitation. __________________ Merry Skerry Current Tank Info: 1 G Nano jellyfish to 1200 G Bull Nose FOWLR featuring large Holacanthus and Pomacanthus

08/27/2014, 02:30 PM	#3
tomreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 767	more rock needed looks like. Have a sump or no?

08/27/2014, 10:26 PM	#4
KJL84 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodbury, NY Posts: 2	No sump, just a hob refugium with some rubble and cheato. Would you guys suggest pushing the live rock up against the back wall and making at least one of the sides higher? I would definitely like to have more of a "beach" look in front. As for my coral placement, should anything be moved around? Do different corals and zoos need different spots in the tank?

08/27/2014, 11:08 PM	#5
SkullV They Got My Number Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 6,898	Boo, I say go with the minimalist look. Needs less rock! With no sump you would have to go light on the fish stocking though. I have a TON of flow on my 20g peninsula since it's pretty much all SPS. 2xWP10 on the right side with the overflow pointed up and across. 1xWP10 on the back left pointing over the rock towards the front of the tank. I probably only have around 8lbs of rock in the display but around 20lbs of rubble in the fuge.