Not happy with the way my rock looks.

[Marinemom]

Well, this may sound a little strange but no matter how I arrange my live rock, I don't seem happy with the way it is arranged. When i try to readjust it sometimes some coral may fall and that presents a problem if they get injured. So I'm thinking of bagging all of my corals and then rearranging the rock where I want it without the fear of something happening to one of my corals. After I'm done with the aquascaping and get it the way I want it I figure that I can reacclimate my corals and than add them to the reef. I don't think this will take that long if I do it this way and the corals will probably be safer this way. Does this sound like something I should attempt or am I asking for trouble if I do it this way? I'm tired of trying to do this with the corals in the tank and the possibility that the corals will touch each other and cause some kind of war between the corals. Will I throw the balance off if I do this? I certainly do not want to cause a bigger problem than I already have.

Any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

Marinemom

[lvpd186]

How big is your tank and how long do you think it will take? What kind of coral are you talking about; sps, soft, lps? I think with a little more info you might get some helpful responses. The problem with bagging all your corals (IMO) is possible temp changes and loss of oxygen. Do you have another tank that you could fill with your tank water and place the corals in there with a power-head for flow (even if its a rubbermaid tub)?

[JRistau81]

Or if you don't have too terribly much coral you can just move it all into one corner of the sandbed where the rock WON'T be, aquascape then move them back onto the rock. That's what I used to do anyways.

[Marinemom]

This is a 60 gallon reef and has been set up for about 5 months. I've tried i n the past to move all the corals to one side while I work on the other side but it seems that there's not enough room with the corals in the way. The corals I have are mostly soft corals, a few stoneys such as frogspawn.branching hammer, and a donought coral. I also have a small seabae anemone. Also a frag of a leather coral so I guess you would call this a mixed reef. This is my only saltwater tank as I just started the saltwater part of fishkeeping 5 months ago but I have been doing freshwater for more than 10 years. I suppose I could buy a rubbermaid container in order to do this. I just do not want to cause any harm to my corals and in the past the corals have sustained some damage when I have been working in the tank. My kids will be at school for most of the day and I think i could get this done in a number of hours. Right now there are probably about 20 corals all togather(I haven't stopped to count them) and I just added a little more live rock today so now there is 89 pounds of live rock in my tank.I do not want to hurt the corals so I thought that moving the corals out of the tank for a short time while I work on the tank would be better for them than risk something falling on them or some other crazy thing that is bound to happen. So bagging them temporarly is not a good idea? I'm confused on what corals can actually touch each other. So if the corals are on the other side of the tank while I work on the opposite side can the soft corals touch each other or will it cause a softie war? Can the stoneys touch each other? I'm so confused.

Marinemom

[Marinemom]

I looked at my rockwork again this morning and I guess it looks ok but I still would like to move things around to make it appear better than what it is and also to hide the big ugly powerhead that is part of the coralife superskimmer that I just installed last week that replaced the hopeless seaclone skimmer. I do not want to block the flow with the powerhead for the skimmer but does anyone have any ideas on aquascaping that would hide this. The tank is quite narrow. only 12 inches in deapth and if I had to do it again I would definitely get a wider tank if for the only reason to have more room width wise. Anyway my diliema is what to do with my corals when I rearrange this pile of rocks so they do not get injured and what to do about hiding that powerhead.

Any and all help in trying to figure out the best way to go about this would be greatly appreciated.

Marinemom

[keithntracy]

you're funny

let's see a pic?

[Agu]

Buy a tub large enough to hold all your corals, siphon water into the tub, move corals, rearrange rock and equipment, return corals to tank, top off tank with new saltwater.

Having a powerhead or airstone should be adequate to maintain aeration and circulation in the tub for a few hours.

It's really pretty simple.........

[Sk8r]

A rubbermaid container when you ordinarily throw out water---just put the water and corals into a rinsed rubbermaid, get onto a stepstool, arrange the rock, and then put it all back in before it has a chance to get unhappy.
Powerheads are hard to hide. You might try xenia. But watch it getting into it. Take a photo of your tank as is, then blow it up on computer and start looking at each individual rock to form a plan how it could be better used. Create openwork. Caves. Pillars. Ledges. And when you actually get in there, there's a green putty with a white core that can be stuck between rocks to give it a little more stability. Go to the lfs and get one piece of new rock of a size with the rest, but something different. Then start working things in, and be ready to trade a piece back to the lfs if it is in your way.

Just thought---if you print off a photo, you might be able to 'cut out' your rocks and reassemble them visually on the desk top until you have at least some ideas. The way the rocks fit up against each other may be different when you get in there, but you might give it a try for inspiration.

also, branching coral rock can be used to create open space within the rock structure: props. Girders.

Good luck.

[cainchristy]

Hi Marinemom. I too have an obsession with rearranging my aquascape. The last time I did this, I was up till 5:00 a.m., I was crying and shaking by the time I got done! I've not messed with it since, either!! You've got some good advice here. Just get a large, shallow rubbermaid container, a powerhead and heater, and place all livestock in here. Drain the water out of the tank, down to about 3-4" so you can see. Arrange the rock using the "dry-stacking" method, which is just what you will be doing if you drain the water down. Make sure your pieces are stable when you place them. When you are content, add water back to the tank, and let it settle for a bit. Then add the corals back, and you are done! Sounds a lot easier than it really is, though! Good luck!

[Marinemom]

Thanks for the suggestions. I made a boo boo when I said it was only 12 inches in depth. It is about 21 inches in depth but only has 12 inches in width. I knew that sounded funny. Ok so I guess I will get that rubbermaid container and get to work. If anyone else wants to chime in please do.

Marinemom

[bjonesjr1]

Let see some pictures then maybe well all can help you decide if it looks good or not...

[bjonesjr1]

oh yea

To Reef Central

[Marinemom]

Thanks for all the help in trying to redo this mess of rockwork. Ok so here is a picture of my tank as it is right now. To me it just looks like a pile of rocks. Please help!Sorry for the way the photo is .I'm not really good at this.

Marinemom

[ACBlinky]

It's a good idea to remove all the coral so you can concentrate on the rockwork without worrying you're going to squish something. I agree, a Rubbermaid tub with some circulation (and maybe a heater if the corals are going to be there for more than an hour or two) will be fine for the corals.
What you have sort of does look like a pile of rocks, but IMO it's not aquascaping skill that's lacking, it's more the shape of the rocks that's causing the problem. You've got a lot of rounded edges there, and not too much size variation.
I second the suggestion to visit your LFS and buy some rock; maybe see if they'll trade some of yours for a few new pieces. I'd buy some smaller and some similarly sized pieces with unusual shapes - IMHO these are key in creating stable, interesting looking structures. If you have a rock with bits sticking out all over the place, other rocks will fit around it like puzzle pieces and the entire structure will fit together securely. Round rocks or flat rocks alone are really hard to work with.

[BucNtears]

What about removing some of the rock?
You might like a more open look. I came across the same problem when I set my tank up. Looking at your tanks setup to me it looks like a wall of rock.Remember you can always add more.
try less

[dous]

try starting at the bottom and then cascading up, taparing as you go. also try to concentrate on putting more rocks at the sides and leaving some clear space in the middle. it helps to take away the corals first though.

i know my tank is still very new so its easier, but try to see if you like this style. you'll have more rocks at the bottom than mine..

[Marinemom]

That certainly looks better than mine. I want to create some caves and overhangs. I know I have several good pieces to work with and I really do not want to remove any of it but now I'm thinking I should turn my 25 gallon freshwater tank into saltwater and move some of the rock to that tank. It only has 2 fish in it right now that can go live in my 46 gallon(there is plenty of room). This is a brand new tank that replaced a leaking 25 gallon tank about 3 weeks ago. Question is what kind of skimmer works for a 25 gallon saltwater tank and does it really need one? Oh boy, here I go again!

Marinemom

[seaguy7]

Is this a tank problem or a general problem?

Before you had your tank, did you find yourself constantly rearranging your homes furniture?

After minutes and minutes of exhaustive research, I have a theory. There are three types of aquascapers:

1) Those that have a sensitive design eye and can make stunningly beautiful works of art out of mere rocks. (e.g., Steve Weast).

2) Those that have no design eye but that's OK for them since they are happy with whatever pile of cr*p they end up with. (Me and many others that shall remain nameless belong to this type).

3) Those that have a sensitive design eye but not the artistic creativity to create that beautiful aquascape. They are the ones that are constantly changing their tanks. (You know who you are.)

If you find yourself not liking what you see and constantly changing but still not being happy, you are probably a Type 3 Aquascaper. I suggest you hire a professional aquascaper or counselor.

[Marinemom]

Actually I have several freshwater tanks that everyone stands there with thier mouth open when they see them. Like I said in my post, I have been doiing freshwater tanks for more than 10 years and 2 of them are fully planted aquariums that I just love and rarely if any time change things in them other than regular maintenance and trimming of the plants. The aquascaping in these tanks are awsome and not just from my words.

As far as the saltwater adventure goes, it has been anything but a fun ride. I will not give up!I have been only doing this saltwater thing for 5 months. I will have a beautiful reef. I just need some helpful hints. Powerheads that break or do not work,protien skimmer that was obvioiusly crap which I also had a flood with and my son almost got electrocuted from it, fish that die for almost no reason, shall I go on? Can you understand my frustration with this whole thing?

As far as my house goes and the whatever need to move furniture, that does not happen. I have a beautiful home with beautiful gardens that I love to maintain. So what catagory do I belong in? Confused.

Marinemom

[cartouche]

Oh the perils of aquascaping!!!

I just added another 20 kilos of LR to mine, its literally add one piece, stand back and have a look, if it doesn't look right then think where it would look best. I too am paranoid about having it look 'correct'.

imho you have too much rock and a lot of the pieces you have look really big. Its far easier to place two small bits than one big bit. The best is obviously to have a mix. I cannot see how you can modify what you have, if I were you I would.....

Plan out on paper what you would like, do a sketch of you ultimate aquascape in your tank. try to work out what goes where. Get a friend/relative round to help you and give you moral support & to pass the towel !!

Start slowly, section the tank off in your mind i.e. left, middle, right or just left and right. Try and do each section gradually and bring them together at the end.

Its cetainly not easy and everyone has there own opinion but I do kinda get where your coming from, if mine 'didn't look right' I wouldn't rest till it did. When you are eventually satisfied it will be well worth it.

For what its worth (i'm gonna be brutally honest here) I would definately redo your tank, imho it does look like 'a pile of rocks', and as you know it could look so much better. As I say some people are fine with that but I think you know what to do.... good luck, hang in there, and when your done please update us!

Its a good idea to set yourself a whole morning or afternoon...maybe a day!, and clear anyone out who could be a distraction, if your pushed for time don't bother, wait until you can give it the time it deserves. I find a bottle of wine and some soothing music helps!

[dkh0331]

Aquascaping can be challenging for some, like me. My first, and last attempt was many years ago. My wife looked at it and asked if I would mind if she moved a rock or two. She completely redesigned it and ever since, aquascaping has been her one and only job with the tank. What she does is lay all the rocks out on the floor and then just starts piecing it all together. My job is to sprits the rocks w/ SW and make any cuts. And then of course admire her work.

As numerous people have suggested, I would buy a rubbermaid. Pick a day and remove all corals into the rubbermaid and place a heater and a powerhead or two in it.

You are not locked into the LR pieces that you have. LR can be cut, chiseled, drilled, etc. If you have pieces that you're not happy with - cut them.

Other possibilities include building a pvc rack, drilling holes in the rock and using either acrylic rods or pieces of plastic coat hangers for attaching rocks. Some use marine epoxy to glue the rocks together. On our latest project, I cut a number of pvc rings - 1/2" or so of different pvc pipe sizes (1/2" - 3") that she used. They will purple up soon enough.

Cruise RC, take in some ideas from all the pics and become one with your tank and rocks -Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

HTH

David

[cartouche]

Excusse my Brit ignorance but whats a 'rubbermaid' ??

[dkh0331]

Originally posted by cartouche
Excusse my Brit ignorance but whats a 'rubbermaid' ??

Excused.

Something like this - they come in different sizes -

[snarkes]

I've got a question for you though... Say I want to redo my aquascaping and was thinking about taking my LR out and then putting it pack in... How does that affect your pod populations. I'm going to be getting a mandarin in the future... but I also know that I'll have to move in a year or so ... and then reaquascape then too.

[bkiba]

check out this thread. I haven't done this yet but it seems like it would make your aquascaping easier...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=807988