Aquascape Opinions on 55gal mixed reef

[mswanson515]

Hey y'all!

I'm starting my 55gal reef back up after a total loss crash 2.5 years ago. For as long as this tank was set up I had the rock much like it is in the attached picture. I'm thinking about rearranging things this time and going a little higher on one side and create more negative space on the other with maybe a smaller island. I have the really neat table rock in the middle that I want to incorporate. Basicaly thinking about moving some rock from one side and building it up higher on the other. The plan is to build it back out with SPS, LPS, and softies. I have 3 Hydra 26HDs over it lighting the way so very little shading concern across the length of the tank.

2 questions:

1) What are opinions on this general approach?

2) If doing this, which side would you build up? On the right I have my skimmer, heater, and cannister filter intake and on the left I have my temperature probes and canister return. I think building up the right would "hide" some of the equipment but fear it may hinder the heating and cause the canister intake to be less than efficient. On the left the canister return could serve to keep the area behind the rock stired some to keep detritus down.

 

[FUNGI]

Right side.
Hides the intake (and use the rock as a "pre-filter") and heater.

 

[mswanson515]

Right side.
Hides the intake (and use the rock as a "pre-filter") and heater.

You don't think that the intake behind the rock would limit the effectiveness of the cannister. Since it's a 55gal it's not very big front to back so some rock ends up leaned against the back glass?

 

[FUNGI]

I run my canister intake behind a bunch of rock on my 120G.......no issues

 

[vlangel]

I have a 56 gallon column tank which is 24" high. I have my right side built up to hide the overflow box. You can always add a small powerhead to add more flow to keep detritus suspended.

 

[mswanson515]

I did a little work kn it this morning. Here's what we look like now. I went with everyone's suggestion of adding to the right but left the heater and filter intake open. I figured that it's concealed enough that once I have corals and stuff it'll essentially disappear from view.

 

[vlangel]

I did a little work kn it this morning. Here's what we look like now. I went with everyone's suggestion of adding to the right but left the heater and filter intake open. I figured that it's concealed enough that once I have corals and stuff it'll essentially disappear from view.

Yes, that is better. Can you remove some rock on the right ( at the sand) so that there is a cave or ledge?

 

[mswanson515]

Yes, that is better. Can you remove some rock on the right ( at the sand) so that there is a cave or ledge?

You can kinda see it but there are 3 caves that go pretty much all the way back through to the glass on the sand and there are TONS of swim through spots throughout. I just got a new lawnmower blenny and I'm constantly find him in a new swim through spot. It's pretty neat actually.

 

[vlangel]

You can kinda see it but there are 3 caves that go pretty much all the way back through to the glass on the sand and there are TONS of swim through spots throughout. I just got a new lawnmower blenny and I'm constantly find him in a new swim through spot. It's pretty neat actually.

Yes, I see them now. That is good.

 

[TeeSquared1214]

I didn’t read all of the replies but there is an awesome post around here about the rule of thirds when aquascaping and photography in general. Just more pleasing. This may meet it to an extent, but the more uneven the look the better it looks to me. You could go left high, middle low, middle mid. And place those from front to back of the tank how you see fit, staggered. That would give a tremendous amount of depth too. Just my 2 cents.

 

[BristleWormHater]

have you considered painting the back blue or black, that would really pull it all together and hide those wires.