First Time Aquascaping

[warpdrvr]

So this is my first shot at aquascaping a reef tank. Not sure I’m in love with it but it seems ok at first look and sitting across room looking at it. Looking for some constructive criticism here. I’m thinking it may be too much, and need to break it apart in the middle and give some asymmetrical aspect to it. What y’all think?

The one thing I do like is it’s got plenty of nooks, crannies, and caves for the future inhabitants

 

[Dierks]

This article was a huge help to me!!

Tips and Tricks on Creating Amazing Aquascapes

Being a artist for fun and profession, I see things different than most people. I decided to create a article about composition, balance, color, and depth within your reef aquarium. I really hope this can help some of you out to create your dream...

www.reef2reef.com

I like a bit more shape to my Aquascape along wit a bit less rock for more swimming space but everyone is different and that is what makes our tanks so much fun to look at. They are all so different from one another!!

After reading and debating as you are right now I ended up with this:

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Dont take this the wrong way.. if you like it.. that is all that matters. But right now, you dont have an aquacsape.. you have a big pile of boring rocks.

There is no movement, symmetry, nothing. It's bad. Google aquascaping and learn the rule of 3rds. There is ABSOLUTELY a mathematical formula to what people find universally appealing or interesting.

DONT rush it. A good aquascape is THE foundation to a beautiful tank!!

 

[warpdrvr]

Dont take this the wrong way.. if you like it.. that is all that matters. But right now, you dont have an aquacsape.. you have a big pile of boring rocks.

There is no movement, symmetry, nothing. It's bad. Google aquascaping and learn the rule of 3rds. There is ABSOLUTELY a mathematical formula to what people find universally appealing or interesting.

DONT rush it. A good aquascape is THE foundation to a beautiful tank!!

See that’s kind of my thought after sitting and looking at it then going away and coming back to look again. I am familiar with rule on thirds from photography. I think I may take it ALL out and start from scratch tomorrow after work.
Don’t worry I didn’t take it the wrong way. As a newcomer to the hobby I was looking for opinions, and it will help to be sure. My problem is I have many arches and only 4 big ball shaped pieces along with the white rock. All I can do is keep trying till me and my wife both love it

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I would suggest you and the wife sit down in front of a laptop and google reef tank images and see which ones you really like. For those tanks, look at the aquacape and see what you like about it. Is it the use of negative space? Does it present the illusion of depth of field? Does it have a lo of "tension" from straight lines going in different directions?

I think a useful tip for beginners in aquascaping is to put the rocks you want to scape in the tank, move them around into shapes, then throw 1/3- 1/2 of them out and THEN scape.

Try to have some negative space, best if it is a 1/3 of the width dimension. Also account for what you want to put in the tank. Stuff like zoas, encrusting corals, etc are best put on their own separate rock as they can spread and spread and spread. That monti may look beautiful when its small, when it takes over your entire tank... not so much.

 

[warpdrvr]

So I decided to tear it all down and try again. I found a few good ideas on the ‘net. Hopefully Mark II will look better..

 

[warpdrvr]

So here’s our (wife and I) latest attempt. I really like it. Comments?

It’s got plenty of room around the edges for my hand to clean and swimming room for the fish to come soon

 

[Dierks]

Looks SO much better IMO!! Nice job tearing it down and finding something you Love!

 

[Small triggers]

I definently like it better. Look at it from all angles. I am a high side to low side, fill the middle 3rd of a tank kinda person. You could add a bit more to each area for depth if needed.

 

[warpdrvr]

Looks SO much better IMO!! Nice job tearing it down and finding something you Love!

Thanks we really are happy with it

I definently like it better. Look at it from all angles. I am a high side to low side, fill the middle 3rd of a tank kinda person. You could add a bit more to each area for depth if needed.

I thought about that, but I wanted plenty of swimming room above the side pieces if that makes sense. And we didn’t want them the same height and we were constrained by the rocks we had. Had we known I would have bought some shelf rock as well to have a little more variety

 

[Small triggers]

You can always take a band saw/table saw to some to make them flat. Use some aqua putty to keep them together. ..

 

[warpdrvr]

You can always take a band saw/table saw to some to make them flat. Use some aqua putty to keep them together. ..

I hadn't thought of that, but I don't own either type of saw. Not sure if I know someone with one or not. Good thing is I can always buy some marco flats and change it around before I start adding coral in a few months

 

[Dierks]

How about a hammer and chisel? You can smack them and they break pretty easy...

 

[X-37B]

So here’s our (wife and I) latest attempt. I really like it. Comments?

It’s got plenty of room around the edges for my hand to clean and swimming room for the fish to come soon

I like it! The only thing I would do is remove the 1 or 2 white rocks on the right side. This leaves more room for the corals to grow upward.

So here’s our (wife and I) latest attempt. I really like it. Comments?

It’s got plenty of room around the edges for my hand to clean and swimming room for the fish to come soon

 

[Blitheran]

Buy some epoxy off of amazon and start forming rocks together!!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

big improvement. If it were me... I would leave the left rock where it is and then move the central rock next to the big rock on the right. Maybe add a couple more rocks so that the top of the rocks forms a line that starts at the top of the right rocks and ends up pointing to the lone rock on the left.

That will give it some "tension" and create negative space in the center.

Try it and see what you think.

check this site out when you have time. Look at the lines and how the general direction of lines affects eye movement and a sense of balance.

A challenge: break these 3 aquascaping rules with a great tank

Time to start a debate: is it possible to pretty mechanically ‘test’ for a good and bad hardscape? I’m beginning to think that for 75% or more of...

www.ukaps.org

 

[warpdrvr]

That’s a pretty cool page. Maybe beyond my abilities tho. May move a couple around and see what the wife and I think. Gonna get it wet tomorrow so will add pics of sump and electrical hookups as I get it done. Thanks everyone for great ideas!

 

[BayouReefer]

Just read this post you have been getting some great advice. Your first picture did just look like a pile of rocks second one was 100% better. You are on the right path and you are going to have a great looking Reef!

 

[BlueDamselReef]

I feel your pain...I hate aquascaping and end up changing it CONSTANTLY! Your second attempt looks amazing but the question is... DO YOUR ARMS HURT??

 

[warpdrvr]

Just read this post you have been getting some great advice. Your first picture did just look like a pile of rocks second one was 100% better. You are on the right path and you are going to have a great looking Reef!

We think it looks much better as well. That first attempt was literally just a pile of rocks. We may leave this way. Will look at it again tomorrow before fill

I feel your pain...I hate aquascaping and end up changing it CONSTANTLY! Your second attempt looks amazing but the question is... DO YOUR ARMS HURT??

Yes they did! I seem to have a slight sore shoulder from lifting them in and out multiple times.
Got the QT tank set up tonite and started the cycle with Dr Tim’s Fishless cycle method. Ammonia seemed a little high, but gonna check it again tomorrow

Thanks again to all!