Bi-Weekly Discussion of the Week: Aquascaping!

[Geoff]

what types of aquascaping do you like? islands, dropoff, caves, and overhangs. what are the advantages of each?

G~

[Ichthus]

I like caves and overhangs. For the caves, fish and shrimp seem to use it as a hiding place and the overhangs I can place corals on there.

and "have fun storming the castle!"

[Reefdude5]

I definitly like caves and overhangs. I also make sure there is space along the bottom back so that I can have a powerhead can blow lengthwise across the tank to keep detritus from settling. I don't have a pvc base for the rock, and I was wondering what other people think about this.

[Ray1214]

Love caves but I am thinking about trying to do a lagoon style tank. Rocks on the sides (mh on the sides and have shrooms and open space in the middle (just pcs in the middle)
Ray

[Geoff]

Originally posted by Ray1214
Love caves but I am thinking about trying to do a lagoon style tank. Rocks on the sides (mh on the sides and have shrooms and open space in the middle (just pcs in the middle)
Ray

interesting. how long does the tank need to be to do this correctly?

G~

[gdw]

Ooops ... ah, the variety of behavior of user interfaces ...
Let's see if I'm minimally capable of placing threads in the proper forum. Any way ...

After years of suffering humiliating defeat at the hands of gravity and friction, I've started fooling around with artifical support structures to generate the kind of aquascape that I wanted. Attached is a picture of some of the early results. Any Comments?

[gdw]

Another angle to present a better view of the geometry. Sorry about the condensation blurring ... got to keep the rocks moist.

[reiple]

i basically needed rocks for the base (unlike rocks lifted off the sand) for my eel. if i do not make it a "rocky" habitat it will make one for itself (hence make caverns under the sand area literally bringing the house down). how do you attach rocks?

[Reefdude5]

You can attach rocks with epoxy, but i try to avoid it, because I always like to be able to rip the rock out easily! That's some neat levatation you have there gdw! And I'm also going for the lagoon type tank with shrooms in the middle! Pretty kool ain't it!

[Pirate]

Aquascaping is my favorite piece of reefkeeping. I always try to make it as natural as possible, I have some caves, overhangs, and like them. But it's is sometimes difficult to get the flow you need in the structure. Most corals that enjoy darker surroundings also enjoy increased water flow. I don't attach my rock to anything, I like to be able to change things from time to time. Or be able to scrub hair algae etc. Rock that is fixed can really give you a headache when you need to get in there.

[Reefdude5]

Aquascaping is pretty fun!
Although, when two rocks just won't balance at 1 in the morning, it's not as enjoyable, unless your completly obssesivly addicted to reefkeeping, like me! But somehow no one wants to help me at that hour, can you believe that!

[CAT]

I like to use big pieces of rock (8-10 lbs each) and do the 'triangle' base then stack on top so I have lots of overhangs, passages and caves. It think it only works well with large rocks though. The wider (front to back) the tank is, the better.

If I had a longer tank, I'd make an island on each end with a couple of high bridges in the middle. I like the look of an expanse of sand at the front and the middle of the tank.

Re. raising the rock off the sand. I did this on my last tank and wish I'd done it this time with my current tank.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Aquascaping to me is a very fun part of this hobby and love the challenges it presents!

I have always loved overhangs as they provide shade for some corals that need it and fish as well.

It has taken me several set-ups and think I have it were I want it now! Johnny

[ruhspolostar]

-This topic is cool because its kinda hard to argue about aquascaping, while there are techniques to follow there is really no wrong way to do it and everybodys looks different

-To bad you only get to aquascape a setup once....


_____________________________
"Live Long and Prosper!", Spock

[Geoff]

you get to aquascape only once if you have been around long enough to know not to cycle a tank with damsels.

i like the 2 islands look with sand in the middle. i have kind of a long rock that creates a cool overhang. i am thinking of yanking my DSB soon and am worried about keeping this overhang without the stabilizing ability of the sand. something tells me i will be epoxying my LR together.

G~