Help with aquascaping

~Rookie Wookie~ · 09-22-2003, 11:46 PM

I'm at the point where everytime I look at my tank, I wanna rearrange all the LR...

My tank just doesn't have that natural look.

Do any of you have tips for me on how I can arrange them? Or better yet, an online site that gives pointers on aquascaping? Any help is appreciated.

thefatman · 09-23-2003, 12:06 AM

wow, thats always a tough one. its personal preferance.

i can say this. small rocks on bottom. big rocks on top. makes for a more stabile structure. i know, it sounds backwards. but think in terms of a table. 4 small legs, big table top. same concept.

i really liked and wanted lots of caves and swimming areas within my tank. so i made a table out of pvc. 4 legs, some cross supports, and a top. then surrounded it with rock. rocks across the front, some tonga, were wire tied to the pvc. then rocks were stacked in front of the legs, and across the top of it. this gave me a ncie solid cave, and no worries that it will collapse. the inside of the cave is abotu the size of a nerf football. while the front and side openings are only about baseball to softball sized.

all my other stuff is stacked small on bottom, big on top.

aquascaping is a tough thing to get it how YOU want it. i spent two days on mine, and i even had a plan

good luck!!

manderson0805 · 09-23-2003, 02:42 AM

Rookie, scaping is the most troublesome problem I have. I keep giving rock away, and buying more. I bought 27lbs tonight to put into my 46, and for the first time, it came out the way I liked it, the first time. Sometimes I get to the point to get rid of it all...just spend a couple hours, and figure out the way you'll like it, and you'll be happy

bikethief · 09-23-2003, 08:33 AM

Have someone do a 3D scan of all your individual LR pcs. then upload them into your PC. Now, using autoCAD or some other 3D modeling software, create a virtual landscape using the actual dimensions of your tank (taking into consideration your powerhead, overflow etc. placements) and explore all the possible LR configurations you think of! Think PIXAR modeling NEMO's tank.... only cheaper... and less polygons... sorry.

Imaexpat2 · 09-23-2003, 09:08 AM

I have had a couple of tanks set up now for 9 months and I am still re-arranging my live rock on a regular basis. Seems like there is always a better way or new idea everytime I look at the tank for more than 10 minutes. Sooner or later you will stumble across the ultimate set up. The CAD or 3D thing that bikethief suggested sounds like a real time saver.

Just some suggestions...Keep in mind that you have to clean and do maintenance. Make sure its stable...dont want anybody getting hurt in an avelanche. Stack it kinda loose so there is good water flow. Besides your fish will love the nooks and cranies. If your gonna keep corals...keep in mind how your going to place them, and keep some space between them.

Just take your time. You will get there. Hope these suggestions help some.

sam · 09-23-2003, 12:11 PM

1" pvc and eeg crateing worked good fro me . you can get some hieght out it.

~Rookie Wookie~ · 09-23-2003, 12:50 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. After posting up, I went to look at my tank and started to think of all the different configs I can do with them. I thought of many different ways I can arrange them but just don't know how they would actually look. I think Thief's suggestion would do me a lot of good here, unfortuntely I don't know anyone that has a 3D scanner. Would be awsome though.

I guess this is another area I have to be patient with. I arrange my rocks every so often, and I'm satisfied. Then I see pics of other people's rockscaping, and I go back to my tank and rearrange them again

. It's like a never ending cycle. I'll keep doing it though, won't stop until I get it right!

salt creepette · 09-23-2003, 01:50 PM

i have the same problem, i have four really nice pieces of rock, but unfortunately, they are all lying flat on the bottom of my tank because if i start to stack, it looks bare on the rest of the tank. i think i will use the pvc table suggestion, thanks jay!
the other thing is i feel guilty when i go to rearrange cuz the poor fish are scared to death. i guess there's no way around that one, huh?

~Rookie Wookie~ · 09-23-2003, 01:56 PM

I have one false perc and one peppermint in my tank. I found that if I move the rocks slowly, and avoid big current movements, they will stay pretty calm. In fact, my peppermint even hops on my fingers and pick at my nails. And the clown just hangs out in one corner looking at my hand.

Mrs Smith · 09-23-2003, 08:30 PM

I rearrange every so often. Right now, I have a toadstool that is so big, it's blocking a lot of light below it. So I ended up redoing half of the tank. I like the rockwork now, but the toadstool is squished, so I'll have to play with it some more. I could always frag it, but I really don't want to unless I have to. It's such a cool piece.

Anyway, Rearranging is a necessary thing in my tanks. I get bored with the same look, and inevitably begin switching things around. I agree with the big-rocks-on-top theory - it works!

Just have fun with it. Eventually you'll find something you like - and you'll develop your own style. It just takes time and practice.

Have fun,
Danielle

yardboy · 09-23-2003, 11:36 PM

I thought I was the only anal-retentive one, rearranging the rocks so often. Figured I'd eventually get it "right" and be satisfied, and I did! Then my BTA died and I had to take out half the rock to get at his body. Haven't ever been able to get the rock back the way it was! Then there's the "gotta have it" zoanthid covered rock, and where does it fit into the scheme of things!!! Or Casey suggests that I don't have enough rock, so I buy some more, and have to arrange and rearrange that!
Now I'm at the stage where I only stick my hand in once every two days, but right now, there are two frags laying on the bottom, where neither superglue or epoxy have been capable of holding them in place.