Need aquascaping ideas for a 50G

[LockeOak]

Hi everyone, I've just acquired a free 50G tank and stand, which of course is more than enough reason to upgrade. My current tank is only a 10G, so 50 looks huge. I would like some ideas for my aquascape. I originally planned on several fairly narrow live rock pillars supported by acrylic rods with shelf rocks extending from the pillars here and there, but the dimensions of the tank may make this difficult. Dimensions are 48" long, 12" wide and 20" deep. It's the 12" wide that makes things tricky. To make things more interesting for all of you expert aquascapers, the tank will be barebottom and viewable from three sides-- one of the short 12" ends will be against the wall. I hope to keep a mixed reef focusing on SPS along with a clam or two and a low fish load with 5x54W T5 lighting. Would two or three pillars of varying heights be a good setup?

[LockeOak]

Ok, so I'm reviving this old thread, because the theoretical has been actualized! At least mostly. No H2O yet, but here's the aquascaping, tell me what you think. The tank is viewable from 3 sides, with only one short side against the wall, where I have the overflow box, return line (pointed down to avoid interfering with the overflow) and the future location of a Koralia 4. There will be another Koralia 4 on the far end of the tank, firing all the way down the tank at the overflow box. All the rocks are secured with rods (see if you can spot them!)

On with the pictures!

FTS:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_1946.jpg

Left Front:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_1957.jpg

Right Front:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_1958.jpg

Left Back:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_2001.jpg

Right Back:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_2002.jpg

Down the tank:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/LockeOak/12-26-07_1959.jpg

Any suggestions? The tank is going to stay bare bottomed.

[Twz]

i think it looks good dont know why you would want bare bottom though =S

[LockeOak]

The original motivation was that I'm a grad student and may move periodically. A bare bottom tank is a whole lot easier to move than one with a sand bed :) The tank will have a RDSB for some of those benefits.

[chem-e]

The aquascaping looks fine to me. I like the open look with some pillars and archs. I did the same thing with the rods, but I used gorilla glue to try and fill in the gaps, while covering the rods.

I also went bare bottom for the same reason. I just moved and found that moving 92 gallons of water, sand, and rock is a big PITA. I've since downsized and stuck all the sand in the sump. haha