View Full Version : advise on first aquascape attemp on 125.
mos90
06/07/2011, 10:06 AM
i need advise and opinions on my first aquascape attempt. im not sure if i like it. i want to keep the top flatter for sps's but i think i need to thin it out some. i used 100lbs of brs eco rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/125take1.jpg
Palting
06/07/2011, 10:45 AM
Looks a little too symmetrical and somewhat unnatural, but otherwise looks good to me. You have nice caves and shading shelves, and have that long flat top as well as legs that give it some depth. To add some assymetry, I would suggest putting another large piece of rock on top off to one side or the other, and throw some isolated pieces on the substrate to act as islands for the coral you dont want growing into your main rockscape.
To be honest, no rockscape will ever feel perfect, you will always feel like it could be done better. I kept moving mine around, until I just gave up and decided to be content. Here is mine, although a 150 gal it has simillar dimensions to yours just taller, no means perfect, but I am content with it.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium2/IMG_0744c.jpg
I think it looks great.
Really good shelves for different corals that will naturally vary in height. You could fairly easily build another arch on either shelf if you needed.
I'm really digging the caves.
For a narrow tank (I have the same dimensions I think) you've created a decent feel of depth with those.
Here's mine...
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd94/jcwk12r/fishtank/P1050346.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd94/jcwk12r/fishtank/P1050347.jpg
mos90
06/07/2011, 11:08 AM
i think a little variation in height might be a good idea. other then that i might redo the left side to make the caves a little larger and a little less rock touching the sand.
ill see what i can come up with tonight. i still think i can get away with less rock.
dutch27
06/07/2011, 11:18 AM
I think it's a good start. I always like having some rock that goes up high in the tank, within 8" of the water surface. If you made the two sections uneven heights I think it would add alot to the character of the scape.
mos90
06/07/2011, 11:27 AM
i think having 2 sections at different heights will look better for sure. believe it or not the top of the rocks the way they sit now are about 8" from the water line.i really didnt want to go much higher. the tank is only 20" high
Niven
06/07/2011, 12:09 PM
About ten years ago, Agu said he set his tank up based on some freshwater planted tanks with a 30/70 split from left to right. He had his tank set up with two "peninsulas" coming out of each side, one took up about 30% and the other 70% with an opening to the back in the middle. I think the ratio just made it look really nice.
Niven
06/07/2011, 12:10 PM
One other thing for advice......get a reef ready tank :D
mos90
06/07/2011, 12:11 PM
One other thing for advice......get a reef ready tank :D
i wouldve if i didnt already have this tank.
B3ach
06/07/2011, 12:14 PM
I think you should get rid of a couple caves. Both sides look just a like.
Personally I like the 'minimalistic' look.
Like this (not my pic or tank)
http://www.rimlessreef.com/uploads/1/4/7/4/1474682/6044826_orig.jpg
mos90
06/07/2011, 12:16 PM
i do like the minimalistic design, but how does it work out with less rock for filtration?
pimp4cheddar
06/07/2011, 12:19 PM
i do like the minimalistic design, but how does it work out with less rock for filtration?
1 word... MAGIC!
Usually it'll be okay with less than 1 pound per gallon...but if your worried just add some live rock into your sump.
I have about 22 pounds of live rock in my 45 gallon (total volume of about 55-60 gallons).
I'll be adding some more into my sump...but not much. Some people go light on rock...others go heavy. I prefer to go light...
Just skim good and make sure you don't lack on cleaning...
mos90
06/07/2011, 12:33 PM
i could fit about 25lbs of rock in my sump.
allsps40
06/07/2011, 01:23 PM
Looks to stacked and wall like to me. I would build to rock "islands" on each end and have a small rock pile in the center. Like what Palting did with his, JMO.
pimp4cheddar
06/07/2011, 01:54 PM
i could fit about 25lbs of rock in my sump.
Important thing is to allow ample room in the sump to allow water to circulate around the rock. Don't build a mountain of rock in your sump as you'll end up hurting your tank...due to build up.
Many people put a powerhead in their sump to make sure the water is ALWAYS MOVING...
bmullikin1
06/07/2011, 02:04 PM
Here's mine.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/DSC00765.jpg
mos90
06/07/2011, 02:07 PM
Here's mine.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m202/bmullikin1/DSC00765.jpg
i like that. very clean. is that a 125? how much rock? the only bad thing about my tank is it has a black center cross brace. i need to avoid that area with rocks.
bmullikin1
06/07/2011, 02:29 PM
my 125 has 2 cross braces, thats why i went w 3 island concept, so no shadowing, have 100lbs or less of live rock. your 2 island just needs some depth,height, to make the islands different.
asonitez
06/07/2011, 07:08 PM
here is mine
Current Tank!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4385092718_dcb402f9f3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092718/)
DSC_0079 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092718/) by t_allicock2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/asonitez/), on Flickr
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4385092634_e185909a16.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092634/)
DSC_0078 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092634/) by t_allicock2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/asonitez/), on Flickr
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4384330449_45af008a0a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4384330449/)
DSC_0073 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4384330449/) by t_allicock2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/asonitez/), on Flickr
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4385092200_c36fe32519.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092200/)
DSC_0072 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/asonitez/4385092200/) by t_allicock2 (http://www.flickr.com/people/asonitez/), on Flickr[/QUOTE]
sneaton
06/07/2011, 07:31 PM
150980
mos90
06/07/2011, 08:43 PM
very nice tanks guys. here is round 2. i like it a lot better then the first but i used less rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/take2.jpg
Toomnymods
06/07/2011, 09:04 PM
I think you should get rid of a couple caves. Both sides look just a like.
Personally I like the 'minimalistic' look.
Like this (not my pic or tank)
http://www.rimlessreef.com/uploads/1/4/7/4/1474682/6044826_orig.jpg
dont really care for the the minimalistic look.. to me looks like someone spent 10,000 bucks on a very nice setup and then couldnt afford another 1,500 bucks for liverock.. I like giving each fish his own home so to speak and that take a lot of caves, overhangs, and hiding spots, to me it just doesnt look natural, but to each his own.. :D
I like this one even better.
very nice tanks guys. here is round 2. i like it a lot better then the first but i used less rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/take2.jpg
malac0da13
06/07/2011, 09:07 PM
very nice tanks guys. here is round 2. i like it a lot better then the first but i used less rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/take2.jpg
I think that it doesn't look very natural. Caves are nice but it needs to look less staged if you know what I mean.
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tymon
06/07/2011, 09:17 PM
do one higher stack on the right side and than do a bit less rock. make drastic height change.
Matt Dean
06/07/2011, 09:31 PM
Looks MUCH better to me. As for changing the height of one, that would be nice, OR, you could put a really nice montipora capricornus on one and let it fill the height that way.
Since everyone is sharing (and I do love to share :strange:) Here is my 125 peninsula a few months ago.
http://www.mattdean.com/build/tv3.jpg
drooooolllll
http://www.mattdean.com/build/tv3.jpg
Palting
06/07/2011, 10:53 PM
very nice tanks guys. here is round 2. i like it a lot better then the first but i used less rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/take2.jpg
Still too much symmetry, too planned. If forced between the two, I liked the first one better. You gotta let loose, make towers, islands, intersecting planes, uneven levels.
dzhuo
06/07/2011, 11:14 PM
One simple rule to aqua-scrape is to create a strong focus. Both of your attempts do not have that - you used up all the space in the tank without a strong focus. Primary reason why islands are popular these days are exactly that: with a separation in the middle, you create 2 strong focus points which are appealing to most people. This is a great example in doing that:
http://www.rimlessreef.com/uploads/1/4/7/4/1474682/6044826_orig.jpg
3 strong focus points in 3 islands. When this is done right, your attention will focus almost entirely on these points without scanning constantly from left to right. There are lots of other tricks and things you can do such as creating a illusion of depth (which your attempts also fail because of the symmetry).
Bottom line: If you like it, that's all it matters. Everyone's taste is different. :) Don't be too hard on yourself. It's more important to focus what happen 2 years down the load. Think about how your rocks will affect circulation. Think about how your overhangs and caves would become dead spot, etc. If your tank is successful, the corals will almost certainly fill up the entire tank in no time and your artistic aqua-scrape might be lost. Other than pretty, your aqua-scrape also needs to be functioning.
needmore-reef
06/08/2011, 01:14 AM
my two cents.
make three islands each will different mass and height. keep the rock away from the sides and back of glass so its easier to clean once corals grow out. Have fun.
mos90
06/08/2011, 07:40 AM
ok round 3.. i cant take much more of this.lol
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/IMG_0232.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/IMG_0233.jpg
pimp4cheddar
06/08/2011, 07:45 AM
ok round 3.. i cant take much more of this.lol
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/IMG_0232.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/IMG_0233.jpg
Much better!!!
Looks like a winner.
Fill that SOB with WATER!!!!
mos90
06/08/2011, 07:57 AM
im liking it. it still is a bit stuctured but i guess thats the way i work. im a little upset with the sand color. it is caribsea ocean direct oolite sand i thought it would be a little more white then it is. kinda of a brownish/white color. i dont like brown.
im guessing that i used about 80lbs of rock.
Prince916
06/08/2011, 12:08 PM
People have thier own opinions. Do what looks best to you, its your tank.
bmullikin1
06/08/2011, 02:07 PM
i like the last version the best, but its ultimately about what you like, and what it allows you to do w corals. i think you will get much better flow now too
Fishfish0001
06/08/2011, 02:35 PM
You can always add rock to your sump if there isn't enough in the tank too ;)
I'll add my vote for the third attempt! :thumbsup:
I'll add one more suggestion, though. One of the things I like about the third one is that you staggered the stacks front to back a bit where in the last two, the rocks were all in a straight line. Maybe stagger them more or add more curviness (real word?) as you look down from the top.
malac0da13
06/08/2011, 03:26 PM
The last one looks better. Could you maybe move one or two of the islands front or back some they aren't in a straight line and maybe give some depth?
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Fishfish0001
06/08/2011, 03:34 PM
Sand might just look brown from the lighting
bo0sted2g
06/08/2011, 03:55 PM
Sand might just look brown from the lighting
+1 Mine looked a little browner than I wanted it untill I Filled the tank with water and Put the T5's on. I used aragonite though.
Palting
06/08/2011, 05:02 PM
That's much better than the other two. I agree with moving one of the islands more back or forward, though, to make it less "linear".
You have one center brace in a 6 foot long tank. I'm curious as to your planned lights. All T5's? LEDS? If you are going with MH, you'll need 3, and a central MH will melt that center brace if you have it too low. Don't ask me how I know :(.
Before you add the water, have you considered drilling the tank?
mos90
06/09/2011, 08:11 AM
ill fool around with it tonight or tommarow. as far as lighting. i am going to use mh lighting. but what i did was order 2 separate fixtures each 36" . each fixture has 1-250w 14k phoenix bulb and 4-39w true actinics. im not going to run a mh in the middle.the lights will be about 7" from the water line. eventually when i feel like spending 2k on lights i plan to add a 4 module aqua illumination led system.
i plan to add my lower-medium light corals on the middle section of rocks.
i dont feel comfortable drilling the tank myself ..i dont mind a hob overflow. i shouldve ordered a reef ready tank but ive already spent too much on this system as it is. u know how that goes.
jlylec
06/09/2011, 08:19 AM
i agree on third attempt is the winner. looks great man!
mos90
06/09/2011, 08:55 AM
i hope i will have enough lighting with just 2-250w mh's and 8 39w actinics.
MyMonkey
06/09/2011, 12:54 PM
Looks MUCH better to me. As for changing the height of one, that would be nice, OR, you could put a really nice montipora capricornus on one and let it fill the height that way.
Since everyone is sharing (and I do love to share :strange:) Here is my 125 peninsula a few months ago.
http://www.mattdean.com/build/tv3.jpg
Oh yea! Great looking tank there.
campos
06/09/2011, 01:38 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5814736239_6b218170ec_b.jpg
Here's my 125, not as nice as Matt Dean but still a work in progress. Let me know what you guys think
mos90
06/09/2011, 01:53 PM
i think it looks good.
campos
06/09/2011, 02:00 PM
thanks mos90, it took a while to achieve the look I was looking for. I started with the old school look of all the rocks piled up against the wall but after a couple of years I wanted to create more swimming room for the fish so I ended up throwing a lot of the rock down below in my sump.
Just play around with the rocks until you find the look you're looking for.
Palting
06/09/2011, 02:44 PM
i hope i will have enough lighting with just 2-250w mh's and 8 39w actinics.
With 2 mh in that 6 foot length, you'll have to raise it little bit to get the light to spread out, otherwise you'll have a low light area in the middle. With the power of 2 X 250W MH (DE), plus a total of 8 t5 actinics, you should be fine.
theronsta
06/09/2011, 02:51 PM
do one higher stack on the right side and than do a bit less rock. make drastic height change.
Or do it in the middle as a sort of centerpiece of the tank with your nicest colonies starting there :)
campos
06/10/2011, 08:06 AM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5816700792_2a39517a00_b.jpg
mos90
06/10/2011, 08:23 AM
recieved my 2 plastic 55gallon drums yesterday. they are filling with ro/di water as we speak. should have it running on sunday. hopefully i wont have any plumbing leaks.
im going to start the bio-pellets and skimmer right away. should i start the calcium reactor and carbon/gfo reactor now or should i wait? im planning a kalk ato also. that may be enough to maintain alk and calcium until i get some corals in there. what do u think?
4deepwater8
06/10/2011, 11:02 AM
very nice tanks guys. here is round 2. i like it a lot better then the first but i used less rock.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc520/mos90/take2.jpg
I think this one looks great. Fish will love it.
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