open aquascapes

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 11:36 AM

I had to get all the rock out to catch all fish and treat for Ich, found all kinds of detritus under rocks so I am thinking of changing the aquascape to a more open style, since it is barebottom, figured would be better to keep all stuff suspended. I am having a hard time dealing with this and already hurt some corals while moving stuff around, if anyone has some pictures or ideas how to place rocks I would appreciate it

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 12:02 PM

I would make some tall pillars/columns of rock leaving enough gaps underneath so that detritus can be blown out by a powerhead.

Something like this maybe?

afelder · 09/21/2007, 12:17 PM

Not BB but still pretty open

xtm · 09/21/2007, 12:20 PM

"open" meaning more space for fish to swim? This is my previous attempt to do an open aquascape (ie. not too crowded) I shoved the LR's to one side and I kinda liked it... however, it's still considered a Fruitstand:

So my next attempt at an open 'scape, I drastically reduced the amount of LR, leaving TONS of space on the top. It DOES have the open look while also not looking like a fruitstand but it looks overly simple that I'm starting to HATE it.

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 12:23 PM

FYI... If you set up your rock base in a tripod formation, it will provide a very stable and open foundation underneath. That's how I did mine and I run a powerhead on the bottom every other day or so to kick up any detritus into the overflow. So far so good.

osprey77 · 09/21/2007, 01:07 PM

i built mine up on several large tripod style LR pieces, when you look from the bottom there are only 6 or 8 points touching the bottom. i have a tube with a flexible end and suck out any detritus durng a water change.

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 01:10 PM

EXACTLY ^

osprey77 · 09/21/2007, 01:10 PM

here is the pic under sunset mode.

osprey77 · 09/21/2007, 01:11 PM

try that again

osprey77 · 09/21/2007, 01:12 PM

[IMG]

[/IMG]

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 02:06 PM

I see, I think I just have a ton of live rock I have accumulated over the years and it does not fit. I thinking the whole "pillar" and tripod idea sound good. I have 4 Koralia pumps, 2 #3 and 2 #4 I have the 2 #3's on the bottom, however because of all the rock in there I do not think it has been effective enough to pick the detritus up. Appreciate the pics, nice tanks !!

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 02:19 PM

I find that in BB tanks having a lot of LR isn't always the best option to have. You really need the openness in order to get enough flow all around and for detritus not to accumulate on the bottom.

As with everything more isn't always better IME.

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 02:29 PM

Agreed, I just hope I do not damage any more corals in the process, i am going to have to unglue several frags in order to redo rock work now

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 02:39 PM

you have no idea how many accidental fraggings I have done while aquascaping

SERVO · 09/21/2007, 03:06 PM

This is how I set up my 400 gallon

ReeferMonkey · 09/21/2007, 03:29 PM

I used a foundation of tonga beneath a structure of marshall.

Old pics, but you get the idea:

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 03:31 PM

I really like your tank, the white trim looks like the one around my fireplace.

Quote:

Originally posted by SERVO
This is how I set up my 400 gallon

plyle02 · 09/21/2007, 04:01 PM

Here is my 75 gallon bb sps reef tank, I will be removing more rock in the future, waiting on some corals to get larger. Here it goes anyway.....

Leonardo_ · 09/21/2007, 04:33 PM

Nice tanks guys!

Leonardo

ClownNut · 09/21/2007, 05:05 PM

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 05:18 PM

has anyone seen a frame made of 1' PVC piping to support live rock? I thought I saw one in this forum a while back but could not find. I wonder if it would be more trouble than it is worth to build something like that, probably cost a total of $15.00 for pvc and some elbows. Any thoughts on this?

dhnguyen · 09/21/2007, 05:23 PM

Yes I have but IMO it doesn't look very good.

A better option would be to build a PVC frame THEN cover the whole thing in a DIY cement mix (like you would be doing making your own rocks). Infact in the 125g I am setting up I plan to make some rock stands just like that.

cateyes · 09/21/2007, 05:44 PM

here's my 120 about 9 monhs ago.. there's been a fair amount of growth since then but you get the picture...

FOREIGNER · 09/21/2007, 05:48 PM

Nice tank cateyes, dhnguyen I thought about that, would be hard to hide white pvc pipe all around the tank. I am really starting to like this open aquascapes

mile sq. reefer · 09/21/2007, 07:09 PM

Here's a pic of my 55.
[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]

09/21/2007, 11:36 AM	#1
FOREIGNER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Petite Roche Posts: 308	open aquascapes I had to get all the rock out to catch all fish and treat for Ich, found all kinds of detritus under rocks so I am thinking of changing the aquascape to a more open style, since it is barebottom, figured would be better to keep all stuff suspended. I am having a hard time dealing with this and already hurt some corals while moving stuff around, if anyone has some pictures or ideas how to place rocks I would appreciate it

09/21/2007, 01:07 PM	#6
osprey77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loveland CO Posts: 492	i built mine up on several large tripod style LR pieces, when you look from the bottom there are only 6 or 8 points touching the bottom. i have a tube with a flexible end and suck out any detritus durng a water change. __________________ RJ si vis pacem, para bellum Click my Red House for T5 Website Current Tank Info: 14g BioCube Kenya and shroom farm, 75 gallon BB Monti Dominated Reef

09/21/2007, 01:10 PM	#8
osprey77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loveland CO Posts: 492	here is the pic under sunset mode. __________________ RJ si vis pacem, para bellum Click my Red House for T5 Website Current Tank Info: 14g BioCube Kenya and shroom farm, 75 gallon BB Monti Dominated Reef

09/21/2007, 01:11 PM	#9
osprey77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loveland CO Posts: 492	try that again __________________ RJ si vis pacem, para bellum Click my Red House for T5 Website Current Tank Info: 14g BioCube Kenya and shroom farm, 75 gallon BB Monti Dominated Reef

09/21/2007, 01:12 PM	#10
osprey77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Loveland CO Posts: 492	[IMG][/IMG] __________________ RJ si vis pacem, para bellum Click my Red House for T5 Website Current Tank Info: 14g BioCube Kenya and shroom farm, 75 gallon BB Monti Dominated Reef

09/21/2007, 12:02 PM	#2
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,788	I would make some tall pillars/columns of rock leaving enough gaps underneath so that detritus can be blown out by a powerhead. Something like this maybe?

09/21/2007, 12:17 PM	#3
afelder Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 1,165	Not BB but still pretty open __________________ Thought For The Day.... "In the Torah it says "love thy neighbor as thy self". The Buddha says there is no "self". So maybe you are off the hook." All animals are created equal some are more equal than others.~Orwell Current Tank Info: NEW 70 gallon rr with a 25 gallon sump Bermuda 3-C that skims rings around a RS80 and 2 koralia 4 & 2 tunze 6045 eheim 1262 return 6x39 watt t-5

09/21/2007, 12:20 PM	#4
xtm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Panorama City, CA Posts: 4,575	"open" meaning more space for fish to swim? This is my previous attempt to do an open aquascape (ie. not too crowded) I shoved the LR's to one side and I kinda liked it... however, it's still considered a Fruitstand: So my next attempt at an open 'scape, I drastically reduced the amount of LR, leaving TONS of space on the top. It DOES have the open look while also not looking like a fruitstand but it looks overly simple that I'm starting to HATE it. __________________ Function before fashion Current Tank Info: 120g SPS Tank (48x24x24)

09/21/2007, 12:23 PM	#5
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,788	FYI... If you set up your rock base in a tripod formation, it will provide a very stable and open foundation underneath. That's how I did mine and I run a powerhead on the bottom every other day or so to kick up any detritus into the overflow. So far so good.

09/21/2007, 02:06 PM	#11
FOREIGNER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Petite Roche Posts: 308	I see, I think I just have a ton of live rock I have accumulated over the years and it does not fit. I thinking the whole "pillar" and tripod idea sound good. I have 4 Koralia pumps, 2 #3 and 2 #4 I have the 2 #3's on the bottom, however because of all the rock in there I do not think it has been effective enough to pick the detritus up. Appreciate the pics, nice tanks !!

09/21/2007, 02:19 PM	#12
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,788	I find that in BB tanks having a lot of LR isn't always the best option to have. You really need the openness in order to get enough flow all around and for detritus not to accumulate on the bottom. As with everything more isn't always better IME.

09/21/2007, 02:29 PM	#13
FOREIGNER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Petite Roche Posts: 308	Agreed, I just hope I do not damage any more corals in the process, i am going to have to unglue several frags in order to redo rock work now

09/21/2007, 02:39 PM	#14
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,788	you have no idea how many accidental fraggings I have done while aquascaping

09/21/2007, 03:06 PM	#15
SERVO Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,284	This is how I set up my 400 gallon

09/21/2007, 03:29 PM	#16
ReeferMonkey Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 1,123	I used a foundation of tonga beneath a structure of marshall. Old pics, but you get the idea:

09/21/2007, 04:01 PM	#18
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ormond Beach, FL Posts: 3,116	Here is my 75 gallon bb sps reef tank, I will be removing more rock in the future, waiting on some corals to get larger. Here it goes anyway.....

09/21/2007, 04:33 PM	#19
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,432	Nice tanks guys! Leonardo __________________ Apogon Reef Leonardo's Reef Blog

09/21/2007, 05:05 PM	#20
ClownNut Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,130	__________________ Dont let me know where u lived if u have a nice pair of clownfish in ur tank!^_^ Clown kidnaper^_^ Current Tank Info: Clown and Clown and Clown

09/21/2007, 05:18 PM	#21
FOREIGNER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Petite Roche Posts: 308	has anyone seen a frame made of 1' PVC piping to support live rock? I thought I saw one in this forum a while back but could not find. I wonder if it would be more trouble than it is worth to build something like that, probably cost a total of $15.00 for pvc and some elbows. Any thoughts on this?

09/21/2007, 05:23 PM	#22
dhnguyen Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kingston, WA Posts: 4,788	Yes I have but IMO it doesn't look very good. A better option would be to build a PVC frame THEN cover the whole thing in a DIY cement mix (like you would be doing making your own rocks). Infact in the 125g I am setting up I plan to make some rock stands just like that.

09/21/2007, 05:44 PM	#23
cateyes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: OliveBranch, Mississippi Posts: 2,772	here's my 120 about 9 monhs ago.. there's been a fair amount of growth since then but you get the picture... __________________ some things in life are not meant to be understood... just accepted.... Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube....

09/21/2007, 05:48 PM	#24
FOREIGNER Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Petite Roche Posts: 308	Nice tank cateyes, dhnguyen I thought about that, would be hard to hide white pvc pipe all around the tank. I am really starting to like this open aquascapes

09/21/2007, 07:09 PM	#25
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	Here's a pic of my 55. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]