Coral and vertical surfaces?

[PwnMe]

http://imgur.com/d5rcLnH

 

The image tags hate me on NR.

 

Ok so... I finished my rockwork in my tank. I'm worried about there being too many vertical surfaces. On the left side that rock is about 2 inches from the rockwork. I could move it back so it forms a ramp. But I wanted a small island in the front for corals that are a little more invasive.

 

I adore the main rockwork and the arch though.

[teenyreef]

It's very nice, but I agree that the vertical stuff, especially on the left, won't allow you to place any corals there, at least not easily. But on the other hand, you could place a nice gorgonian on the sand back there and it could grow all the way up to fill that space, and you won't care about the vertical rock there

[PwnMe]

I'm worried about feeding them though. The rock in the left front might be epoxied there to give a pretty nice shelf to grow something. Then I can have a tiny island.

 

The whole point of the island is for something like Blue Sympodium. Not sure if its needed.

 

I'm have a metric crap-ton of issues planning the perfect layout. I want some simple SPS up top (No Acropora for example). The powerhead in there is temporary until I get an MP10 which will go on the left. So I want a Hammer on the right side, so it'll not be able to sting anything.

 

I'm thinking an Acan garden too. That might go on the left side if I attach that rockwork to the rest.

[Tamberav]

I'm worried about feeding them though. The rock in the left front might be epoxied there to give a pretty nice shelf to grow something. Then I can have a tiny island.

 

The whole point of the island is for something like Blue Sympodium. Not sure if its needed.

 

I'm have a metric crap-ton of issues planning the perfect layout. I want some simple SPS up top (No Acropora for example). The powerhead in there is temporary until I get an MP10 which will go on the left. So I want a Hammer on the right side, so it'll not be able to sting anything.

 

I'm thinking an Acan garden too. That might go on the left side if I attach that rockwork to the rest.

 

The rock looks near the water line, the SPS won't have much vertical room to grow.

[PwnMe]

 

The rock looks near the water line, the SPS won't have much vertical room to grow.

 

About 3 inches. I can't change it.

 

I wasn't going to put them at the very top of that rockwork, but there's a few good spots about 4 - 5 inches down that should allow them to grow.

 

Do you have any recommendations of what coral would be appropriate up there?

[PwnMe]

Double post... but I added the rock on the left side to the main rockwork so it looks to be a ramp. I use Aquamend and super glue so it doesn't shift with corals. The rockwork is pretty nice now. Thanks for input.

 

Back to Tamberav... I'm seeing a fair amount of SPS that stay low. It appears to be ones that aren't Acropora. I imagine with my serious flow, they'll probably be thicker branches. Worse case scenario, I more them lower, or just do softies and LPS.

[Tamberav]

 

About 3 inches. I can't change it.

 

I wasn't going to put them at the very top of that rockwork, but there's a few good spots about 4 - 5 inches down that should allow them to grow.

 

Do you have any recommendations of what coral would be appropriate up there?

 

You could do encrusting SPS that like high light.

[ReefSafeSolutions]

I have one area on my rock with a similar issue...there's a bit of a "cliff" which is essentially what you've got in a few different areas. I'm going to stick a little round-shaped rock right in the corner of the cliff to hopefully eliminate the vertical space, so there is more of a hill. If that makes sense.

 

Of course, it won't just be any rock, I'll have to make sure it blends in nicely. But I think you could get quite a bit of more useful space with your rock work with this method.

 

That said, I think having vertical space creates a more interesting look, even if you can't fill it with coral. Where the rest of your coral fills out will look great, and then having the empty vertical spaces will give it a pretty interesting look, in my opinion.

[thilankasp]

I agree with Reefsafesolutions. I think the layout is good. Having some blank areas in the middle of a coral colony will add depth. When everything fills in it will look complete..

[PwnMe]

Very nice. I took the suggestions here.

 

So the two islands have been attached to the rock as ramps. This provides many more ledges to work on. However, in the middle I left a fair amount of vertical space. It should work quite beautifully.