Critique my ‘scape

[AussieBen]

I’m cycling my first reef tank, a 20 long, and playing around with different rock formations.  I want it to have a more open look with some areas of bare sand.  I’ve studied the aquascaping articles, but I’m not convinced I like this setup.  Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

[WV Reefer]

4 minutes ago, AussieBen said:

I’m cycling my first reef tank, a 20 long, and playing around with different rock formations.  I want it to have a more open look with some areas of bare sand.  I’ve studied the aquascaping articles, but I’m not convinced I like this setup.  Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

I think it looks pretty good. 😊

[sadie]

I like it, but the top piece on the right (where the cave is) looks like it could topple over with snail or crab activity.  Maybe it's just the picture.  What are you r plans for coral/fish?

[AussieBen]

Thanks, I’ve wondered that too.  It seems stable, but what do I know?!?

 

I want to do fish and corals that I would have seen when diving in the Coral Sea.  Something easier, probably soft corals/LPS, maybe a pair of clowns.  I’m still open to stocking ideas.

Edited September 13, 2019 by AussieBen
Silly iPhone spell check

[Tired]

I'd take that long stick that's behind the rocks on the left, and lay it down on the sand or something, make it less visible. IMO it's not flattering all stuck out like that. The rest looks good, though I'd probably adjust the top rock on the right. You should be able to poke and jiggle it and not have it shift. Looks like if you brought the left side of it forward a bit, to go into that notch just in front of the sticking-up bit it's currently on, you'd have something stable. 

[banasophia]

Looks nice so far and you have some great rock to work with there, but I think I’d try to do something a little bit different with those two branch pieces. I feel like their texture and shape is so different from the other rock underneath it that it doesn’t seem to go together and it blocks the beautiful texture of the rock underneath. 

 

I would consider a couple different options:

 

One would be to move the regular rock pieces in green to the left and rotate them to give room in the middle, then pile the two branches on each other on the sandbed in the middle. 

 

 

The second would be to consider something like cj’s scape, and see how it would look if you try to stand those branching pieces up somehow. Or maybe place them behind the rock on the left, pointing up and to the left, if that makes any sense...

 

 

[AussieBen]

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

 

On 9/12/2019 at 6:38 PM, sadie said:

the top piece on the right (where the cave is) looks like it could topple over

I’ve moved that around a bit, I think it’s more stable now.

 

On 9/12/2019 at 7:10 PM, Tired said:

I'd take that long stick that's behind the rocks on the left, and lay it down on the sand or something, make it less visible. IMO it's not flattering all stuck out like that.

 

Thanks, my mind didn’t go that direction but I’m glad yours did, you’re right!  A little too erect, eh?

 

19 hours ago, banasophia said:

The second would be to consider something like cj’s scape, and see how it would look if you try to stand those branching pieces up somehow. Or maybe place them behind the rock on the left, pointing up and to the left

 

I think this looks a bit better, see what you think?

 

 

[Tired]

Yeah, looks great! What are you planning to keep? 

[AussieBen]

I don’t have any specific plans, but I want to do fish and corals that my wife and I would have seen diving in the Coral Sea.  Easier corals, I’m a beginner, so probably softies/LPS.  Maybe a pair of clowns.  I’m pretty wide open to stocking ideas.

[banasophia]

Nice, I think that looks great... but more importantly how are you feeling about it? The top down shot shows you have good light coverage and room for cleaning the glass and back wall. 

 

If you’re not gluing the rocks together then you’ll have the flexibility to tweak it a little as time goes on. I glued mine in my first tank and it looks nice and keeps it stable, but prevents me from taking rocks out to treat any problems that occur. 

 

Looking forward to following along... do you have a tank journal started yet? 

[AussieBen]

I like it, I’m happy with the changes.  Thanks for everyone’s help.  More importantly, the 5yo told me she likes it and not to change anything after she saw it this morning.  So the boss has spoken!  😂

 

I’ll start a tank journal once cycling is done and I have some non-microscopic residents.

[plesioth27]

Looking impressive so far.