Do you have nice aquascaping? if so let's see it..

[143gadgets]

Originally posted by Mike de Leon
Beautiful tank Kinetic.

Chris, do you now have a new tank? Those corals look awesome.

Any newer pics Gasman?

Thanks! Yes, the new tank is a 30x30 cube. No pics yet though.

[143gadgets]

Nice tank! What did u use on the top to keep those wrasses in? Any closer pics of it?

Originally posted by bradleyj
June 2006





Now

[gary faulkner]

KEEPERZ

I really like your layout.

What are the dimensions of your tank?

TIA

[rogergolf66]

not to steal this thread but I want to know how everyone keeps their sand beds so clean/ white?

[bradleyj]

Originally posted by 143gadgets
Nice tank! What did u use on the top to keep those wrasses in? Any closer pics of it?

Thanks, its a window screen frame you build to fit the top of your tank and use garden netting for the screen. All can be bought at Lowes or Home depot cheap and easy.

[rogergolf66]

It looks like you lose some light into the tank with that. Do you?

I am comparing the picture with it off and the pictues with the screening on.

[teach]

Originally posted by Mike de Leon

Hey Teach, a lot of large, nice colonies there. Nice tank! [/B]

Thanks. They all started as frags.

[mrpet]

sweet jobs everyone will help me alot getting ready to do my
375. 72x48x25 naka ur tanks rocks.. as a matter of fact they all do good job...

[Oldude]

Originally posted by rogergolf66
not to steal this thread but I want to know how everyone keeps their sand beds so clean/ white?

I have a couple of fighting conches and a pair of watchman gobies.

[hobogato]

here is my 240 - 93"X24"X25"



here it is with only moonlights on and backlit to show the structure a little better.

[Oldude]

Originally posted by Big E
I couldn't agree more with this comment. The old "less is more" idea seems to escape most reefers. The most beautiful setups are not jam packed with corals in every crevice.

I'm also confused by all the hard work someone will put into setting up a nice aquascape & then kill it with corals littered acrosss the front of the tank

I assume this is largely directed at me but sorry I don't buy into the "less is more" look. Natural reefs are usually pretty crowded and seeing a large variety of coral is one of the things I enjoy about scuba diving. With a full tank I can watch for hours and view enough different things that I don't get bored. To each is own I guess. Pictures seldom do any tank justice, you would need to see it in person.

[143gadgets]

Originally posted by bradleyj
Thanks, its a window screen frame you build to fit the top of your tank and use garden netting for the screen. All can be bought at Lowes or Home depot cheap and easy.

Thanks for the info.

[bradleyj]

Originally posted by rogergolf66
It looks like you lose some light into the tank with that. Do you?

I am comparing the picture with it off and the pictues with the screening on.

I believe that is just the wrong exposure with my camera. I don't think I lose any light with the netting. It is very, very thin, almost thread like, but very strong and UV rated so the halides dont destroy it.

[Big E]

I assume this is largely directed at me but sorry I don't buy into the "less is more" look.

Oldude,

No, not at all............it's just my preferece. I like grown out colonies that aren't hacked up and prefer the corals to create the overhangs & caves. Corals look good bunched together but not from top to bottom of the tank.

The more open (negative) space shows the fish off better & makes for easier flow in the tank as well as ease of maintenance.
It also shows the corals more prominantly.

Here's a few examples, although I prefer a more lower profile, they show good use of open space[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Big E]

Here's more.......




Here's a good thread about aquascaping...http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...e&pagenumber=1


Here's Steve Weast comments............he says it well concerning this pic........

"Greg (Bonsainut) posted the best example of aquascaping perfection. It's the one I always come back to for inspiration....and why ? ....because I believe the answer to all your aquascaping questions are right there in that pic..... you just need to notice its philosophies...

1) have just as much postive space (rocks and corals) as negative space (open water and sand)

2) Don't worry about creating nooks/crannies/caves/etc....they just will be eventually covered by livestock. Instead focus on the general rock shape that has both low and high points...perhaps even breaking the surface. Focus on large details...not small crevises (especially if you have a large tank).

3) Maintain an algae free back (and sides if possible) to create an illusion of infinite depth....contrary to what we'd all like to believe, coralline does not create an attractive back drop...only a distracting one.

4) hide all the things of man.....overflows...pumps...pipes....etc.

5) don't clutter the sand bed with a bunch of livestock....a clam or two...maybe...but that's it. Cluttered sandbeds just make the overall display look too busy. You can improve the overall display tremendously by just removing all the frags, zoas, blastos, etc that so many people seem to keep on the sandbed these days......it just distracting.


And finally....the aquascaping will have to be adjusted every so often.....growth eventually will destroy the best of aquascaping. I've seen so many tanks start off so promising, with fantastic rockwork.... only to spiral down into something less so..... just because the aquarist didn't take action to prevent its downfall or simply just over stocked it.. It usually ends up with a solid line of rock....all at the same height....covered in livestock....from end to end. There could be all the purple monsters, acans and superman monties in the world in there....but, if the overall structure is two dimensional and over crowded, it's just blah.....OR you could have the most ordinary of corals....and softies at that....as long as the rock structure follows the above guidlines, it will inspire all who view it and deliver the oooohs an aaaahs......just like the Japanese tank above.

This subject is very dear to my heart....I spent this whole three day weekend re-working my aquascaping.....it was just that time again."

[Big E]

This former tank of the month is the best example of my preference of "less is more". Very little rockwork & let the corals fill in the spaces as they grow. You'll still have to prune to keep the dramatic impact of the open space intact.

These open space tanks simulate more of the look of a reef if you were snorkeling on the surface & seeing a large section of a reef from afar or above. The packed reef look(rock/coral wall) is like zooming in on a small protion of that same reef. They both depict a "natural" reef but I prefer the bigger pic look.
[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[gasman059]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Big E
[B]Here's more.......




short of kips and oregon that is the must beautifl scape around IMO.
Then again is all a matter of taste since that reef is not aN SPS.

[Mike de Leon]

bump

[Tank Predator]

NOW I WANT TO TEAR DOWN MY TANK AND RE BUILD

[whosurcaddie]

Imagine if it was!!!

[KEEPERZ]

Originally posted by gary faulkner
KEEPERZ

I really like your layout.

What are the dimensions of your tank?

TIA

-Thank you Mike de

-Hey thank you Gary, sorry I missed your post originally- my tank is 108" x 48" x 32"

[brianbigoats]

[tgcreef]

ive got the 2 island thing goin on

[rogergolf66]

I just want to know why non of you have problems with the corals attacing each other. They are so close together.

[panic]

I just took out 200# of rock when I moved. I like the open space for the coral to grow into.