“Patchy” reef - Rock “islands”

[puddleglum]

Hi all,

I am thinking of doing what I think I have seen called a “patchy” reef aqua scape, with rocks across the sand separate from each other, rather than built up in a wall.

I also was thinking of epoxying some rods into holes in the base of the rocks to lift them up out of the sand a little bit to expose more of the rock to the water. I have seen this suggested in some reef articles.

I like this look, like large rubble strewn across the sea floor. Also I think I can get good flow across the sand and between the rocks. Does this reasoning seem sound?

It also would allow me to keep faster growing corals isolated from the slower growing so they don’t over take them. Think multiple zoa gardens, paly gardens, mushroom gardens, a duncan garden, clove poly rock, green star polyp rock, blastos in the darker corners, etc.

I suppose I might not have as much rock as if it was stacked, but I have very porous pukani rock I got from BRS years ago, so I think I will have decent surface area.

Thoughts?

Thank you,
-pg

 

[Formulator]

Not exactly what you are describing, but I have 2 large islands in my scape. I find having the space and open sand area gives it more depth compared to rock wall. Yours sounds like a cool idea! I don’t see any issues with your plan. But if you ever want to keep SPS coral, you may need to build some height into some of your islands.

Here is my 120g.

 

[edsbeaker]

I have an aquascape that I think is similar to what you are thinking. There are two islands in the back, but the rocks across the front are isolated from the islands. I don’t have a recent photo with the corals, but the front right rock has firework cloves, the middle is a zoa garden, and the left has rhodactis mushrooms. I think it’s a great idea!

 

[hogwild]

I think I have a very similar layout to what you’re describing, I agree with your point. Starting with islands makes everything come together much easier and also allows for corals to be added and placed without stress of them being to close! I have a couple ledges that come off of my rocks, I used live rock that was cycled from another system but I used the carib sea arches to put some space into my sanded and leave places for my critters to hide. I am currently building an Alveopora and Goni garden right now! My tank is much pretty grown in but I’m always finding space for more. My best advice would be scape out on a piece of paper how you want things to grow in. If I could go back in time I may have moved a couple corals

 

[FishTruck]

That's what I did, barebottom though. It allows for redoing the scape bits by bits to avoid boredom and you can get rid of rocks that don't end up the way you wanted. Make each Island so it can stand by itself ... even without sand... for maximum versatility. Three small rocks under a flat rock works well.

 

[FishTruck]

I painted the rocks, which I would not do again. The snails just eat the paint - but it did look nice for a few months!

 

[littlefoxx]

I have two islands in my 300.