Aquascape Critique

[Ferrell]

I’m almost ready to put the rocks and water in the tank and am as nervous as a new bride. It’s the first tank in 10 years or so.
Tank is 48” x 18”w x 21 high and is going to be mostly LPS and fish.
Running a 30 gal sump with Varios-4, Skimz skimmer rated for 150 gallons, and two mo10s. Will be doing a build thread soon.
Still have a little rubble to glue here and there but looking for critical eyes.
Don’t want more height and the cardboard background is a good tank representation. The plywood table is 8” in eight to short but the width is perfect. Thank you in advance for any advice.
Without further ado...

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Looks good to me, plenty of eye grabbing features, you also made plenty of spaces for fish to move in and around as well as holes and caves for them to hide in if necessary. Lot's of areas to place a variety of corals as well.

 

[Homelander]

Looks good! lots of caves and crevasses for your fish to swim through I would maybe just take the stone in the middle that is all by itself and move it back just a tad.

 

[Griff]

I like it just make sure you have enough flow so detritus doesn’t settle into the lagoon area on the right. I have a similar rock formation and can’t seem to get good enough flow in that area. I typically have to symphony out that sand once every other week swish it around in a bucket and put it back. I also used very fine sand so if I turn up the flow any higher I get sand storms in other parts of the tank.

 

[Ferrell]

Thanks Nautical & Crabs. I’ve got a pile of rubble that I may glue up little islands that would be “mobile”. Appreciate the input.

 

[Waters]

I like everything but the small pile of rocks in the front/left. IMO makes it look too much like rock just scattered everywhere in the front......remove that and it is perfect (in my opinion of course)

 

[Ferrell]

Good point Waters. That was a late addition. Thinking of islands for zoos later on. Maybe just make it “mobile” for later on if I need. Thanks

 

[Ferrell]

@Griff i was wondering about that. I’ll have to check out the flow in that area when I get everything up and running. The lower rock on the left of the lagoon is not attached but fit so nice like it was made for it. I may have to adjust it.
I’m going to be using pink Fiji which is a little courser so may be able to control the dust storms. This is half the fun of the hobby!

 

[norfolkgarden]

Looks beautiful! The small islands in front can be used for territorial soft corals and then moved out if you get into acro's later.

What types of corals are you considering doing?

 

[Ferrell]

Looks beautiful! The small islands in front can be used for territorial soft corals and then moved out if you get into acro's later.

What types of corals are you considering doing?

Having only kept fish in the past I’m still learning but I’m really attracted more to LPS especially Acans, Favias and Chalices but then there are the Scollys, Lobos and that group that are cool too. Gonapora and alveoporo hold interest as well. Hell I like em all!!!!

 

[Griff]

@Griff i was wondering about that. I’ll have to check out the flow in that area when I get everything up and running. The lower rock on the left of the lagoon is not attached but fit so nice like it was made for it. I may have to adjust it.
I’m going to be using pink Fiji which is a little courser so may be able to control the dust storms. This is half the fun of the hobby!

I also used Fiji pink. It’s pretty fine. If I could do it over I would have used something even coarser.

 

[Mattscubeofwater]

Here my input and I’m guessing that since your asking you also think it may be a little off. Like something doesn’t pop. I think it looks really good but with sum small tweaks it could pop. In my opinion the right side needs to come down a little or remove one of the second level rocks on the right and add it to the left. Most of the most beautiful tanks, in my opinion, follow the two thirds rule which is a photography principle. I think with a little shifting to give the area a focus it would really be great. Here are some examples. IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171104/b71f2bc3bef02b472369edbe06910614.png[/IMG]

 

[Ferrell]

I also used Fiji pink. It’s pretty fine. If I could do it over I would have used something even coarser.

When you said fine I thought you meant the sugar sand. Hmmm something to think about.

 

[Ferrell]

@Mattscubeofwater yeah it just seemed a little off and I appreciate your input. I’ll be setting it in the tank today and get a better perspective. Thanks for the input.

 

[JoeIII]

I agree, the two islands are too even. Other than that this reminds me a lot of the 'scape in my nano and I love it, as does everyone who sees it.

 

[andyg1960]

Its nice, but i think there needs to be more height differential between the two stacks. Look at the rule of thirds examples as stated above. If your saying the plywood is shorter than the tank thats good because you need space to clean the glass

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looks very good. Only critique , as much as the OCD is against it,
Leave a bare spot.

You will one day be tempted by the awesome clam and/or rock with the beautiful giant colony of.....