First aquascape

[FrozenReefer]

Hey everyone, just glued the last rock together and would love some feedback. I have a 120g and plan to keep a mixed reef with minimal fish but still want any fish I do get to be safe and comfortable. Overall I was going for a habitat style. The blue tape is the edge of my tank and I should have a little over 4in all around so glass space is covered. Height max is about 14in so I’m about at that 50% mark of my 25in height.

The left and right islands are the same in both pictures but I swap between two caves on one or a big pukani island in the other. For the island I carved out the under side with tunnels for sand dwellers.

Still haven’t put the final cement on yet so could still change things. That also means don’t pay attention to bad glue lines or ugly seems, I’ll fix that.

Let me know your thoughts. What did I miss?

 

[FrozenReefer]

 

[Vincemal27]

Looks awesome!!!! Make sure you have space and flow in mind. To tall, to wide can cause issues with flow down the road especially after coral growth. But love the look overall

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

The right hand side looks really cool but also like it’ll be a big trap for detritus.

 

[FrozenReefer]

The right hand side looks really cool but also like it’ll be a big trap for detritus.

Yeah I really struggled trying to find some use for those pieces. I had a 65g a few years ago that ended up in storage, those shelf rock pieces and the other pukani came from there. I was determined to use them since they were so unique but dang it was a pain. That configuration was probably my 10th. The bottom shelf is actually only attached at the corners so the entire middle of the bowl is open for flow, I was going to close it with motor but I think you are right about the trap. I’ll leave it open and therefore more flow can get through to clean it out.

 

[Waters]

I personally don't like mixing two different rock types...especially when they are divided up from one side of the tank to the next. I would maybe break up the rock on the right and use it throughout the whole scape, continuing the left structure all the way to the right? I think the left side looks great

 

[FrozenReefer]

I personally don't like mixing two different rock types...especially when they are divided up from one side of the tank to the next. I would maybe break up the rock on the right and use it throughout the whole scape, continuing the left structure all the way to the right? I think the left side looks great

I thought of that too but really struggled to find ways to integrate the shelf rock with it. I even looked back to the Tonga/Pukani hay-days for the “show me your scape” posts and people hardly used Tonga shelf. I figure worst case this gives me three tiers of rock for a garden type scape. If it doesn’t work out I can always take just that portion out and put it in another tank and rebuild. I still have way more left than I was expecting.

 

[FrozenReefer]

I mortared everything up today, will be dropping it in the tank in a couple days.

 

[FrozenReefer]

The right hand side looks really cool but also like it’ll be a big trap for detritus.

I think this will work better than my original plan to close it off. Good catch @ZzyzxRiver on the potential detritus trap. Now the bottom piece to locked into the middle but not a full wall. The porous nature of the Tonga shelf rock is going to catch all kinds of stuff itself but atleast now it won’t be a full bowl.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Looks great! What do you plan on placing in there eventually?

 

[FrozenReefer]

Right now im leaning Zoa garden for one shelf, and hoping to leave the bottom for an anemone however this is my first reef setup, was fish only before so my mind changes on a daily basis as a learn about new things.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

You learn the most by doing and messing up! I think that shelf would make a spectacular zoa garden- you’ll never be able to guarantee an anemone will do what you want anyway

 

[Dburr1014]

Yeah I really struggled trying to find some use for those pieces. I had a 65g a few years ago that ended up in storage, those shelf rock pieces and the other pukani came from there. I was determined to use them since they were so unique but dang it was a pain. That configuration was probably my 10th. The bottom shelf is actually only attached at the corners so the entire middle of the bowl is open for flow, I was going to close it with motor but I think you are right about the trap. I’ll leave it open and therefore more flow can get through to clean it out.

So flip them over. Instead of a bowl to catch stuff, upside-down will spill stuff out.

 

[FrozenReefer]

Here is the final outcome. Starting to fill with water tomorrow. Here we go!

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

You’ve got so many great places to put corals. And I think fish will enjoy that bowl when they are in the mood to tuck themselves away- gobies and blennies probably!