Innovative Marine 30L Aquascape

LexiconDevil · Jul 17, 2021

A few days ago I just picked up my new IM 30G Long tank and have been thinking about the aquascape. Ever since I’ve seen the NSA video from BRStv I’ve been seriously considering doing this.
I figured with the dimensions and modern look of this tank, the NSA scape might suit it really well.

If anybody has pictures of their own NSA scape in their Nano tanks please share, I’d love some ideas and inspiration!
Also, thoughts and opinions please!

JumboShrimp · Jul 17, 2021

These are some pieces I’ve made for use in NSA tanks, to give you an idea or two.

Hooz · Jul 23, 2021

Here's my 30L aquascape. If I was doing it again, I might do a few things a little different, but overall I'm really happy with it.

My first "real" aquascape in 17 years!

I've been working on setting up my IM 30L. Today I finally got around to doing the aquascape. I've been dreading it. Aquascaping has always been my least favorite part of setting up a tank. The last real scape I did was a 75g FOWLR tank I setup about 17 years ago. Like most other things, it...

www.reef2reef.com

Sump Crab · Jul 23, 2021

Not a 30L but very similar dimensions. I honestly don't know what NSA stands for. Sorry.

JumboShrimp · Jul 23, 2021

NSA = Negative Space Aquascape.

It is to one degree or another, minimalist. To keep up with surface area for beneficial bacteria, rock that might otherwise appear in the display tank can be placed in the sump; maybe rubble rock, or even bio-balls or other porous media of some kind.

LexiconDevil · Jul 25, 2021

Hooz said:
Here's my 30L aquascape. If I was doing it again, I might do a few things a little different, but overall I'm really happy with it.

My first "real" aquascape in 17 years!

I've been working on setting up my IM 30L. Today I finally got around to doing the aquascape. I've been dreading it. Aquascaping has always been my least favorite part of setting up a tank. The last real scape I did was a 75g FOWLR tank I setup about 17 years ago. Like most other things, it...

www.reef2reef.com

That looks amazing!

LexiconDevil · Jul 25, 2021

JumboShrimp said:
These are some pieces I’ve made for use in NSA tanks, to give you an idea or two.

I actually really like this! I've never seen a scape like this before.

flashsmith · Aug 2, 2021

I did my 30l with lots of arches and caves all the way across the tank. Ended up taking it all out as I had so many dead flow areas. This tank is very hard to get proper flow going. I'm running a Maxspect gyre. The small one and even on the lowest setting it's too much to my liking. It goes to the other side and bounces right back. There's nowhere for it to divert because the tank is so narrow. I ended up running the IM spinners and running the gyre at 80% pulling flow instead of pushing. I have 1 caribsea cave and 1 donut and 3 aqua rocks on the sand bed.

LexiconDevil · Aug 2, 2021

flashsmith said:
I did my 30l with lots of arches and caves all the way across the tank. Ended up taking it all out as I had so many dead flow areas. This tank is very hard to get proper flow going. I'm running a Maxspect gyre. The small one and even on the lowest setting it's too much to my liking. It goes to the other side and bounces right back. There's nowhere for it to divert because the tank is so narrow. I ended up running the IM spinners and running the gyre at 80% pulling flow instead of pushing. I have 1 caribsea cave and 1 donut and 3 aqua rocks on the sand bed.

I heard that it is an issue. I figured with all the negative space in the aquascape it might really help with the flow rather then having one big wall of rock across the tank.
Thanks for the advice!

JumboShrimp · Aug 2, 2021

I’ve never had a Maxspect gyre, but the Icecap gyres split in half (and cap off at half the length). I say that in case half of a gyre might be less flow, if you’re getting too much flow now.