Minimalist Aquascaping

[coralfarmer]

Here are some shots of a 100 gal cube that I put together a few years back .

 

[MB_Fahrer]

Here’s my 180.

Where do your fish go to hide/sleep? What's the plan with your tank with so little rock?

 

[FLSharkvictim]

OLD PIC of my 120 Deep with about 80 pounds of old school Fiji rock and Tonga branch

 

[Borg]

Where do your fish go to hide/sleep? What's the plan with your tank with so little rock?

since I've last posted my pic,
their are only 2 rocks and a pyramid made out of (3) 9"- 4" sch.40 glued together. I have less detritus. Fighting over territory has dropped to almost nothing.no more scratched eyes from the rocks.

best part is when I need to catch a fish its so much easier than having to remove all the rocks and kick up nasty detritus.
they usually sleep up against the glass at night or next to the two rocks and inside the pvc pyramid cave.
my plan is to enjoy looking at fish. Not rocks and sand.
If I had corals I would have rocks. This is fish only.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Love it!

 

[WDKegge]

Here are some pictures of the tank now a year or so later.

Here's the scape I did for my 150g peninsula, about 40lbs or do of reef saver rock, held together with emarco. Lots of overhangs and room for sps, I would consider it pretty minimal.

View attachment 1459097
View attachment 1459098View attachment 1459100

 

[diverrad]

Not sure how minimalist my little nuvo 40 is but it’s the first time I’m attempting a tank without a giant rubble wall against the back glass.

 

[BoneDoc]

Here are some pictures of the tank now a year or so later.

Loving the zoa-covered skull

 

[Krampus]

OLD PIC of my 120 Deep with about 80 pounds of old school Fiji rock and Tonga branchView attachment 2107223

Looks great!

 

[dhnguyen]

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Is @NanaReefer still around? Omgosh i havent seen her tank in forever. Lol.
I wonder if same nana reefer. Has to be. Lol.
D

 

[Aquaristexhibit]

Here is my new aquascape!

I tried to follow 1/3’s and kept in mind flow, hiding spots, and shading.
What do you guys think ?

 

[diverrad]

Here is my new aquascape!
View attachment 2165117I tried to follow 1/3’s and kept in mind flow, hiding spots, and shading.
What do you guys think ?

This is VERY nice. What size is the tank?

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Where do your fish go to hide/sleep? What's the plan with your tank with so little rock?

+1 live rock is a bio filter, just throwing in 2 dry rocks in a 180 makes no grazing sites, no hides, no sight breakers and no filtration. I always think that you should go with LR and go with as much as you can afford

 

[Aquaristexhibit]

This is VERY nice. What size is the tank?

its a 75g custom built. check out my build thread for all the info about the build

 

[BoneDoc]

View attachment 2003242

I really believe that most reef tanks need more negative space. For more on this tank check out my instagram "wolfdaddysreef"

Love the way your lights are decorated

 

[memphissfinest]

Finished my aquascape last week. Took inspiration from two tanks I’ve seen here from nextlevelreefing and Chris kreins. Will be adding a thin layer of Fiji pink sand and getting the wiring hidden/organized next week.

 

[Gort]

View attachment 2003242

I really believe that most reef tanks need more negative space. For more on this tank check out my instagram "wolfdaddysreef"

@WolfDaddysReef - I can't find your Instagram. I like your arches. Did you build them from smaller pieces or ?? Also - which rock did you use?

 

[SantaMonica]

If filtration is not a concern, then there are two minimalistic styles I like:

1. The rolling sand dune look. No rock. Only need some way to add curves to the sand so it stays put.

2. The floating island look. Island can be held up separate from the sand so there is no visible connection. Island can be coral, or asteroid, or anything else. If not coral, the island can have a hidden internal light shining down.

 

[Smoke-Town]

I started my new system as a minimalist aquascape. The issue that became clear to me quickly was the lack of habitat for the fish. So I’d say you should figure out the fish you absolutely want first and design your scape with them in mind. Not just for things like shrimp gobies, but most of the fish will want to ”sleep” under an overhang or down byetween the sand and a rock or between a couple rocks so I ended up adding more aquascape, and even some temporary aquascape as this System won’t see much coral just yet. even schooling fish prefer Their own little nooks at night.

More habitat, less stress.