Opinions on my new aquascape

[ShadowR55]

Hello all, this is my first mixed reef aquarium and first saltwater aquarium in general. I Have the RedSea Peninsula 650 and am putting together the aquascape right now. Please let me know if I should move anything around or set it up differently. I’m new to this so i don’t know what I might end up wanting in the future as far as set up goes for future corals. Tips and suggestions greatly appreciated. I have a lot more Pukani in the garage as well so I can trade big pieces for small etc.

 

[Velcro]

Not ideal if you are going heavy sps. Could work well for other types of coral.

 

[ShadowR55]

Not ideal if you are going heavy sps. Could work well for other types of coral.

Should I go lower?

 

[Velcro]

Should I go lower?

Lower and wider, more flat on the top rather than sharp tops. Gives you more surface area and less shading.

People get carried away about making the empty rocks look like an art exhibit. Some of the best grown out SPS tanks that I’ve seen are mostly just low shelf rock. Might look boring for the first year or so but it gives you so much real estate and while it may not seem like you need it now, this valuable space will be everything when you start filling the tank.

 

[ShadowR55]

Lower and wider, more flat on the top rather than sharp tops. Gives you more surface area and less shading.

People get carried away about making the empty rocks look like an art exhibit. Some of the best grown out SPS tanks that I’ve seen are mostly just low shelf rock. Might look boring for the first year or so but it gives you so much real estate and while it may not seem like you need it now, this valuable space will be everything when you start filling the tank.

Thank you, this is exactly why I started this thread. I’ll reorganize and post a new picture.

 

[Velcro]

Thank you, this is exactly why I started this thread. I’ll reorganize and post a new picture.

Glad to help, looking forward to the next picture!

 

[ShadowR55]

So I cut a few pieces, have been reorganizing over and over to make it flow better and this is what I came up with. (Don’t mind my son in the background who looks like he’s chugging a bottle of cleaner lol)

 

[UCF Alum]

Hello all, this is my first mixed reef aquarium and first saltwater aquarium in general. I Have the RedSea Peninsula 650 and am putting together the aquascape right now. Please let me know if I should move anything around or set it up differently. I’m new to this so i don’t know what I might end up wanting in the future as far as set up goes for future corals. Tips and suggestions greatly appreciated. I have a lot more Pukani in the garage as well so I can trade big pieces for small etc.

The question, Shadow, is what primarily will you be using this tank for? SPS, LPS, softies? If this is your first saltwater tank, I’d personally stick with LPS and softies. SPS is a whole different game, and since your new to the game, get accostomed to the basics first then eventually build your SPS up. Pretty much any aquascape will suffice for these corals, just as long as you like it. Everyone’s opinion on this board will tell you to change something, to their liking. Play with a few different options and find what you like the best.

BTW, that’s one heck of a tank to start with! Good luck

 

[HippieSmell]

Looks nice, but hacksaws, Jurassic gel, and accellerant spray make magic. Also, lose the towel. That'd be a detritus trap.

 

[ShadowR55]

Thanks for the replies, I will probably add SPS after a year or so once I have the rest down. The towel was just so I don’t scratch the bottom Till I get the design right. How much room should I leave between the rock and the front, back and side glass?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Thanks for the replies, I will probably add SPS after a year or so once I have the rest down. The towel was just so I don’t scratch the bottom Till I get the design right. How much room should I leave between the rock and the front, back and side glass?

I like the gaps you have between both sides. Since the filtration will be coming from the side, it will be able to flow on both sides of the rocks. It is all preference from this point on how you like your aqua scape. Do what makes you happy!

 

[CarolinaReefs]

Travis it is really personal preference. Is this going to be setup as a peninsula tank? Hard to tell from the photos. If not, I like to maximize the space I have on the front floor of the tank. Just my preference but I like to start my new corals out there and move up and around as needed. I just keep some space on the back side for water movement. If this will be a peninsula I think it would work great. plenty of space on both sides for the fish to swim and certainly good for maximum circulation. Like some of the other said though, It's what you like and makes you happy. I've seen all kinds of aquascapes and they can all be made to work out good.

 

[andyg1960]

Thanks for the replies, I will probably add SPS after a year or so once I have the rest down. The towel was just so I don’t scratch the bottom Till I get the design right. How much room should I leave between the rock and the front, back and side glass?

Minimum of a couple of inches so you can clean the glass without the glass cleaning device hitting the rocks and getting stuck

 

[ShadowR55]

Travis it is really personal preference. Is this going to be setup as a peninsula tank? Hard to tell from the photos. If not, I like to maximize the space I have on the front floor of the tank. Just my preference but I like to start my new corals out there and move up and around as needed. I just keep some space on the back side for water movement. If this will be a peninsula I think it would work great. plenty of space on both sides for the fish to swim and certainly good for maximum circulation. Like some of the other said though, It's what you like and makes you happy. I've seen all kinds of aquascapes and they can all be made to work out good.

Thanks it is a peninsula, I got the aquascape set now and filling up the tank. Will take a few pictures once the sand clears.

 

[ShadowR55]

Here is the new setup, still need to level out the sand.

 

[HippieSmell]

Yup, that looks nice. Best iteration so far.

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Here is the new setup, still need to level out the sand.

Looks good. Lots of swim space, hiding spaces and lots of room for corals.

 

[eenoo]

I like it, but until the coral grows out that bigger arch looks to man-made for my taste. Overall a nice looking scape!