Scaping a tall 1000 gallon tank.

[SlowAndStupid]

Redoing my tank and transitioning from freshwater to saltwater. Here was my original the first time around:

The tank measures 8 feet long x 4 feet deep x 5 feet high. It's been a long process to overhaul but today I put rock and sand back in the tank. It currently looks like this:

I'm not sure how I feel about the current scape. I wish it were higher though I think after coral has a change to grow it will take up more space and look ok. The rock currently rises in a step-wise fashion to give multiple levels to place coral and still give everything access to light though I am considering bringing the tallest point out further away from the back side and give more room behind the scape. Thoughts? Also I am considering building one larger scape square in the middle and leaving the sides open however there's a large brace in the middle above which I suspect might limit light penetration to what's below it.

 

[EliMelly]

You definitely can go a lot higher. Check out NSA it would be super cool in your tank to have various arches etc.

 

[EliMelly]

I would also keep in mind lighting will be tough with such a depth but you can really have a mixed reef if you figure it out and do levels.

 

[cooltowncorals]

You will have no flow behind those rocks if they are that tight on the back wall, it may be fine but I usually liked to leave a big enough gap 6-8 inches for some flow.

I do like the two island look and I like overhangs.

Google reef aqua scape and look at images for inspiration

Keep moving it around until you like it both functionally and the way it looks.

While your still dry you can get the Marco cement and 1/2 nice pvc and create anything you want

 

[littlefoxx]

If you look at arches you will be able to go taller and make caves for your fish! This will be an interesting tank with how tall it is! Cant wait to see what you do with it!

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Second try down.

I'm a little happier with it than the first but not happy with it. I pulled it off of the back wall to give space behind. I still doesn't go high enough but it's not real steady at the moment as I am just laying things in place right now. I am thinking about ordering some arches to add to the tops on the left and right to build up further along with some marco cement.

 

[EliMelly]

Second try down.

I'm a little happier with it than the first but not happy with it. I pulled it off of the back wall to give space behind. I still doesn't go high enough but it's not real steady at the moment as I am just laying things in place right now. I am thinking about ordering some arches to add to the tops on the left and right to build up further along with some marco cement.

I really suggest taking the time for an nsa aquascape

 

[Ross]

Order some reef mortar off Amazon, you basically cement the rocks together. It’s easy to do and will make your aqua scape much cooler!

 

[teleportinghere]

I really suggest taking the time for an nsa aquascape

Fully agree. Maybe involving some tall islands/boomies as well. You have the makings for an epic tank! Adding some height and space into the rockwork will look good and have more efficient flow dynamics. It'll look interesting at the start and in 1-3 years your tank will grow into an absolutely stellar looking reef.

 

[BristleWormHater]

If I had this tank I would drill or use brackets to mount a giant overhang on the back wall.

 

[BristleWormHater]

I would also keep in mind lighting will be tough with such a depth but you can really have a mixed reef if you figure it out and do levels.

Lighting doesn't have to be an issue. Just go crazy with the rock work, then anywhere the light can't reach just place non-photosynthetic corals

 

[Devisissy]

Ok like this needs a pyramid theme. The sky is the limit. Drill some rocks and make a tall structure or two. Put the pyramids and the sphynix down on the bottom then maybe some statues and crap. That would be rad. Then slap some halides on there.

 

[EliMelly]

Fully agree. Maybe involving some tall islands/boomies as well. You have the makings for an epic tank! Adding some height and space into the rockwork will look good and have more efficient flow dynamics. It'll look interesting at the start and in 1-3 years your tank will grow into an absolutely stellar looking reef.

Dead on exactly my thoughts this is too good a height to waste

 

[littlefoxx]

Here are my two islands in my 300 gallon. Arches, ledges and branches help make it taller and create caves for your fish!

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Some more work on the left just dry fit. Leaving more empty space this time around and I think I like the look more. I have some caribsea arches and reef trees coming to keep climbing higher. Also with some e-marco-400 coming to likely secure this in place cause Im thinking it's a good base to start with.

 

[areefer01]

Is this a fish only or reef? If reef, what type? Few things to consider if having corals look at what types you plan to keep. That will help guide you with the aquascape.

Example of one SPS, acropora hyacinthus. Grows as a table. Very wide like the top of an oak tree. Will shade everything below it. Another example of an SPS, acropora yongei. Thick tall branches that reach for light.

Soft corals spread. Xenia, GSP, zoas, etc.

LSP does a bit of both. Hammers and Torches can reach basketball size if not larger and wider.

If this is fish only then ignore. Coral types you may want to keep though I would strongly consider as over time when healthy will grow very larger. Or can. Placement is something you could consider now although it can be a bit difficult to visualize (at least for me it was).

 

[shcrimps]

NSA style scape or reef wall would be super cool considering the size and height
would take a while to get down but end result could be amazing
not sure how i’d feel about that background in a reef tank but plenty of corals would love to cover that i’m sure

 

[SlowAndStupid]

Plan is for mixed reef but will have to evolve over time to allow for tank stability.

 

[areefer01]

Plan is for mixed reef but will have to evolve over time to allow for tank stability.

Ok, thanks. Only thing I'd recommend then is to really consider coral type and their growth pattern. Like don't put table corals up high that will shade. Monitora low, things like that. Frag is obviously different than colony. That is the key is all I'm saying to consider.

Hope your evening is well.

 

[cooltowncorals]

Looking better! Excited to see added branch and arch rocks!