Why is reef aquascaping so unexplored when compared to freshwater?

[reefwiser]

Don’t think you have seen any planted tanks.

Plenty of color in plants. An a tank like this takes as much or more skill to keep it looking this good. Aquarium keeping is a wide and varied field. Never lock yourself into one section of the aquatic world. There is so much beauty in the world.

 

[eschaton]

One of the big issues that I think nearly all reef tanks suffer from is the "collector" impulses of reefkeepers turn the tanks into crazy menageries.

I mean, look at a real reef. While you don't generally find monocultures of one color/form of coral stretching across acres, you do generally find well-defined colonies of decent size, separated from neighbors by a good bit.

A balanced natural looking aquascape in a 100-gallon tank might have 2-3 major colonies occupying the upper portions of the rockwork. However, because we often treat coral frags like pokemon, we just plaster them on wherever there's available space, rather than having the patience to wait it out over 2-5 years for a few choice frags to fill out the tank.

 

[Subnautica]

Don’t think you have seen any planted tanks.
View attachment 1355355
Plenty of color in plants. An a tank like this takes as much or more skill to keep it looking this good. Aquarium keeping is a wide and varied field. Never lock yourself into one section of the aquatic world. There is so much beauty in the world.

Not sure who you're replying to, but yes planted tanks like this takes a lot of effort (who said it doesn't???)

 

[reefwiser]

The post before mine.

 

[Rodneyri]

I guess it's all about what the aquarist likes, aquascaping for me is one of the best things in the hobby...i absolutely love it and spend hours looking at my rocks over days and weeks before gluing them together into a final formation. Im no expert but when doing my scapes I consider (which I dont think FW need as much) is flow, light, and coral placement - that is what type of coral and the colors that will match in each viewing angle. Need to think about where will the powerheads be placed, and how will they be synced / programmed to create flow with minimal dead spots. Trying to maintain the 2/3 rule from all aspects (with creativity and uniquensess) - top to bottom, left to right and front to back without blocking too much light or restricting flow and allowing for a variety of corals to thrive...its fun but complex because you are building a scape that will take years to grow out to fulfill your initial vision.

A bit of a rant of mine is the new wave of purple rocks in shapes, arches, plates, branches etc.....can make some amazing scapes but I feel can potentially lead to generic tanks. Does anyone else miss the days of searching for that perfect rock that will finish off your own personal scape?

Anyways, this is my old tank and my new scape that will be my tank for the coming years

 

[Pickwun]

...
Anyways, this is my old tank and my new scape that will be my tank for the coming years

If I had that tank I'd have to quit my job so I could sit an look at it all day.
I definitely plan to use the classic design principles in my new build. I love the cantilevered effect, but I don't think a 55 has the leg room for it to work. I've been thinking of something more like your new tank with the leaning effect for dynamic tension.

 

[LittleFidel]

I made this with photoshop.

View attachment 719881

I bet this would be a cheaper layout than most nature aquascapes.

This is so simple. Kudos. Please send any available GSP rocks my way....

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I've been seeing more stuff done on aquascape lately. For example, Aquashella has their competitions now, and I think all the fresh info is helpful.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I could see carpeting plants being easily replaced by different varieties of GSP.

What's also weird is that rarelly you see people that do these fantastic aquascapes attempting their hand in saltwater.

It happens, but its hard and takes a while. Ive seen bare bottoms with encrusting coral all along

 

[Stigigemla]

They compete with a one time photo with all technical support out. No pumps, no CO2, no filter.
Many of the small plants are relative new planted and they only last half a year because the heavy cutting every or every second week.
Reef aquariums are normally made to last several years. The thing that I see as usual in reef tanks is that they are made to house a large collection of different corals not to be as beautiful as possible. I believe most of us will get a more beautiful tank if we stop buying new corals and took out one every month for a few years so at the end it would just be about three or four different corals per foot aquarium length.
But how fun would that be?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Recently got a new tank -40b to 75g
Excited to actually aquascape this time around
When I setup the 40b I was in a time crunch due to livestock this time I will be able to actually scape . Got dry Tonga rock /shelf rock.

 

[fish farmer]

Recently got a new tank -40b to 75g
Excited to actually aquascape this time around
When I setup the 40b I was in a time crunch due to livestock this time I will be able to actually scape . Got dry Tonga rock /shelf rock.

You have some nice full colonies to work with there.

 

[dvgyfresh]

You have some nice full colonies to work with there.

Xenia and anthelia help thst alot! Lol

 

[ReefGeezer]

I've always loved plant tanks. I wish corals could be grown as fast and trimmed as easily as plants or that live rock could be as cheap as rocks and driftwood. Here's the last picture I have handy of my 90. It was built a year-ish ago. I considered the Rule of 3's to try to maintain some rough balance and focal points. I'm not into the negative space thing though. I like it but one day, far in the future, it will be covered up with corals and the aquacape will be simply a memory.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Such a good thread! Worth a bump!

 

[EugeneVan]

I could see carpeting plants being easily replaced by different varieties of GSP.

What's also weird is that rarelly you see people that do these fantastic aquascapes attempting their hand in saltwater.

Yes, GSP can spread like carpeting plant in freshwater. Just to have to watch out where they grow

 

[EugeneVan]

I do have a 100gal freshwater plant tank. I love the green and red in the freshwater side as well as the blue in the saltwater.

 

[Griev]

Love this thread. I started with freshwater planted, and have always loved the almost bonsi-like approach for creating 'nature' or dutch style planted tanks.

When I set up my 200, I decided to take my inspiration from that same place, because I didn't see much of it in the reef world and I'm trying to be the change I want to see in the world. It's much slower than freshwater but it's finally starting to come together!

 

[EugeneVan]

Good video explains well how to do a proper reef aquascape.