What makes a GREAT aquascape
- Thread starter livebait
- Start date
Funlad3
Has been struck by the ban stick
I use AutoDesk Inventor, which is $15,000 piece of software that I get for free for three years for taking a class that bought the license. I'm glad you like it and I'll post some pictures when I eventually make it!
I picked up a 75 recently and am being forced to go minimalist because of lack of funds. I only have about 35 pounds of rock to work with. It's rock from my first build to boot, so it's not the best looking stuff to say the least.
But that isn't why I'm looking for what you all think makes a great scape so please keep the thoughts coming.
But that isn't why I'm looking for what you all think makes a great scape so please keep the thoughts coming.
PIMPALA
Well-Known Member
and dont get me wrong... there are some VERY nice looking ... what some would call "minimalistic" tanks out there. But just seeing a tank with 2 rocks in it, and thats it? Boring. Half of the fun in my tanks, is watching the life on, and in the rocks. Plus... there is NO way that 10lbs of rock in a 55 gallon tank could be adequate filtration. no way. i dont care how much sand there is, its not the same.
now... money issues are a different story. if you dont have the extra $$ to buy a ton of rock, thats completely understandable, and i know what its like to work on a budget.
now... money issues are a different story. if you dont have the extra $$ to buy a ton of rock, thats completely understandable, and i know what its like to work on a budget.
I know what you're sayin. Trust me I've begged and plead my case to the wife but if I want to go to MACNA, rocks just ain't happening right now.
PIMPALA
Well-Known Member
you should have seen my wife's face when i was lining up 180lbs of rock for my big tank... all at once. When i told her that it was going to be in the $900-1,400 range to do it with all live rock (which I did) she wouldnt take me seriously. Kept telling me that I wasnt going to convince her that people would pay over $1,000 to put some rocks into a glass box with water in it. (all of my previous tanks came with sand and rock, or were transfers). She told me that it wasnt going to happen if i was being honest.
guess who won that one.
guess who won that one.
Rhodes19
Active Member
Nice up date. I'm still looking for the perfect rockscape for my 180 before I start collecting corals again. I'd rather have the rockscape where I want it then add corals than having to pull all the corals out in order to re rockscape. I have enough lr but a bunch of them are big boulders. I might break them in halve to give me more surface area and more surfaces for corals.
I might break them in halve to give me more surface area and more surfaces for corals.you should have seen my wife's face when i was lining up 180lbs of rock for my big tank... all at once. When i told her that it was going to be in the $900-1,400 range to do it with all live rock (which I did) she wouldnt take me seriously. Kept telling me that I wasnt going to convince her that people would pay over $1,000 to put some rocks into a glass box with water in it. (all of my previous tanks came with sand and rock, or were transfers). She told me that it wasnt going to happen if i was being honest.
guess who won that one.
LOL nice
I shouldn't even have bought this system but it was one of those deals you can't pass up. The guy couldn't sell it because it was all DIY or modified, after months he finally caved and dropped the price to $150 just to get it out of his garage. Got the stand, hood, drilled 75g AGA w/ DIY skimmer box, sump and Coralife Pro dual 150W. I've cleaned it up, added a through glass return and dumped the 15 gallon acrylic sump for 40B that I had laying around from PetCo's last $1/gallon sale.
While we are on the subject of aquascapes, I should refer you to the nature aquarium designs by Takashi Amano. Yes, these are FW planted tanks, so it's not all related to SW aquascapes, but take a look at the very dramatic use of rocks and lighting. Also note areas of different color substrata in the same tank. Here is the link (offsite) - Nature Aquarium Photographs | AmanoTakashi.net
Obviously, your not going to be able to make an exact duplicate them in SW, but you can look to create the same feeling using rock and livestock that is available.
Obviously, your not going to be able to make an exact duplicate them in SW, but you can look to create the same feeling using rock and livestock that is available.
gimmito
Well-Known Member
Great thread guys. I agree with alot of the acessments on what makes a great aquascape. Personally, I believe the "rule of thirds" that's borrowed from photography and tried to apply it in rockscaping. I had a little tougher hurdle with my scaping due to the tanks unique shape. Although, with the help of a friend, fiberglass rods, & mortar I was able to achieve a rockscape I was happy with.
xboxking58
Has been struck by the ban stick
try to keep the rock off the walls to maximize flow and minimize dead-spots
gimmito
Well-Known Member
Hey Rhodes,
Rule of thirds is breaking up the tanks in thirds and placing the atolls, pillars, bommies, etc. there. Also, it's beneficial to place varying heights of the structure, so they don't look to symmetrical. For example, the atoll on the left is taller than the one on the right and is placed farther back for illusion of depth.
Rhodes19
Active Member
Ok, cool, thanks. Oh, what is/are bommies???