aquascaping for 56 gallon tall

[nicknacs]

I am currently rearranging my 56 gallon tall tank. it has the overflow box right in the middle which is really annoying me as far as placing rock. Any suggestions on how to do it to keep it open looking? I like the rock but I like the fish more so I would like to be able to peek in on them threw the rocks and not have the tank look so crowded.
I just removed most of the rock to rearrange and forgot the water level goes down when you take the rock out

So I will be here waiting for the next hour or so for the sand/bubble storm I created to settle so I can see what I'm doing.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3465769
I am currently rearranging my 56 gallon tall tank. it has the overflow box right in the middle which is really annoying me as far as placing rock. Any suggestions on how to do it to keep it open looking? I like the rock but I like the fish more so I would like to be able to peek in on them threw the rocks and not have the tank look so crowded.
I just removed most of the rock to rearrange and forgot the water level goes down when you take the rock out

So I will be here waiting for the next hour or so for the sand/bubble storm I created to settle so I can see what I'm doing.
I have a 56 column tank as well...but mine is used as a seahorse tank. How you arrange things is really dependent on what you keep in the tank. I did mine up with live rock (mostly branch) in one corner going up, then I put Roman columns on the other side and balanced the look. Decor seeds just like live rock and serves the same purpose. I even created a shelf on top of the back columns...at first I kept live rock up there but later put my in-tank refugium on it.
I have seen a few folks on the site create a column of live rock right in the center. It could not be stacked, they had to get inventive to keep it from falling. The black pond foam can create a nice column and use smaller pieces of live rock to give it a natural look. Kind of a rock wall without the wall method.
Well now you have a few ideas...look at Slices (TOTM) and Novahobbies tank to see what they did exactly. They look pretty good.

 

[nicknacs]

I did look at novahobbies tank and couldn't find the other. Mine is different in the back. of it, I will include two pics to show what my issue is. I have that deep full overflow going right threw the center back and a power head that's on with a magnet glued to the back of the tank on one side about midway down and the return water thing on the top of the other side. Its almost impossible to stack the rocks tight enough so my naughty clowns wont knock them down. They will get together and go behind a rock and actually push it over.
Please excuse the mess, I gave up at 4am. the fish were tired of me poking around in the tank and were being extra naughty so I gave up for the night.
Front

Side

 

[nicknacs]

Oh and forgot to say that sea horses are awesome! When I actually know what I'm doing that's what I plan to use this tank for down the road. I also LOVE the branch rock but I have been to 3 different LFS and none carry it. So I got smaller flatish pieces of lace rock hoping to make platforms and ledges instead.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3465841
I did look at novahobbies tank and couldn't find the other. Mine is different in the back. of it, I will include two pics to show what my issue is. I have that deep full overflow going right threw the center back and a power head that's on with a magnet glued to the back of the tank on one side about midway down and the return water thing on the top of the other side. Its almost impossible to stack the rocks tight enough so my naughty clowns wont knock them down. They will get together and go behind a rock and actually push it over.
Please excuse the mess, I gave up at 4am. the fish were tired of me poking around in the tank and were being extra naughty so I gave up for the night.
Front

Side

I think the rock work looks awesome.

 

[nicknacs]

thank you flower, so far the fish must to because they gave up trying to knock it down finally.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3466382
thank you flower, so far the fish must to because they gave up trying to knock it down finally.
The only problem with column tanks are that they are taller than wide and the oxygen exchange is limited, also light getting that deep is difficult if you keep coral. They do make perfect Seahorse tanks.

 

[nicknacs]

I thought that to about the corals having to be up close to the top but after all that hard work of building up with rock my frog spawn wouldn't open up a tall all the week they were on the top. I moved them back to the bottom and they opened right up in a few minutes. I'm really not sure the what the light I have is but I know its made for corals and it's really bright and puts off a lot of heat even with the built in fan. So maybe its to much light for them. But all the nems I just got have happily perched themselves on the top rocks right by the return water spouts.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3466482
I thought that to about the corals having to be up close to the top but after all that hard work of building up with rock my frog spawn wouldn't open up a tall all the week they were on the top. I moved them back to the bottom and they opened right up in a few minutes. I'm really not sure the what the light I have is but I know its made for corals and it's really bright and puts off a lot of heat even with the built in fan. So maybe its to much light for them. But all the nems I just got have happily perched themselves on the top rocks right by the return water spouts.
Not all coral like those bright lights. Some like a little shade, others prefer deeper farther from the light. It also depends on what kind of water current...some like it very turbulant and others s soft wave. Oh, and with asnemones...cover the power heads.

 

[nicknacs]

cover the power head with what? It would be a very long walk for one to get over there as it cant reach it from the rocks. the 3 flower nems have settled right in on the top ledge on different rocks and haven't moved again but the bubble one still hasn't found the perfect spot yet. its been moving around between 2 rocks in the top corner. I read they can have quit the sting to them towards other corals, the only other thing at the top is some zoos, are they going to be safe?

 

[nicknacs]

And I had no idea that decor would serve the same purpose as the rock. There is definitely going to be a skull n sunken ship in there soon. Now I have to decide over a pirate ship or space ship......

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3466545
And I had no idea that decor would serve the same purpose as the rock. There is definitely going to be a skull n sunken ship in there soon. Now I have to decide over a pirate ship or space ship......

There are not as many nooks and cranies for tiny critters to to live in and hide as rock, but good bacteria just needs something to colonize on.
Anemones are just a mouth and an anus. No brain, no eyes. They follow the water current.and get themselves sucked up by power heads and intakes. I can't tell you how many times someone tells me their anemone stays put...flower or rock anemones are not as bad as others for moving around but they too can be sucked in. Best to be safe ans cover them.
A ladies nylon stocking cut to fit works for covering it.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicknacs http:///t/391025/aquascaping-for-56-gallon-tall#post_3466544
cover the power head with what? It would be a very long walk for one to get over there as it cant reach it from the rocks. the 3 flower nems have settled right in on the top ledge on different rocks and haven't moved again but the bubble one still hasn't found the perfect spot yet. its been moving around between 2 rocks in the top corner. I read they can have quit the sting to them towards other corals, the only other thing at the top is some zoos, are they going to be safe?
They can detach and go floating around. Just like Flower said, they are just a mouth and an anus, no brains or eyes. Once they detach they are at the will of the flow of your tank, which will usually end up going thru a power head. Cover them up, its a big mess if they get caught in one.