Exciting!!! Look at my aquascape

[bpro32]

This is a huge deal for me right now... I have been researching and building for over a year now and I am finally on the way to putting my own marine aquarium together

... I have everything plumbed and I'm working on getting the return/overflow on the same page.
Today I put in the rocks,

, let me know what you think... I am still open to moving them and will keep the bottom free of sand until I get something I can live with...
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...2/000_0008.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...2/000_0010.jpg

 

[bpro32]

By the way... the tank is 60 gallons and I have no idea how much lr is in there. If anybody has a guess on it let me know if its good or I should put some more in the sump

 

[texasmetal]

Not bad at all. I like it. I'd probably add a rock to make an arch over the rock on the left and the middle, but that's just my personal thing... I like arches. Don't play with it! I could change my aquascaping over and over and find something to complain about. Problem is when I change one thing, it throws off the balance of the rest of it.
If you're happy with it, add some sand.

 

[sickboy]

I would have guessed it was bigger than 60, but you got some cool looking rock in there.

 

[socal57che]

Looks like it could use a little more rock to me. Weight is less important than density. A porous rock that has more surface area is better than a heavy, dense rock.
I'll guess there's 30-40 lbs there. I'd at least double the rock if it were mine.
This is my favorite part...

 

[bpro32]

I like the arch idea but how would i do that??

 

[sickboy]

Well, you could break part of the tonga branch and lay it out and attach it, or if you get more rock, you could ensure to get a piece that would lay out like that.
After looking at it again, you probably could use some more rock, 20 lbs more or so. If you want a good look from both sides I would get more branch instead of big solid chunks.

 

[mr_x]

looks good to me.
i always liked the look of the tonga branch, but was reluctant to buy it because it was so expensive and so much less porous than the fiji and solomon island stuff. it sure looks good covered in zoos or gsp though.

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by sickboy
http:///forum/post/2745969
Well, you could break part of the tonga branch and lay it out and attach it, or if you get more rock, you could ensure to get a piece that would lay out like that.
After looking at it again, you probably could use some more rock, 20 lbs more or so. If you want a good look from both sides I would get more branch instead of big solid chunks.

If I put another 20lbs in there will there still be enough swimming room?? I will have 4"-6" fish so nothing huge.
I do have about 10-15lbs in the sump as it is so I was thinking just put one more flat piece (which I have) on top of the middle and left side... It wont really be an arch but we can see how it looks.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by bpro32
http:///forum/post/2746119
If I put another 20lbs in there will there still be enough swimming room??
Yes.
And you don't have to have live rock. If you use less expensive base rock the LR you have now will seed it.

 

[kjr_trig]

I also would add a bit more, maybe stack it a little higher in the middle, like Texmetal, I like a good archway. Adding another twenty pounds should be just fine for the fish you have listed on your other thread, you don't have any "huge swimmers" really...I personally like to have everything just far enough away from the sides so the magnet can get everything.
Looking great though

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2746666
I also would add a bit more, maybe stack it a little higher in the middle, like Texmetal, I like a good archway. Adding another twenty pounds should be just fine for the fish you have listed on your other thread, you don't have any "huge swimmers" really...I personally like to have everything just far enough away from the sides so the magnet can get everything.
Looking great though

The only thing I have against the sides is the tonga branch and the magnet can glide through most of it.
I have plenty of figi left over so price is not an issue there.. You guys think I should add more rock even though I have 10-15 lbs in the sump?

 

[shaunalynna]

I think it loks nice! I myself like tanks with not as much rock. It's personal preference I guess as to what each likes.

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by Shaunalynna
http:///forum/post/2746847
I think it loks nice! I myself like tanks with not as much rock. It's personal preference I guess as to what each likes.
I agree, I like less clutter and then just throw the rest of the rocks that I need in the sump. I have a really good porous piece but it's too big and not a good shape for my dt

 

[sickboy]

How big is your sump? As long as your biological filter is ok, there is really no reason that you would HAVE to have more rock. If you can stuff even more in your sump, all the better.

 

[crazy4reefs]

I personally would add more l/r, it has good effects all around and I just like how it looks. I am not talking about filling it bottom to top just add maybe 20 more pounds to the DT tank like some people suggested. from what I have experienced my fish love to swim through all the live rock and just love the caves and its makes them feel safe to have a good place to hide. Also if this is going to be a reef tank if you have more l/r you will have more places to put your corals. this is just my personal opinion but when it comes down to it this is your tank so whatever looks good to you. I also like the tonga branch. Like Mr. X said it a good rock to cover with zoo's!

 

[morval]

i agree with the more rock. i would get more large pieces to make caves and stuff and the tonga is great to have sticking out horizontaly from a pile of rock for fish to pearch on if u plan to get a hawkfish or clown gobies or other fish tha like to pearch on stuff

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by crazy4reefs
http:///forum/post/2747106
I personally would add more l/r, it has good effects all around and I just like how it looks. I am not talking about filling it bottom to top just add maybe 20 more pounds to the DT tank like some people suggested. from what I have experienced my fish love to swim through all the live rock and just love the caves and its makes them feel safe to have a good place to hide. Also if this is going to be a reef tank if you have more l/r you will have more places to put your corals. this is just my personal opinion but when it comes down to it this is your tank so whatever looks good to you. I also like the tonga branch. Like Mr. X said it a good rock to cover with zoo's!

Yeah I probably will add another large piece or 2 just for more places to hide. I wont be going reef, but if I was I would have twice this amount of rocks in there.
My only concern is going to be the size of the fish, but I think that should be fine. I'm going to have a snowflake eel and a fuzzy dwarf lion so they'll be right?

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by morval
http:///forum/post/2747170
i agree with the more rock. i would get more large pieces to make caves and stuff and the tonga is great to have sticking out horizontaly from a pile of rock for fish to pearch on if u plan to get a hawkfish or clown gobies or other fish tha like to pearch on stuff

I'm still debating between a fu man chu and fuzzy dwarf lion and if I go with a fu man chu I will pick up some kind of hawk. This is when I'll need more tonga..