How would you aquascape this?

[sueandherzoo]

I'm taking the day off tomorrow and hope to aquascape my soon-to-be horsetank. It's a 46 gallon bowfront with about an inch of live sand and I have about 40-50 pounds of live rock designated for this tank. I also have a bunch of macroalgae and live plants on order that should be arriving tomorrow, thus, the day off.
I'm trying to lay out an aquascape in my head so that I'm not just randomly stacking rocks. Since it's a bowfront, should I play that up? In other words, should I "bow" the rock arrangement towards the front? Or maybe bow the rocks towards the center back to give it an optical illusion of it being a "round" tank? Do you prefer one consistent row from left to right, or should I make a mound on the left and a mound on the right, leaving the center empty and clear? Most importantly, what would the horses like best while still allowing me to see them a good portion of the time. I don't want a set up that will cause them to be out of view a lot.
Thoughts, pictures, opinions are welcomed and encouraged!
Sue

 

[teresaq]

I would just play with it. try both ways you mentioned and see. Do it the way you like it. Get your rock done first then see where you want the plants.
Just be sure you leave enough room in the back for flow and enough on the front corners for your feeding dish. and in the front to hang out. Just think of this though, The horses if young and tank raised will prob have never seen live rock or live plants. They wont care as long as there is a place to hitch and there is food to hunt.
Cant wait to see pictures.
TeresaQ

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks for the input, but why do does the feeding dish go in the front corner(s)? Can it go in the front center too or is there a good reason why the corners work better?
Sue

 

[spanko]

Quote:
"Seahorses live in shallow weedy areas especially eel grass beds."

 

[teresaq]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2819178
Thanks for the input, but why do does the feeding dish go in the front corner(s)? Can it go in the front center too or is there a good reason why the corners work better?
Sue
no not really, I just like them to the side to give them privacy while they eat, They can be shy sometimes.

T

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks, Spanko . . . now all I have to do is figure out how to get those big bushes and shrubs into my tank and we'll be all set!

Teresa: is the feeding dish something that stays in the tank 24/7 or do we only put it in during feeding and remove it when they're done for the day? In other words, should I start looking for something attractive to use since it will probably be a focal point of the tank if it stays in there 24/7?
Sue

 

[teresaq]

I always kept mine it the tank. I would take it out maybe once a month to clean. Most people use a small clear glass flat bottomed bowl. I used a nice big shell.
T

 

[gmann1139]

I would go with a structure so that if you look at it from the front, it looks like an "M"... In other words, two arches.
From the top, it should look like a "C", with the open side of the "C" toward the bow. This way, you maximize the 'front and center' space for the livestock as well as photosynthetic organisms, but also provide hiding space and flow in the back and corners.

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by gmann1139
http:///forum/post/2819928
I would go with a structure so that if you look at it from the front, it looks like an "M"... In other words, two arches.
From the top, it should look like a "C", with the open side of the "C" toward the bow. This way, you maximize the 'front and center' space for the livestock as well as photosynthetic organisms, but also provide hiding space and flow in the back and corners.
Definitely the way I'm leaning, too, but maybe more of a "C".... not sure about the center "M" part. But I definitely DO want something in the center as a focal point so it might just look like an "M" when all is said and done. Thanks for the suggestion!
Sue