Making my tank look real

[slothy]

Hi just set my 40gal up.. i bought a chunk of live rock and some base rock.. any tips on making this tank look someone real hehehe.. right now it looks like 3 rocks sitting on the bottom.. ill prob order somE live rock off this site to build up some. since this is a fish only tank or will be, i dont want alot rocks... but want it to look somewhat nice.. do i just got a spend a weekend playing in the taNK ?

 

[pstanley]

Personally I don't think there is a way to make it look real without a lot of live rock. Maybe add some macro algae?

 

[carrie1429]

I agree, it will look the most real with lots of LR and live sand or something like that because thats how it is in the ocean. Also to make it look real don't add any fake plastic plants, IMO they look kinda cheesy.

 

[slothy]

i guess what i meant was how to make a real looking rockpile... i seen some tanks and it looks like its was staright from the ocean.., not so much the stuff on the live rock, but the layout...

 

[musipilot]

You stumbled upon the best way -- look at photos of other tanks and try and duplicate it. You're probably not going to be happy with that much rock tho...grab some more!

 

[slothy]

y im thinking about ordering the 40lb deal thru here or just pay a few bucks and hand pick em out the lfs.. i got 200.00 put away for rock (live rock eheh)

 

[neutronics]

I think adding a bit more live rock and some hardy mushrooms would help too.

 

[twoods71]

I agree with others, get some more rock.
What I did was just spent a few hours moving the rock around until I finally got it the way I wanted.

 

[pstanley]

I started out that way also...few rocks and fish. I wasn't happy until I added lots of rock and coral/anemones...which is how I ended up with a reef tank.

 

[slothy]

yea well about 5-6 years i had a 90 gal salt and i spent more of my life redoing the tank... so i fiqured id ask for tips so i dont do the same crap again ehehhe. must have life eheh

 

[bang guy]

I enjoy seeing a valley between the rocks. Not in the middle though, off center. There shouldn't be any symetry for it to look natural. If you have the space for a valley make the walls of it very steep and angle it a little front to back.
Caves are nice too and the fish love them.

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

Sammy is the first shark who didn't slam me for my opinion about LR - I have alot of it and will never do that again. Unless you tank is a reef tank alot of LR look like a curing farm with fish hiding in the back.
I have read alot of informsation and believe the rock should be used appropriately - enough for the fish to graze, hide when annoyed and for your hermits to hide in.
go for shore look in an Fish Tank - lots of water movement, a bit a live rock, hermits, emerald or lightfoot crabs, some urchins and a star fish or three.