Aquascaping question - Aquarium Advice

MACATUA · 09-02-2007, 01:19 PM

I am aquascaping my tank tonight and had an idea. Has anyone tried loading one side of the tank with all of your live rock. I was thinking I could set it up with all of my rock or most of it on the left side of the tank and leave the right side open. Would give nice swimming area for larger fish.

I also think maybe sticking a few fake corals on that side to give it some balance. Just thought maybe it would look like the edge of the reef....

Anyway, I am going to try it tonight. I will post pics as soon as I have them.

Mike

180 Gallon FOWLR BTW.

TCTFish · 09-02-2007, 04:38 PM

That's what some people may call a partial reef...and you can have live coral for that other side. There are plenty of low light corals (carnations, some gorgonias, chilli coral, x-mas trees, mushrooms, simple polyps, etc.) Being able to mix high light coral on one side and low light coral on the other (with corresponding lights) actually expands your tanks biodiversity and setting an 'inbetween' environment like that is always fascinating and allows more life to watch.

Enjoy!!

clowninround · 09-04-2007, 01:07 AM

I have kind of a similar idea that I want to do when I get my new tank. Right now I have a 150 and it is all stacked like normal tanks are I guess. But I have a drawing of kind of what you are looking to do. My new tank is going to be an inwall and viewed from both sides so I want to do two large stacks of rock mixed with corals (cliff like) both the ends of the tank will be free of rock and the middle too (well as much free as possible, may have a few small ones that I'll have to throw there) so that the fish have a circle 8 they can swim. Is that kind of what you are talking about? Opening it up for more swim room?

**melosu58** · 09-04-2007, 04:04 PM

Just be careful on the carnation coral and gorganians as they are a little difficult to raise and need plenty of phyto. Enough that might foul up the tank.

MACATUA · 09-04-2007, 04:31 PM

I don't think I want to do live corals in this tank.... Thinking of a few fakes just for some color. I am a fish guy, I just want cool fish in the tank but my wife wants some color, I was just thinking stacking all my live rock on the left side of the tank and leaving the right side open for open swimming space would be cool.

Hara · 09-04-2007, 04:56 PM

I wanted to do that in my eel tank and was warned against it. I was told it could possibly break the glass due to the unequal weight pressure.

MACATUA · 09-04-2007, 05:23 PM

Hmmmmmm...... True. Didn't think about that.

Hara · 09-04-2007, 06:09 PM

yeah, a big pile of rocks in the middle is ok....a pile at each end is ok..but not a pile on one end only.

MACATUA · 09-04-2007, 06:15 PM

It won't be a very heavy load, I am not going to have a lot of in tank live rock, more will be in the sump. Think is may still be ok?

Agnate80700 · 09-08-2007, 09:33 PM

I would think you should be ok as long as the amount of weight you have on the one end of the tank wouldnt exceed the amount of weight you would normally place on the same area having the tank fully stocked with rock.

09-02-2007, 01:19 PM	#1
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	Aquascaping question I am aquascaping my tank tonight and had an idea. Has anyone tried loading one side of the tank with all of your live rock. I was thinking I could set it up with all of my rock or most of it on the left side of the tank and leave the right side open. Would give nice swimming area for larger fish. I also think maybe sticking a few fake corals on that side to give it some balance. Just thought maybe it would look like the edge of the reef.... Anyway, I am going to try it tonight. I will post pics as soon as I have them. Mike 180 Gallon FOWLR BTW. __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-02-2007, 04:38 PM	#2
TCTFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,470 Images: 20	That's what some people may call a partial reef...and you can have live coral for that other side. There are plenty of low light corals (carnations, some gorgonias, chilli coral, x-mas trees, mushrooms, simple polyps, etc.) Being able to mix high light coral on one side and low light coral on the other (with corresponding lights) actually expands your tanks biodiversity and setting an 'inbetween' environment like that is always fascinating and allows more life to watch. Enjoy!! __________________ http://www.tricitytropicals.com ------------------------------------ We, as a people, know so much more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. This lack of knowledge can very well spell the dangers that lay in wait for us. The oceans surely would swallow us before a rock comes down to smite the planet of it's life. Nov/2004

09-04-2007, 01:07 AM	#3
clowninround Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kissimmee FL Posts: 879 Images: 10	I have kind of a similar idea that I want to do when I get my new tank. Right now I have a 150 and it is all stacked like normal tanks are I guess. But I have a drawing of kind of what you are looking to do. My new tank is going to be an inwall and viewed from both sides so I want to do two large stacks of rock mixed with corals (cliff like) both the ends of the tank will be free of rock and the middle too (well as much free as possible, may have a few small ones that I'll have to throw there) so that the fish have a circle 8 they can swim. Is that kind of what you are talking about? Opening it up for more swim room? __________________ Alex n Mary 150 gallon, 30g fuge/sump, 4.5 watt/[acronym:b1ea91650d="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:b1ea91650d] [acronym:b1ea91650d="Very high output fluorescent"]VHO[/acronym:b1ea91650d] Lighting, 4" sand bed, 290 lbs [acronym:b1ea91650d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b1ea91650d], CDX-3 Nitrate/Phosphate filter Female Naso "Isabell" or "Izzy", Emperor Angelfish, Flame Angel, Red Sea Sailfin tang "Bambi", Maroon Clown "Nani", 5 Chromis, 1 Aglae Blenny "Bengi" , Yellow Watchman Goby, pr of Banggai Cardinals, Lyretail Anthia, Six Line Wrasse 1 cleaner shrimp, Coral Banded Shrimp, lettuce nudibranch, 1 sand sifter stars, 1 tiny red brittle star "red", 1 tiny red and white banded serpent star, 2 tiny banded serpent stars, small orange Linkia starfish, assorted hermits and snails. Corals: star polyps, A ton of different types of mushrooms, yellow zooanthids, brown-orangish and light blue paly's, orange ricordia. 90g RR, W/D, 120 lb's [acronym:b1ea91650d="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:b1ea91650d] SF eel, pygmy angel, pr sebae clownfish, 4 chromis. Star Polyps & Mushrooms

09-04-2007, 04:31 PM	#5
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	I don't think I want to do live corals in this tank.... Thinking of a few fakes just for some color. I am a fish guy, I just want cool fish in the tank but my wife wants some color, I was just thinking stacking all my live rock on the left side of the tank and leaving the right side open for open swimming space would be cool. __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-04-2007, 04:56 PM	#6
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	I wanted to do that in my eel tank and was warned against it. I was told it could possibly break the glass due to the unequal weight pressure. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

09-04-2007, 05:23 PM	#7
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	Hmmmmmm...... True. Didn't think about that. __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-04-2007, 06:09 PM	#8
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	yeah, a big pile of rocks in the middle is ok....a pile at each end is ok..but not a pile on one end only. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

09-04-2007, 06:15 PM	#9
MACATUA Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Posts: 868 Images: 5	It won't be a very heavy load, I am not going to have a lot of in tank live rock, more will be in the sump. Think is may still be ok? __________________ Woo Hoo, PAYDAY! Time to pay the [acronym="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym] rent (even before I pay mine ) Join the Alabama Regional Forum!

09-08-2007, 09:33 PM	#10
Agnate80700 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 246 Images: 8	I would think you should be ok as long as the amount of weight you have on the one end of the tank wouldnt exceed the amount of weight you would normally place on the same area having the tank fully stocked with rock.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
aquascaping q	MyCatsDrool	Planted Aquascaping	20	02-16-2007 03:17 AM
aquascaping l.r. ???	oldfishead	DIY Projects	2	10-14-2006 08:31 AM
new aquascaping, what do you think?	vsnsofadrgn	Saltwater Reef Aquaria	18	09-08-2006 10:11 PM
aquascaping	vsnsofadrgn	Saltwater Reef Aquaria	16	05-07-2006 10:40 PM
Aquascaping question...	Gatorfreak	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	7	09-20-2004 04:24 PM