Caves in reef tanks - your comments?

[Triggerfish]

i agree some open sand space is nice and IMO a bit more realistic looking than a complete rock wall.
for your setup..i would possibly make two atoll like structures on each side of your tank and leave the middle open

[Ritten]

Thanks, Golan. I adore it.

[Gawain1974]

I love the rock structure and then the open sand. It lets you have both kinds of corals. I unfortunately don't have the space for much open sand, but I did create lots of caves and openings for the fish to swim though, and they love it. It also gives my fish a place to park at night when the lights go off.

Here's a pic of my rockwork after I moved up here and set my tank back up. Corals have grown a lot, and I traded in that anemone.

[Gawain1974]

Oops...sorry about the large pic size (ok, I fixed it now). Well, I guess it does look like I have a wall of rocks, but there are really lots of caves, nooks and crannies, I promise!

[spidey07]

I made sure to put plenty of caves in mine. gives 'em a home and a place to feel safe.

As an avid diver, in the "real reef" if a fish gets spooked they immediately run for cover.

[fatamaran]

I love the open space. I'm goona do my tank like thank, i hope i can fit it like that into my 29g. i'll have to cut back on the swim space tho. nice tank

[Potsy]

Looks very natural to me. It's like a coral bommie in nature: isolated mound of rock and coral surrounded by sand and open water. Very nice.

[guitar_lord]

Gawain1974,

Is that a green carpet anemone on the right???

looks sweet.....

[Gooli]

The open swimming space makes all the difference with this design.... the fish are out and about alot and they feel safe because they can always dart back to the rocks...

[JustFin]

I think it looks great! In fact, I've had an aquascape like this in mind for the tank I am setting up and seeing yours has convinced me that this is the look I want- an atoll for the corals, but swimming space to show off the fish.

I've also thought about using a pendant type halide over the atoll, and leaving the "beach" space on the sides unlit. Since you said you don't plan on putting any corals or clams on the open side did you consider just going with one 250 halide?

[Horace]

Sorry guys, but I dont dig the beach at all. The tank looks very lop-sided to me. My brain has always liked symetry though so perhaps thats just my perspective.

[Gooli]

Justfin....i have the light over the beach turn off first so that i get the darker beach effect for about an hour before the lights turn off....but i wouldnt want it like that all the time - it's cool to see the bright white sand and the critters taking walk there - do 2x250s in my opinion.

Horace - i hear you on the lop-sided thing - took me a while to get used to the idea

[Orm Embar]

Like the beach look, very elegant.

Another option (will be trying this myself soon) is a variation (? Japanese origin) of aquascaping - have a large mound off to one side, 1/3 of the way from one wall, in the background. Add a smaller mound on the other side, 1/3 way from tank end, in the foreground.

If I remember correctly, just a different way to aquascape.

[Nathan]

Thank God you didn't STUFF your tank with rocks!!!

I have a 180g, but I consider it a 90g tank WITH A LOT OF EXTRA WATER/SWIMMING SPACE. (ie, I have all the rocks from my 75g and none more; I don't plan to STUFF my tank with rocks, I like some nice white sand like yours has).

Good for you! You've got the right idea!

-Nathan

[Gooli]

thanks guys - i made some small additions..i will post pics soon

[Shoestring Reefer]

I didn't see it mentioned: based on my sailfin, they definately like caves with more than one opening. Mine swims in the front and out the back, and sleeps in one. I never realized they are known to like caves until today, I'm glad I have some. My rock is also off the back glass, so he has a ton of hiding spots.