Is There a Better Way to Aquascape? Techniques That Change the Game.

You can aquascape better, trust us. Between Ryan's journey building NSA/HSNAs and Randy's testing of aquascaping bond strength, we have some tips, tricks and techniques to share with you to give your fish the home of their dreams!

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[tammygreen]

The reason I will go to you folks for knowledge! The fact that you call it a habitat and you care they all fish are well cared for and not just “keeping fish” is why I like you guys. Truly impressed and grateful! I have learned so much and as soon as I am not so overwhelmed, I am going to get started. Also waiting for the dollar a gallon tank sale at Petco before Christmas!

[mylifewithmarmalade]

This is a much needed conversation. I think as reefers we tend to have a problem of wanting our tank to be ALL the things. We want the mixed reef that has a million fish and grows insane corals. That’s a great dream, but it also sets us up for a lot of failure and frustration.

The odds of having a tank that makes you happy and doesn’t excessively stress you out running for 5+ years goes up astronomically if you are willing to narrow your focus and make some choices to best serve a narrow population rather than do a half decent job of “everything.”

Personally at this point I want that lower stress 10 year tank, and I’d rather be coral centric and aim for better flow dynamics and have fewer fish. I’m also totally the person who would rather spend 2 weeks putting together an aquascape that is actually going to work than throw everything in and decide I hate it a year from now just as everything is starting to stabilize and grow.

[madmartigan]

I love the gardening under water comparison, it reminds of how in another video Ryan talked about how we are keeping water, in gardening you are keeping soil. No wonder I love both ❤❤

[rja]

I have to admit, I never thought about the setup of my rock until I bought a flame angel. I did some research on the flame angel prior to buying the fish and found that they like lots of caves and crevasses in which to hide. I then rearranged my rock to accommodate one fish. It has thrived in my 35 gallon tank for almost 2 months and I’ve read that many people have difficulty with flame angels.
I contend that we are building a habitat for our wet friends, not just an aesthetically pleasing aquascape for our tank

[dusk]

I think it’s a fantastic discussion once again. And I will continually applaud you guys for pushing back against consumer fads and trends; and looking further into the biological requirements of each species, as needed in this hobby.

I think the addition of one term would help your conversation along: “Niche”

I’ll quote Britannica, because I think it provides a through description:
“Niche, in ecology: all of the interactions of a species with the other members of its community, including competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualism… Informally, a niche is considered the “job” or “role” that a species performs within nature.”

What your discussing is the inclusion of that species Niche setting and behavior into the aquarium. Your clown harem was an example of mutualism and competition, once you provided enough anemone hosts with enough food; the Clows were able to assume their natural niche, and the colony became manageable in confinement. The same is true for the Wrasse example.
It’s very true, we should include the correct habitat for the species we keep. I know I fell short of that consideration in my own tank.
But consider why that species chose that type of habitat. You’re not just providing a place to sleep, it goes much deeper than that. (and I think you provided many different examples of this)


*as to your questions: I lean towards "Aquascape". As I personally spent a decade in planted tanks, crafting underwater landscapes; I have a heavy bias. And conversations like this make me question my own failings. I look at my scape now wishing I had a few more caves. I did not craft an amazing fish habitat.

And yes, I would spend a few weeks building the perfect aquascape. And likely will the next time I upgrade. There is too much to be gained by the effort, given how long we may run such a tank for. What is two weeks in the span of 10 years?

[iglapsu]

Ryan and Randy Rock! Thanks guys! Didn't know you could buy some of those intricate negative space scapes. Really cool!

[simmoable]

Perfect timing guys. I'm using the liquid glue with fine power and it works a treat. But your habitat discussion caused me to change the way I built it and build a little satellite home like the one on your table as well. I'm now also considering my larger fish (tangs) and incorporating homes for them. Thanks for sharing your experience

[jetskiwillywilly]

15 years ago....I went to a seafood restaurant...came home with bag of oyster shells from their 20' x 20' pit of shells out back. Spent a day smashing shells with Hammer. Portland cement, busted shells created 30-40 structures....mixed portland cement bio degradable soil fluff stuff. soaked the structures in water for a month...the soil stuff melted away. Left with porus, holely...light weight structures. The used 2 part epoxi to build reef. Very similar to what you guys have done.

[skillz_]

Aquascaping dry rock has been done time and time again. I want to see you guys take out your current scape and working with wet live rock! I have a hard time finding videos showing how to do that, show us how to Rescape!

[johnnyliu]

zip ties work great as a substitute for coffee stir stick. also easier to cut off the ends as it gets gunked up

[Bob-qxot]

It was asked whether or not it is an aquascape or a habitat that reefers are creating. I think one answer will not cover all circumstances here. Some people, particularly the ones that favor fish only tanks will be more attracted to the habitat concept. Hardcore coral enthusiasts will gravitate towards the aquascape concept. Mixed reefers would more than likely be attracted to the hybrid of the aquascape and habitat. What form of tank and rockwork that a hobbyist employs will depend on the ultimate goal that hobbyist is striving for. If you want to know which way this hobbyist is currently moving towards, it would be the hybrid where I am trying to maximize the beauty and health of each member of my ecosystem. Thanks for the video, good stuff as always.

[artistic_spaz]

It's a "habi-scape". I love the rockwork process and I spent over 10 hours doing a new scape for a fluval 13.5, and am now getting ready to upgrade to a red sea reefer 250 and the part I am most excited about is the HNSA design/building process!!

[lisafoster]

I definitely have wanted to lean towards the fish, while leaving some room for corals, but never really understood how to do that right. Thank you so much for the informative discussion!

[benchaffer]

The glue with with powder from dry rock or sand over the glue and epoxy does wonders for maintaining the natural look.

[MatthewSmith-kbbu]

I know this is an older video now, but Marco rock offers a powder rock now. I used 2 part epoxy (JB waterweld) and 5cps CA glue to do my habitat/aquascape for my new 75 gallon set up and couldn't be happier with the result. Used epoxy for the bigger joints that needed to fill more gap then covered with 1 layer of CA glue and powder. For smaller joints just used only a layer of powder then CA Glue then powder.

[djtodorov]

I used a combination of glue, epoxy, and mortar. Glue for the light holds, epoxy for the heavy holds, and mortar to finish either joint off.

[chrisjones]

I would pay my part like 2-5$ a month to fund someone doing maintenance on Ryan's dream tank at his new home so he can do a full 8' reef

[cww]

If you could procure or grind up the marco rock into a dust and sell it that would be great.

[neilstemp]

I I was thinking of getting a Red Sea but you changed my mind about Thankyou what seems a almost impossible without years of knowledge

[rfairlee]

In the best tanks I have seen I don’t know what the rock work looks like because it’s hidden with coral colonies.