Craft an Enchanted Underwater Universe – Reef Tank Aquascaping Guide.

Diving into a coral reef feels as if someone has gently pulled back the veil of reality. No matter how many times I’ve had the pleasure of delving into the underwater universe of our oceans, the brilliance of this alien landscape never fails to astonish.

While each visit into this alien world offers unexpected brilliance, my most recent excursion left me paralyzed in amazement. That morning, like many times beforehand, I ate a hearty breakfast and prepped my diving equipment. Since this was my third adventure in only three months, I executed each task with minimal thought.

In many ways, that morning was like any others. Packing my gear and chatting with the boat captain felt natural, almost automatic. Arriving at the dive spot, we confirmed our equipment was ready to go and in a matter of seconds, I had left the familiarity of land and air.

Surrounded by a cascade of bubbles and whitewater, I felt the invisible current gently push past my body. As the view cleared, and my eyes refocused, chills flooded across my skin. Without warning, the pure majesty of Mother Nature washed over my vision.

Wavering sun rays blanked the most spectacular view I’ve ever had the privilege to see. The brilliance of multicolored coral seemed almost unreal. Suspended in the warm tropical waters, the spellbinding beauty and tranquility overtook my senses.

As we slowly glided over massive coral colonies, observing the delicate symphony of marine life, I laughed to myself and thought, “How can such captivating perfection simply exist?” My mind briefly wandered to my own slice of the ocean resting in my living room.

While I’ve spent countless hours tending to the visual display of my reef tank, I was nowhere close to the effortlessly masterful enchantment of nature.

Later that night, resting in my hotel room, I recalled the hypnotic patterns and dazzling array of marine life. Closing my eyes, I dreamed of swimming among perfectly perched corals gently swaying in brilliantly clear water. Continuing, I emerged from this heavenly environment to suddenly find myself in my living room.

Abruptly awoken by my alarm, I had an epiphany. We, as reefers, can claim the elegance and beautiful complexity of Mother Nature. The only requirement is imagination, unwavering desire for beauty and activating the art of reef tank aquascaping.

Capturing the Bewitchment of Nature - Reef Aquascaping.

Whether you’ve chosen a reef tank to explore the multidimensional world of coral, or to simply have a fun and relaxing hobby, the heart of this alluring activity is aquascaping.

Unlike almost every other component of reefing, aquascaping doesn’t heavily rely on technicalities. Sure, there’s several elements you must follow to ensure a safe and productive environment for tank inhabitants. But, ultimately, the cornerstone of this artistic expression is just that: Art.

So, now that you’ve indulged my attempt at flowery prose, what is aquascaping? More importantly, what are the do’s and don’ts of reef tank aquascaping?

Throughout this guide, I’m going to outline several fundamental principles. Because aquascaping is a subjective topic, meaning what you find beautiful may differ from another reefer, I’ll refrain from explicit designs.

While we won’t discuss exact designs, use these tips and “rules” to ensure tank integrity remains intact. Ultimately, the final design is only limited by your imagination. So, with that being said, let’s descend into the magical realm of underwater landscapes.

Defining Undefinable Beauty - What Is Aquascaping?

As mentioned above, aquascaping is the act of designing the physical world within a reef tank. Without this process, your aquarium would be a boring and uninspired collection of coral, and maybe a rock or two.

Aquascaping doesn’t mean spending months carefully crafting a work of art, unless you want it to. Fundamentally, this task is whatever you want to make it. For some, it’s simply constructing a balanced and streamlined design, while others take it to the extreme and cultivate towering peaks alongside complex valleys.

Instead of trying to direct your unique sense of style visual imagination, let’s touch on how to implement your realized dreamscape. Although the extent of your aquascaping adventure is solely yours to create, it’s not without rules and limits.

So, first things first, is aquascaping hard? Here’s what I love about this topic: it’s only as hard as you make it. Unlike other pillars of setting up a tank, which feature a significant learning curve, aquascaping is peaceful, relaxing and only as difficult as you choose.

While some reefers take to aquascaping like a duck to water, others are intimidated by this design-oriented task. Oftentimes, these reefers aren’t artistically inclined. But, as I explain whenever a wide-eyed newbie reveals their historic inability to create art, it’s not about perfection. It’s about looking within yourself and creating an environment that satisfies you.

Whether it be a simple and straightforward design, or a complex infrastructure, aquascaping shouldn’t be a stressful or unrewarding experience. If you’re nervous, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to simply create.

The Tools of Imagination - Essential Equipment.

Once you’re ready to delve into your creative mind, what tools do you need? Thankfully, aquascaping tools are minimal and affordable. In fact, most reefers who are just starting their adventure into the visual design of their aquarium are surprised by how little they actually need.

For most aquascaping designs, you only need:

• Hammer.
• Instant Glue or Epoxy.
• Zip Ties (optional).
• Rocks.

That’s pretty much it. Of course, there are other elements you’re free to use, but in most cases, these tools are all that’s required to create a stunning aquascape.

While a hammer is self-explanatory, let’s briefly discuss the glue and epoxy.

If this is your first time aquascaping, you’re probably wondering what glue works best. Is there a special aquascaping glue or can you use that stick of Elmer’s glue leftover from your kid’s scrapbooking adventure?

As awesome as it would be to repurpose your old glue container, doing so would not only spell disaster for your design strength, but also potentially harmful for inhabitants.

The best aquascaping glue is specifically engineered for aquarium use and is capable of sustaining its hold while underwater. While there’s a few really solid aquascaping glue options, my personal favorite brand is the IC-Gel Super Glue Gel by Bob Smith Industries. In brief, this thick gel-like adhesive delivers an incredibly strong hold without leeching unsavory compounds into your tank.

Another stellar option is epoxy. I know many reefers enjoy using epoxy for their aquascaping projects. Basically, your decision is just that - yours to make. While the Reef Hacks team, and myself, prefer glue, epoxy can deliver equally good results. 

Before moving on, a fellow Reef Hacks member wanted to ensure I briefly discussed zip ties. If you’re looking for an easy and efficient method for connecting/securing rocks, this is probably one of the most cost-effective solutions.

Not only can zip ties secure rocks together, they’re completely safe and pose no threat to the water quality and safety of tank inhabitants. I like to think of using zip ties as adding an additional layer of security to adhesive-bound rocks.

The Topography of Dreams - Aquascaping Rocks.

Now we come to my favorite topic: aquascaping rocks. Without suitable and quality rock formations, a reef tank is simply an empty water container.

One of the most common questions I’m asked regarding this topic is what type of rocks should you use for aquascaping?

What tickles me most about this subject is what this topic stimulates. Once you begin learning about aquascaping rocks, your mind can then begin to plan and swim throughout the upcoming design possibilities. But, to get to this point, we must first learn what rocks work best for this essential tank component.

Selecting Rock Type: Live vs. Dry Rock.

There are two primary aquascaping rock types:

• Live Rock.
• Dry Rock.

Essentially, live rocks are pre-populated with organisms. Ergo, its name. Dry rocks, however, are void of these microscopic organisms. While there are advantages and disadvantage of both, the most noteworthy consideration is risk.

In short, while live rocks from reputable dealers can boost the health and efficiency of your tank, it’s not without potential harm. Live rocks can unknowingly introduce harmful organisms into your tank.

Dry rocks, on the other hand, are void of life. Not only does this eliminate the risk associated with its counterpart, but watching a dry rock spring to life after being placed in your aquarium is mesmerizing.

For a complete breakdown of these types, check out our Live Rock vs. Dry Rock article.

Best Practices for Aquascaping Rock Selection.

When choosing rocks, I always suggest considering not only its aesthetic appeal, but also its ease of installation. Having a gorgeous rock is useless if it won’t adhere to your overall design.

Unless you’re experienced in shaping rocks, I tend to recommend going with rocks specifically formed for aquascaping. STAX Rocks, for example, are my go-to rocks. Not only are they interestingly shaped, but they’re already formed for stacking.

This means you can create the shape you want without having to manually hammer and cut the rocks. If you’ve ever tried this, then you understand how messy and frustrating it can be. Another bonus is its ability to easily create a flat surface, which is ideal for gluing coral frags in the future.

Of course, it’s the overarching goal of aquascaping is to create a visually interesting, yet natural looking, visual design. For this, I recommend Carib Sea Life Rocks. Not only do they provide stunning texture and shapes, but its incredibly natural looking. Many of these rocks look as if they’ve been transported from the ocean into your tank. You should definitely check out this company.

Regardless of rock type or design, always purchase rocks from a reputable dealer. This can be at your local aquarium store or online. If buying live rocks, check out reviews from previous shoppers to ensure quality, and be sure to prep these rocks to minimize risk of harmful organisms.

Structuring Your Dreamscape - Aquascaping Tips & Tricks.

While much of aquascaping is only limited by your creativity, misplaced or incorrectly created structures can spell disaster for your tank. Before starting, take a few minutes and explore these tips and tricks. If you stick to these guidelines, you’ll not only have a visually dynamic design, but a safe and stable environment.

Tip #1 - Build on a Solid Foundation.

Sure, angles add a visually compelling element to any aquascape. However, these angles are done on purpose. If you fail to build upon a solid foundation, you may find yourself battling to keep your structure upright.

The foundation of any aquascaping structure should be placed directly on the bottom of your tank. The only rule is to do whatever you can to keep your rocks as sturdy as possible.

Never simply place rocks on the surface of your substrate. While it may feel secure, burrowing inhabitants may unknowingly weaken the stability of the overhead structure. As you can imagine, should your structure topple over, it can cause serious damage to coral and other marine life.

Tip #2 - Don’t Block the Flow!

Aquascaping is an excellent way to hide unattractive tank equipment. However, without caution, you could render these life-giving tools useless.

First off, position rocks away from the flow pumps powerheads. If you establish large formations right up against them, it hinders tank-wide flows. In simpler terms, by blocking the powerheads you’ll potentially create dead spots (areas with no flow) throughout the tank.

P.S. - While not related to flow, be mindful with rock proximity to the tank glass. You should make sure there’s ample space for branching SPS corals to grow. Moreover, position rock formations so it’s easy to effectively and safely clean the glass. The last thing you want to do is accidentally break growing corals or dislodge rocks from cleaning the interior tank walls.

Tip #3 - Mix Small and Large Rock Pieces.

Create a visually dynamic landscape by combining both large and small rocks. If you primarily use rocks of a similar size, you run the risk of a boring and monotone design.

For example place larger rocks toward the back of the tank, and create a downward slope by attaching smaller rocks in the front. If you need inspiration, take a look at other aquarists designs or do a Google Image Search on natural reef formations.

If you carefully observe these images, you’ll see specific patterns and layouts that are not only easy to replicate, but capable of boosting the realistic feel of your tank.

Tip #5 - The Golden Ratio for Breathtaking Composition.

In many ways, the efficiency of tank operation and health is based on balance. This balancing act doesn’t stop at water parameters and feeding schedules. When it comes to the artistic realm of tank ownership, balance plays a crucial role.

Few concepts highlight this as strongly as The Golden Ratio. This visual formula stems from ancient Greece, when it was outlined as a way to acknowledge and create balance among visual objects. In fact, The Golden Ratio isn’t limited to manmade structures. The core concepts of retaining spacial balance can be found all throughout nature, including coral reefs.

While this multidimensional artistic methodology may seem high-level, it’s actually very simple. To learn more about this unique way of designing and maintaining visual balance in your tank, check out this article.

The Hypnotic Journey of Aquascaping - Final Thoughts.

As you can see, aquascaping is far more than a simple technical task. When we boil down this topic to its simplest form, it’s about the marriage of visual composition and functional design.

What’s your favorite thing about aquascaping? Have you recently finished this underwater project, or have questions about its process?

We’d love to hear your experiences, and see pictures, of your adventure into aquascaping. Head on over to our Facebook page and send us a message with your questions, thoughts or to simply brag about your beautifully designed tank.

As always, on behalf of the entire Reef Hacks team, Happy Reefing!

by Yuliya Ivanova.