Aqua-scape

I am doing a water change today on my 80 gal FOWLR aquarium. I would kind of like to re arrange the rock because everything but my tang usually hides constantly. The tank as it is has much length (60in) but not very wide (13in), so my tank right now is just basically a straight line of LR stacked across the tank. I was looking to find some input on some suggestions. Im thinking I want sort of a open/ free swimming space in the middle? or do you guys think I shouldn't mess with the LR as it is. Like i said my other fish, FOXFACE get spooked by everything that walks by it and my clown goes with him cause they seem to become buddies. The tang freely swims around in and out through the openings of the live rock (the most active of the bunch.) Do you think if i rearrange the rock with more open space they will be encouraged to swim around more, or will messing with the live rock cause more stress in itself? Any help is appreciated.

1 Foxface
1 Clown
1 Y-Tang
1 Cleaner Shrimp
4- Turbos

 

I think some pillars might promote more swimming, but if the fish gets spooked its going to hide either way. If it were me I would stack the rock a little more so when it goes to hide it can just go behind one of the tall rock formations, then come back around, right now it kinda has to dive into the rock somewhere. If you were to get some acrylic rods you could strategically drill holes and use them as sort of dowels to hole the rocks together in some sort of formation, you could also use pvc but if you see it, its not very pleasing to the eye until it gets covered by something. In my system I have a huge cave in the middle but it opens up to the back, when the fish get spooked they swim down into it, then around the back, and right back to the front.

 

The 13in width kinda sucks for aquascaping, I have a 55, but you gotta work with what you have. You could try to make two "islands" so that the fish can swim around them. It may allow them to swim in the open water between the two islands.

 

You will cause stress in the tank so be careful. If you would create bridges with the rock then you might be able to see them more.

 

Thanks for the help, I only put this in ASAP because I'm about to do a water change and thought that would be the best time to do it.

 

show us what you have done

 

I did something similar, but did it in 2 sessions, making a mound on one side at one water change, then waiting to do the other. I think it was less stressful to the inhabitants, and the owner!