Opinions needed: What makes a great aquascape?

I know I'm asking a lot lately, however this one should be an easy sell considering most people believe their opinion is the only one that matters. LOL I joke.

I'm beginning another writing and need opinions from many different individuals on what style, look, etc. makes up a great aquascape. So if you'd be so kind as to offer your opinion in a short post I'd be most grateful.

 

Well, IMO, I think it depends on what your going to keep. Even tanks designed around fish, inverts, or coral may have different scapes. Like SPS vs LPS. Or lions vs mandarins. Is this for your tank? If so what do you want to keep?

 

I totally agree what you plan on keeping a big dependance on how you will scape and personal preference to alot of rock or minimalist. But what I think had the biggest say in what makes a great scape is that it looks natural and doesn't look like someone stacked the rock to achieve shelves or something. I found through scaping a few tanks that trying to fit the rocks together where they feel like they could have fallen and stuck there yield a pretty natural look.

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I like peninsula scapes or island scapes or the type you have with the back wall. Arches and tall structures are very appealing to me as well.

Round globular rocks are not attractive to me, I like the lace or branching look.

While scuba diving your rarely see just a pile of rocks sitting in a group on the bottom. It's really hard to accomplish that random look when you just pile rocks together in the middle of the tank.

 

I'm not building I'm writing. Tell me why you think the way you 'scaped your tank is great, tell me what style of aquascaping makes you drool when you see pics of it and why. What's being kept is only minor. I mean I could keep a mandarin in a 55 gallon with 75 lbs. of rock or the same fish in a 75 gallon with only 50 lbs of rock. It's how you would lay that rock out that matters to me in this instance. What I'm looking for is what you think makes a great aquascape.

 

I would sum it up thus; observe natural reefs and/or rock formations in the ocean and mimic or use them as a model.

 

i like an open aquascape that is achieved with large uniquely shaped rocks. In other words, i agree with Corailline on the stacked globular rocks. i prefer for the rocks to be in the middle of the tank as opposed to leaning against the back wall (island). if the tank is large enough, i like the multiple island look.

 

All very good and exactly what I'm asking for. Thanks so much!

Need a lot more so keep them coming everyone. Please.

 

I myself prefer a lot of rock. Many openings, overhangs, shelves, branch rocks. And try to not have any against the glass.

 

I feel like the scapes that are held together in really complex ways with rods and glue and have a lot of thin or branchy areas are very un-natural looking.

I keep SPS tanks and I am a big fan of large porous rocks and flat pieces. If you search for one of my contest entries from last year you will be able to see how I like my rockwork. I am a big fan of replicating the way it looks in nature.