Rocks

Smaller tanks are easier to arrange than larger ones. Just half a dozen rocks and you’re ready to go.

Larger tanks require that you define rock structures with rock pieces that are very small compared to the tank. This is not easy. Each of those structures must look coherent in the first place. So, whenever possible, in large tanks, use large rocks.

You can create an area mainly with larger rocks and another area with smaller rocks.

Here’s an example of a rocky layout by Ralf Lindberg for Tanganyika cichlids where this technique is very apparent. He has large rocks on the right and smaller rocks on the left:

I still think those smaller rocks on the left should be removed, creating a nice, open, large, bright, white sand beach.

If you look at most marine landscapes, you normally don’t see much rubble, you mostly see large pieces of rock or huge mountains.

Avoid mixing rocks with different textures and types in the same structure. You can even get away with two types of rock. With three you’re already creating a mess.

Salt water layouts are usually very heavy looking and this heavy look propagates this feeling to the room where the tank is located.

Nowadays we have access to many types of live rock from different parts of the world and even man made rock. You can find normal rocks, reef branches and reef plates. Reef branches and plates come very handy to create lighter looking layouts.

Reef plates project themselves into the water like shelves, very handy to place corals. Just beware and don’t treat them like shelves putting the corals very tidy on top of them, pointing to the surface. Try to place the corals tilted on reef plates as a continuation of the plate itself.

If you want a lighter looking layout, you can try to use reef branches to support the rock layout. This will create a kind of suspended layout, full of caves.

About bridges, it’s very hard to make them look natural in a tank and you don’t often see them in the sea. Bridges usually look better when they fall, they turn into “arms” that extent from the main rock structure.

Finally, you should take into account the space that corals will fill when you build your layout. Don’t try to have a completely defined layout just with the rock.