It's been a while since I've posted an update, and wow, a lot has changed!
For starters, I turned the cabinet under the tank where the sump usually goes into a second display tank! My goal is for the upper tank to be a more traditional mixed reef and to make the lower tank more of a lagoon/macroalgae environment. It's all plumbed together so that the upper tank flows into the lower tank which flows into the sump in the closet behind them.
After getting the second tank all plumbed in and set up, I took on a complete re-aquacape. In the end I used only one piece of the old rockwork. All the rest is new live rock from Aquatic Collections.
With the rock work in the main tank I built tall tree-like forms. I wanted a very open somewhat minimalist look, similar to that well known "bonsai tree inspired" aquascape, though admittedly mine is less minimalist than that. I'm also trying to pay close attention to color as I place corals. I'm trying to group similar colors together so that corals play off each other rather than looking super bright and busy, as densely packed reefs often do. I'm not totally happy with coral placement yet, but it's a start.
In the bottom tank, I'm trying to achieve an open lagoon environment. I've kept the rockwork pretty minimal and planted the sandbed with several types of macro. I'm running warmer lights on that tank to complement the different environment.
Well that's enough talk. On to the pictures!
Full Tanks Shot!
Upper Tank
Lower Tank
Ledge in the upper tank showing localized use of only greens and purples.
Side View
Side View
Cabinet (with flash. actinics only in upper at this point)