This is my first "rough draft" before I permanently secure everything and fill it all in. I am incorporating materials I already had from my previous set up into this one as well. I am building on the back and left walls only. It was really hard to get decent pictures with so much light coming through but hopefully it is visible enough. Can I get some feedback on this please and thank you.
by Asleep-Judgment-6723
7 Comments
You need some more wide spanning features, something that goes from one end of the tank to the other, from the top to the bottom. That helps things feel more unified and you can build everything else around that. Some thicker branches would help too. What are you planning on connecting everything with? Spray foam, silicone?
I’d add many more branches that run vertically and horizontally, really fill up the space, you know?
Sometimes a few big statement pieces look better than a lot of small pieces, for decor design in general not just with tanks.
Also, this is my least favorite part of making a tank, its the hardest to visualize.
What are the dimensions of your tank? Which animal are you going to house in it if any?
I find that it’s good to be conservative with textures. You’ve got multiple types of wood and multiple types of ‘rock’ looking things here, all together it’ll be a bit hectic and look randomly thrown together. I’d focus on three types total, since the background itself will be yet another texture. For example, two types of wood and one type of “stone”. This is if you want it to look naturalistic.
Also, you will want larger pieces of hardscape because with this setup you will not actually fill the dead space in the front apart from singular twigs sticking out. Get some long branches that reach all the way to the front, or from side to side, and have them overlap to create climbing opportunities.
Don’t beat yourself up. This is how I felt when I first started my tank. A lot of folks are saying statement pieces and for me, that was 2 large branches that I have my my crested gecko enclosure, they’re basically his highway to get around.
Also in the rough draft phases, it’s going to feel bare and ugly. Once that spray foam, silicone, and substrate are on the walls it will feel better. Trust the process!
One bit of feedback – if it’s something they can get in you’ll want to be able to remove it or access it. The cork you can break pretty easy in an emergency so it’s probably fine but that rock hide in the top right, if it’s not attached in a way you can take it on and off you might want to do that.