How To Aquascape a Reef Tank

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Most popular comments
for How To Aquascape a Reef Tank

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JcSH2o - 7 years ago

2 thumbs up brother. Beautiful stuff

John - 8 years ago

CJ. So I am just waiting on color match for the corner units I built, and I will start with the videos. Have been trying to set up the aqua scape. Wanted to thank you for the helpful video. Remember when you see my scape imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Bob Escher - 8 years ago

CJ watching you today on Reef talk with Steve and Scott, I put up a video and now I have some Frags and going to upload some more today

myreefblog Marco - 8 years ago

very nice aquascaping - i realy like it!!!:)

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Thank u

Eddie P - 8 years ago

Much respect homie. The Aquascape is perfect. Thanks for the great videos. Can't wait to use all the knowledge and advice.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Appreciate it... Just sharing what I've learned thru experience... Hoping my vids are easy, entertaining and informative

Rafael Soriano - 8 years ago

I'm blown away! What a beautiful tank! Great job!

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Thanks be sure to check out latest vid a lot has changed

MatthewsReef - 8 years ago

Seriously, your aquascape is mesmerizing. You have such a great aesthetic. I look at your aquasquape, and all I see is art. The pieces fit together so flawlessly, and you utilize both the vertical and horizontal space perfectly. I'm looking at my tank now and just wishing I had your scape.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Thanks man... I actually like how urs is set up as well... Just isn't up to the water line. But a large coral on top growing towards the surface would accomplish the same look

John - 8 years ago

Really great stuff. Very close to ordering the JBJ 45 and the stand. Trying to plan the layout. I noticed you have all the electronics behind your tank. Just for planning. do you think it would be possible to fit electronics, minus autofill jug, in the stand?

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Yes it would all for if I wanted it under the stand. I like the idea of easy access the shelf provides.. And being able to tuck a bigger ATO jug behind it ... Tank blocks the view of the shelf so equipment still isn't to much of a distraction... Plenty of room for additional reactors and things I may need in the future ... The stand is somewhat disappointing. Less I touch it the better.. Poorly made.. And not as strong as a pre made stand would be

Nick Furloni - 8 years ago

This is a great video and really explains what others have tried to tell others, but yours illustrates it much better for anyone to learn from. Love that cave too! Keep up the great work on your videos!

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Appreciate it... May have to redo this one in the future wit better audio

10. comment for How To Aquascape a Reef Tank

Oneil's Reef - 9 years ago

great video, if you could cut down the music that would be great barely could hear you.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Yea didn't realize it until after it was uploaded... The Rest of my vids have this corrected. Thanks for checking it out

RjM - 9 years ago

CJ did you glue the rocks? what did you glue the rocks wit? this is exactly how i would do my tank.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

No glue... Just used small amount of epoxy on a few places for stability

Neil Gooders - 9 years ago

Great vide buddy. Awesome looking tank.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Appreciate it

Alex Bautista - 9 years ago

Great videos
Can you tell me where do yo get that music for your videos?

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

I just download instrumentals from iTunes that I like... Thanks for checking my vids out

David Nilsson - 9 years ago

Great video CJ, just one suggestion, turn down the volume one the music so it's easier to hear what you are saying.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

U are %100 correct... Realized I had it too high after I uploaded it... Hopefully u could make out what I was saying. Appreciate the feedback

fishlaw1 - 9 years ago

Great video bruh, thanks for sharing what you have learn and you're opinions. Keep up the good work.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Appreciate it

Blue Ray - 9 years ago

Great vid. What are you running in your media basket? I have a JBJ45 and wanted to know what the advantage is over the stock media that comes with it.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

+Ray Anaya stock media would work fine.. Im just running filter floss and carbon in one basket and filter floss with pond matrix in the other.. it provides better surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.. did this purposely to allow less than the recommended 1lb per gal of rock most people use... I only have 25-30 lbs of rock in this tank to allow more room and aquascaping... thanks again

GENISIS1TWENTYONE - 9 years ago

Very interesting how you have the scape coming all the way to the top of the water

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

One of my fav parts for sure...

WeThePeople408 - 9 years ago

Another great video with down to earth perspective. Background beats are a treat too. You're making me want to duplicate your design because it's pure eye candy. Tip o the hat man.

WeThePeople408 - 9 years ago

+CJ'S AQUARIUMS Hey CJ! I started up a new tank, check it out on my channel and let me know what you think.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

+WeThePeople408 appreciate it.. nothing wrong with duplicating.. thats the point of the vid.. explaining how to do it.. no two rocks are the same tho so good luck wit your tank

Slim Tim - 9 years ago

Good break down of aquascaping on using the focal points. Can't wait to see the placement of future corals.

Slim Tim - 9 years ago

Fired Up!!!

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Thanks Tim ... Soon as I get more corals to show I'll do a part 2 to this vid...

20. comment for How To Aquascape a Reef Tank

NYCity Cichlids - 9 years ago

I have to agree. I live by the golden rule.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Always help your chances following these guidelines.... Some folks don't think so. Guess that's why this hobby is so diverse

Daves Rift - 9 years ago

one of the best videos you've done. I agree completely with your view of scaping. to me the scape is just as important as how your fish look.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Yessir... There are a lot of diff ways to do it. Just wanted to share my thoughts...

John Masiello - 9 years ago

CJ, being a photographer I totally agree with the benefits of the golden rule. with that said thanks for another great video. I wanted to ask you a few questions about the tank and the skimmer. I have your exact set up and in the cycle mood right now, but I'm having trouble with location (skimmer) and micro bubbles. Please email me if you could at biomass@me.com - Again, thanks for all your great advice.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Appreciate it john... I have the skimmer in the return section.. It will fit in the first compartment as well. I opted to use the return so I could keep my mechanical filtration on both overflows. I do get micro bubbles from time to time... If have to see how urs is set up to give suggestions. Without seeing it I would make sure your skimmer body is completely closed. Dunno if u opened it up or not yet... Or if it's completely broken in yet ether....

Aquatasy - 9 years ago

One of your very best videos. Honesty. You do a tremendous job breaking down how important rock placement and composition is in aquascaping. In fact, this is why I love the hobby so much. Yes I love all the aquatic critters, but it's the designing of their underwater environment that lights a fire in me. I'm sure a lot pf people have looked at your reef tank and have said how much they love the scape. Now they know why they love it. Excellent video!

Aquatasy - 9 years ago

I definitely think you should do a part 2.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Appreciate it... Been a topic I've wanted to cover for awhile now. And honestly considering a part 2 to this vid. So much more to go over.... But for now I'll see how the feed back is on this one. Just wanted to show exactly how much thought goes into my scapes and hopefully encourage others to consider the same practices. Instead of randomly doing things... As u said now they know why they like my scape. At the end of the day everyone has their own taste though. Thanks for sharing my vid man

915Mang - 9 years ago

Nice CJ, really didnt know about the rules.

915Mang - 9 years ago

+CJ'S AQUARIUMS Always learning CJ , thx

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Glad u learned somethin... Not somethin I think everyone was aware of. Somethin I follow in mostly all my scapes. But there are always diff ways of doing things...

pelphrey - 9 years ago

Excellent advice! I ordered 50 lbs of Marco rock for the 27 gallon so I have some options. Keep up the great work!

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Yea I had the same amount of rock only ended up using 20-30 lbs if it in my 37 gal cube... Cubes are a lot harder to scape tho. Good luck on urs... Thanks for watching

Arrick L - 9 years ago

Great job tank is coming along. Those are great ideas that I will definitely try to use in the future. Don't apologize for long videos we all love looking at your tank especially when your sharing knowledge.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Been wanting to make a vid like this for awhile... Glad it have some fresh ideas to help u out. Thanks for checking it out

J B - 9 years ago

I guess it's ok. Not much room for the sponge Bob house though.

...
Looking great because you followed the golden rules. Great so far

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

No pineapples in this joint lol... Thanks for checking it out

Dee From Brooklyn - 9 years ago

You sound a lot happier with this tank than your old one. It has come out great.

Dee From Brooklyn - 9 years ago

+CJ'S AQUARIUMS i really want to redo my tank but the funds aren't right. It's old and not drilled. We always learn from the first our mistakes.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

I loved the cube tank too. It's always funnier second time when u can avoid mistakes from the first... Still got a lot of corals to buy... Trying have that long term success like u. This is a turtle race

bigseanSM - 9 years ago

Excellent scape and really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this subject, I tried something similar in my reef tank, but as it's quite narrow (front to back) it really cut down on sandbed space, so I went back to having my rockwork at the back of the tank

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Yea the width of the tank drastically limits your options. I learned it on my never first reef. The pic I labeled too much rock.. Was only 12inch wide tank... You can still make the scape outline interesting though.. Even with tank being too narrow. Hope it helped ... I figured it was a topic some folks would like to hear about.

30. comment for How To Aquascape a Reef Tank

Matthew DeLorenzo - 9 years ago

thanks my man, I got a lot of inspiration for my new JBJ over the last month from your videos. Always awesome and informative based on your own experience in your tanks and not wholesale opinions. One question...Do you jigsaw fit your Marco rock or do you glue or put rods in?

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

Appreciate it... I tried to show some of my old scapes just so folks know I've had some practice... I jigsaw fit the rocks. And any potential tipping point I added a small bit of putty... I still want to be able to take scape apart at any time if needed. Good luck on your JBJ

IFG - 9 years ago

Plenty of details. Thanks for sharing CJ

IFG - 9 years ago

No doubt. I always watch your videos to the very end. Good job bro.

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 9 years ago

+The Inquisitive Fish Guy 71 no problem.. really could talk about this topic forever.. had to cut vid short lol.. thanks for checking it out..

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