How to Properly Aquascape My 125 Gallon Tank

A correctly aquascaped 125-gallon marine aquarium is an impressive sight. Aquarists frequently choose aragonite sand as a substrate, because it is attractive and leaches valuable minerals into the aquarium water. Another popular material is live rock, which is used by most hobbyists for aquascaping. This attractive rock is not itself alive, but it is encrusted with organisms such as sponges and algae. Numerous tiny reef creatures also live within the holes and crevasses in these rocks. Aquarists also use living coral, which grows as plants do, to aquascape.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon plastic bucket
  • Aragonite sand
  • Long-handled aquarium net
  • Long-handled plastic aquarium tong
  • Small plastic container
  • Numerous pieces of live rock
  • Pieces of living coral
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Instructions

    • 1

      Rinse your hands under running water to remove body oils and any soap or detergent residue, all of which are harmful to the environment of the marine aquarium.

    • 2

      Place aragonite sand into a 10-gallon plastic bucket.

    • 3

      Rinse the aragonite under a running tap. Open the tap fully, and swirl the sand around with your hand. Pour the water off and repeat.

    • 4

      Use a 2-pint, clean plastic container to scoop aragonite sand into a long-handled aquarium net. Half fill the net with aragonite sand. Put the net into the aquarium and rest it against the bare floor. Use a long-handled plastic tong to grip the mesh of the aquarium net and tip the sand onto the aquarium floor.

    • 5

      Repeat Step 4, until you have covered the aquarium floor with an inch-thick layer of aragonite.

    • 6

      Remove the largest piece of live rock from the transport box and position it toward the back of the aquarium. Grip the rock tightly, because it could crack the bottom of the aquarium if you drop it into the tank.

    • 7

      Position the second-largest piece of rock near the first. Choose a flat piece of live rock and place it horizontally across the top of the first two pieces to create a cave.

    • 8

      Place small pieces of living rock between the larger pieces.

    • 9

      Remove the tallest piece of living coral from its transport container, and carefully push the base of the coral into a hole or indentation on the top of the live rock. Handle the coral gently to avoid damaging it.

    • 10

      Position each piece of coral into a suitable hold in the live rock. Choose a hole that is deep enough and has a sufficient diameter to accommodate the base of the coral. Position the taller pieces toward the rear of the aquarium.