I am planning my first reef aqarium and have spent a considerable amount of time looking at images and such. I encountered one photo which I enjoyed more than most. I am drawn to aquariums because of the biosphere aspect of them and creating an environment that is beautiful but also reflects more of a natural setting as opposed to one ment specifically for viewing. Although I find nothing wrong with this as they are quite beautiful in their own right. I suppose I prefer creating it for the inhabitants first as opposed to the viewer. The below image is one that I am really drawn to because it seems that it was constructed to be more environmental as opposed to strictly decrative.


With all that in mind most all quariums besides the nano cubes are long shallow rectangular. Currently i have a 30x24x18(deep) freshwater / planted and am drawn to the ability to create and environemtn that is not linear based.

After laying out a 24" square sheet of paper I was considering the base size and the ability to create a bit of a dynamic reef structure that could have 3 seperate parts of the reef. One in the back right corner that would touch the glass and rise up about 15" and the two shorter segmants with the rocks rising aproximatly 6" and 10" sort of like this


or



I really would like to know what peoples thoughts are about a setup like this and also a depth of 2 feet for marine. I like the taller glass as opposed to 18". For my freshwater tank I kindof forget about the top 6" of water and just consider that a buffer of sorts. So instead of thinking is a 56 gallon i stocked it as if it were a 45 gallon tank. I have had a wonderfully healty tank for 3 years running so maybe it works.

I'm am more drawn to the 3-D envionament as opposed to a more flat linear envionrment which is hard to avoid with more rectangular shapes.

Any comments or thoughts. It would be awesome to have a discussion about this rectangular vs square aquarium shape.

Also one otherthing neat about the square shape. I think the sides become less of just a fact of life and more of another main viewing angle.... but thats just my opinion.