Did I build my right scape too high ?

[christwendt]

Setting up new tank. Was planning to have sps dominant. It occurred to me once I set up, is my scape too high ?

 

[ReefRusty]

Looks great to me if you want SPS the time will be fine just will have to trim it back when it grows to big otherwise will be out of the water

 

[christwendt]

Looks great to me if you want SPS the time will be fine just will have to trim it back when it grows to big otherwise will be out of the water

Do you know which sps can handle being that close to the water? I’m planning to go heavy with lights as this will be sps dominant tank. I’m expecting it to be around 500 par up there. Thank you I was worried I made it too high.

 

[Chrisv.]

Do you have your lights yet? If so, if play with a par meter.

You may find that a setting that gives 500 par that far up is almost nothing down below. You will also be restricted to relatively low growing sps, many of which will be tables, which could make some big shadows that far up.

 

[christwendt]

Do you have your lights yet? If so, if play with a par meter.

You may find that a setting that gives 500 par that far up is almost nothing down below. You will also be restricted to relatively low growing sps, many of which will be tables, which could make some big shadows that far up.

I don’t have lights set up but I’m running 2 ai hydra 32 with 4 48 inch t5 bulbs. The tank is 48 inches long. Can you suggest what I should do? I plan to play with a par meter and adjust accordingly so the majority of the tank is at 300-400 par but up there I’m worried about now that I got it set up. Someone also mentioned table acros for up there but then they also mentioned shadowing.

 

[PokeFish]

maybe light reflectors?

 

[christwendt]

maybe light reflectors?

Can you explain how that will help? The T5 hood has light reflectors on it. Are you saying to help with shadowing below? My concern is the acros will he so close to the top of the water.

 

[Jekyl]

The T5 won't be of any concern. Beyond that the LED are adjustable to what ever you like. There are plenty of tanks out there with serious lighting and coral trying to grow out of the water.

 

[PokeFish]

Can you explain how that will help? The T5 hood has light reflectors on it. Are you saying to help with shadowing below? My concern is the acros will he so close to the top of the water.

yeah shadowing...dont think you should be concerned with across super close to the top of the water

 

[christwendt]

yeah shadowing...dont think you should be concerned with across super close to the top of the water

Okay that is good to know. That is my biggest concern. Thank you

 

[damsels are not mean]

Setting up new tank. Was planning to have sps dominant. It occurred to me once I set up, is my scape too high ?

probably not but at 500 par lots of sticks will grow pretty bushy and compact anyways

 

[christwendt]

probably not but at 500 par lots of sticks will grow pretty bushy and compact anyways

That is fine with me. I just didn’t want to be forced with leaving that space empty cuz it’s so close to the water.

 

[mermaid_life]

I don't think it's too high. Just put your slowest growers at the peak and you'll be fine for a while.

 

[Chrisv.]

if You decide to keep it as is, I suggest that you’re very thoughtful about the ultimate growth form of the corals near the top. You don’t want them to be big tables or something like a monti cap. The fact that you have t5s will help with shadowing, and you can lift the lights a little to get better distribution if needed.

 

[Rams]

Setting up new tank. Was planning to have sps dominant. It occurred to me once I set up, is my scape too high ?

That’s pretty good aquascape and SPS will love it on top.

 

[christwendt]

That’s pretty good aquascape and SPS will love it on top.

Perfect I was worried I would be forced to leave the top parts of the scape empty as they were to far on top.

 

[christwendt]

if You decide to keep it as is, I suggest that you’re very thoughtful about the ultimate growth form of the corals near the top. You don’t want them to be big tables or something like a monti cap. The fact that you have t5s will help with shadowing, and you can lift the lights a little to get better distribution if needed.

Yes any suggestions which acro or sps would be good for the top portions ?

 

[christwendt]

I don't think it's too high. Just put your slowest growers at the peak and you'll be fine for a while.

Any suggestions on slow growers for the top that like a lot of light ?

 

[happyhourhero]

I think it looks great. I went pretty high on my 25 lagoon and have still found random things to put in the high spots.

 

[christwendt]

I think it looks great. I went pretty high on my 25 lagoon and have still found random things to put in the high spots.

What have you put on the high spots ?