Question on rockwork placement

[lacrosseboss18]

I'm looking to start a SPS dominant tank and the bottom base structure is going to be a large tonga branch to keep the main scape off the floor. I might make it all tonga branch.
I'm debating if I should cut off some of the back end of the rock so that it's not so close to the front class. Right now the part closet to the front glass is only 2 inches away. The rest of the rockwork won't be nearly as close.

Should I cut off 4 +/- inches off the back? Don't want to have any regrets once it's in and everything is solid as one structure

Thanks

 

[FL-Reefer-addict352]

You should consider floating aquascape if you wanna keep your sand bed clear just offering options

 

[lacrosseboss18]

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I'm hoping that that rock will be the foundation holding everything else up.

Very nice scape you created!

 

[FL-Reefer-addict352]

I love Tonga rock though you could do the "floating look with it also

 

[lacrosseboss18]

If i wanted to cut the Tonga rock, what tool would you suggest i use? Grinder?

 

[GK3]

Anyone else see the barking dog?

 

[FL-Reefer-addict352]

Anything with a cut off wheel I use a gryphon

 

[Amps Reef Life]

I would make a little bit more room in the front. You can cut the rock with almost anything you can even chisel it but that won't give you a real clean cut. Make sure to wear eye protection and a mask over your mouth/nose.

 

[jda]

You might need to be a bit more sturdy at the bottom. The fish will move the sand around to create places to hide if you do not provide them... and they won't care for arches, caves and that kind of stuff that people make in their 'scape... they want places where they can completely disappear from everything. It would not be uncommon for the fish to completely uncover a whole side of that and make it topple.

My basic advice is not to sweat scape too much.. eventually you don't even want to see it with all of the corals covering everything.

 

[lacrosseboss18]

Thanks Jda,
Yeah i am sweating the scape big time. I guess cause ill be seeing it with all those little frags and planning how they will all grow out and get the most space for them. Still debating on all Tonga vs mixture of rocks. I plan to cement rock to that structure so that it is solid on the floor and no chance of toppling over. I do plan to get a shrimp goby pair and maybe a blue spotted jaw fish. Still up in the air about the BSJ. I had one and i really liked him