Scape height for sps

[Mr.Guy83]

Hello all next month I’m setting up a reefer 170. I purchased my rocks early so I could take my time to scape. Currently my scape is 8in at it’s highest point plus possibly an inch of sand puts me at 9in. What is the common height range for sps scape structure? I understand in inches it all depends on overall height of the tank but I’m asking should work typicall be 1/2, 3/4 the height of the tank?
My lighting will be xr30 blue

 

[lapin]

You need to leave room for growth.
It will depend on how much water is above the rock where the corals are placed and what corals you are getting. Not really the percentage of tank height.
They will not grow past the waters surface.

 

[Mr.Guy83]

You need to leave room for growth.
It will depend on how much water is above the rock where the corals are placed and what corals you are getting. Not really the percentage of tank height.
They will not grow past the waters surface.

Ok thanks!

 

[CoralNerd]

My issue is flow...don't make your scape too high lesson learned

 

[Garf]

What lights?

 

[Mr.Guy83]

What lights?

Xr30 blue on reefer 170

 

[Backreefing]

Generally speaking don’t go over half way up with the rock scape. Because of growth as previously stated .
but it’s your tank do what you want , be happy

 

[Mr.Guy83]

Generally speaking don’t go over half way up with the rock scape. Because of growth as previously stated .
but it’s your tank do what you want , be happy

Thanks backreefing!

 

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

Yup. I follow a loose rule of half the height of the tank.

 

[mxnutz]

I agree with everyone. Scape to about half the tank and leave some room for corals to grow and adequate flow. You don't want to build to high and have your powerheads ripping their flesh off.

 

[Dr. Jim]

I have a Reefer 170 too. In that tank, I'd say just halfway up with the rock. The back piece of scape-work looks nice. Any chance you could make the pile in the right front less "dense." Maybe break up a piece and make "legs" like you have in the back to allow more flow? Just a thought.

 

[Mr.Guy83]

I have a Reefer 170 too. In that tank, I'd say just halfway up with the rock. The back piece of scape-work looks nice. Any chance you could make the pile in the right front less "dense." Maybe break up a piece and make "legs" like you have in the back to allow more flow? Just a thought.

That’s a good idea. That rock has been bothering me anyway Will make some adjustments

 

[ScottB]

Really glad to see the consensus moving toward 1/2 of water height. It used to be 2/3rds or so and I can attest that this does not work. No flow for SPS. Two gyres and two MP40s could not solve for my mistake.

 

[Pdash]

Hello all next month I’m setting up a reefer 170. I purchased my rocks early so I could take my time to scape. Currently my scape is 8in at it’s highest point plus possibly an inch of sand puts me at 9in. What is the common height range for sps scape structure? I understand in inches it all depends on overall height of the tank but I’m asking should work typicall be 1/2, 3/4 the height of the tank?
My lighting will be xr30 blue

Your scape looks really good, you could make some spidery arches to connect 1 or both of the smaller structures to the larger one, this usually looks cool, provides more places to mount corals, and adds swim through for fish.

 

[Mr.Guy83]

This is what I ended with , still debating on the rock on the left, might remove it expose more sand

 

[X-37B]

It is really personel.
I used to do the great rock wall.
Now my highest rock point on my 120 is 10".
Plenty of room for the stags to grow.
I also went bare bottom this time as it allows coral colonies to be grown out on the bottom.
I do have one caribsea branch thats taller on the left.
Today pic

 

[Mr.Guy83]

That’s a great looking tank!

 

[X-37B]

That’s a great looking tank!

Thanks! 15 months old in 2 days. Its comming along nicely.
Really glad I went with a low scape and bare bottom.

 

[Mr.Guy83]

Thanks! 15 months old in 2 days. Its comming along nicely.
Really glad I went with a low scape and bare bottom.

What do you dose. And how long did it take to cycle considering no live sand?

 

[X-37B]

50/50 live rock and caribsea. About 70lbs total.
No real cycle as most of the live rock came out of my 25 nano that was 2.5 years old.
Started adding corals after 1 month.
I run a calcium reactor and dose trace. Only two 10 gal water changes since startup.
I run a no water change system.
Check out my build thread for more info.
Here is the scape at startup 15 months ago.
Started with T5's and now run halides.