SPS dominated 52"x24"x24" using dry live rock

r21 · Sep 5, 2020

I'm planning my aquascape for my tank upgrade, it will be an SPS dominated reef with some low level LPS and Zoas. I have a good mix of rock to choose and this is my first attempt at a two island layout, bear in mind I'm limited with this scape as nothing is stuck together but I've tried to use branching on the left side which will be for most branching SPS and the right side will be for mostly plating SPS but it will be mixed as well. The tank will be visible from front and partly visible from left had side as its in an alcove.

Skynyrd Fish · Sep 5, 2020

Looks good. Welcome to R2R! The flow will be good through your structure. It should be a good sps setup.

r21 · Sep 5, 2020

Not happy with right hand side, too close in height and looks too rocky compared to left hand side

What about this one with far less rock , think the issue might be dont have enough branching on right side

Another option is lagoon style on right hand side

Crustaceon · Sep 5, 2020

Keep the mounds closer together for the sake of maintaining flow. It’s much easier to get circulation around the panels and placing your rocks nearly up against them will interrupt flow. I’d much rather have a small area of lower flow in the middle than several large ones on the outsides.

r21 · Sep 5, 2020

Crustaceon said:
Keep the mounds closer together for the sake of maintaining flow. It’s much easier to get circulation around the panels and placing your rocks nearly up against them will interrupt flow. I’d much rather have a small area of lower flow in the middle than several large ones on the outsides.

Thanks for the advice, plan is to have an MP40 at either end. I've just tried a completely different scape, I've always had it in my mind to have two islands but now I'm not so sure - just made one island and I think this looks far more natural

Crustaceon · Sep 6, 2020

r21 said:
Thanks for the advice, plan is to have an MP40 at either end. I've just tried a completely different scape, I've always had it in my mind to have two islands but now I'm not so sure - just made one island and I think this looks far more natural

I would definitely go with that.

r21 · Mar 12, 2021

Tank arrived a week or so ago, lots of delays due to Covid. Quality of the tank and attention to detail is outstanding, compared to my RSR170 its on a different planet in terms of build quality.
Changed my rock scape, mainly because I just couldn't rebuild what I done above and I actually like the new scape better, much more open and plenty of great places for SPS.

Hopefully be filled by tomorrow, rock has been cycling in a tub for at least 3 months but not sure impact on it being out of water for a few hours whilst I built the scape had on bacteria population, soon see how quickly it converts some Dr Tims Ammonium.

Plan is to let it settle for a few days and then transfer livestock from the RSR170, existing rock will be broken up to separate the encrusted corals for re-positioning and the rest will go in the sump until I'm sure the new rock is fully seeded.