What is the best top height for the rocks?

[CyberGuy]

My tank height is 2 feet. What do you think is the best top height for the rocks? I am planning to do mix but predominately sps.

Should it be 8-10 inches?

Should it be 12 inches?

Should it be 18 inches?

 

[Terri Caton]

As high as you want them. Some people actually have them sticking out above the water line. Crabs and stuff will hang out up there.

 

[MERKEY]

Everyone has a preference but I believe I read once that the high end reefers dont go above half the tank height....

Personally mine is a little above that

 

[NY_Caveman]

I tend to go 2/3 of the way to the water line.

 

[X-37B]

My tank is 8-10". I want the open space for stags to grow into.
But it really is personal preference.

 

[CyberGuy]

So maybe 16-18 inches would be a good top height for a 2 feet high tank.

 

[malacoda]

Depends on what you want to grow on the top of the rocks and/or the type of aestetic you want your tank to have.

Like 90's reefer mentioned, if you want to grow tall branching SPS, you'll probably want to leave 8-12".

If you want to grow shorter, bushy SPS ... tabling SPS ... or SPS that like REALLY high lighting (400+ PAR) you may want to go taller, say 4-6" of space above the rock.

If you want the water column to look really open with mininalistic rock work ... with mostly low-med light corals, then 12-18" is probably the way to go.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I like having them high up since some corals like different flow and lighting then others and that give me more options for placement

 

[ca1ore]

I always go half height for the tallest part of my main rockwork; lower for the rest. The only exception is an anemone pilllar and sometimes an isolated ‘tall’ piece. Picture below is day 1 of my current tank. SPS colony’s were already quite large from the prior tank, but by starting at half height maximum in most places I gave myself 12-18 months of ‘growth time’.