Is 20" too shallow for an SPS tank?

[Logzor]

I plan on ordering a custom rimless tank in the next couple of weeks and plan on going with a 48x30x20, I would go higher but the 3/4" glass is very expensive to upgrade to.

I am worried that 20" will be too shallow to grow out the tank. I plan on going with fairly little rockwork (like sunnys tank) so maybe it won't be an issue.

Does anyone have experience with a 20" deep tank that could give me some advice.

 

[rtparty]

I am pretty sure that Sunny's tank is only 20" maybe 22" at the most.

I think 20" is a sweet depth.

 

[rutz81]

I have a Miracles 48x30x20. I love it, in the space I have it works perfectly(doesn't block too much of the windows. If height wan't an issue, I would go with the 24". Be careful with light, as I have learned, it is VERY easy to bleach at this height. Might be because of my 10 x 54 Powermodule combined with the shallowness. Any other questions, ask away.

 

[nvdiz]

my nano cube is almost all sps at a little less than 20"

i wouldn't find it too shallow at all unless you have some huge colonies.

 

[Logzor]

Thanks for the info Rutz. Do you have a picture of your tank?

Is it rimless?

 

[CMcNeil]

20" is a good height,i had a 32"x32"x16" tall sps tank for a while and it wasnt too short.

 

[rutz81]

Thanks for the info Rutz. Do you have a picture of your tank?

Is it rimless?

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1822455

 

[jdm1114]

not too shallow in my opinion

 

[MrKite24]

I think 20" is perfect. You won't have to buy bright bulbs if you do metal halide. I have a 40 breeder which is 18-19" with 175 watt bulbs and everything is great.

 

[crsaz]

My tank is 36"x18"x21" and I love it its the perfect height, I get great par even on the sand bed.

 

[Logzor]

Thanks for the comments, I think I feel a lot better about going with the 20" depth.

I have a 5+ year plan for this tank and I am really into sps. My last tank I had a 2 year plan and it grew out very fast. Although, my two tower rock structures didn't help.

For instance, my green slimer colony went from 4" to 16" and couldn't fit in a 5 gallon bucket by the time I moved. It could barely fit in the tank because it was situation on a large rock tower which really took up a ton of space.

I just don't want to be in a situation where I feel the tank isn't big enough.

Now, at this point in the hobby. I think I need to pick and choose the corals very carefully. Basically, taking into consideration how BIG these corals will get and planning accordingly and not making the mistakes I did before, and that is shoving in way too many sps and other corals in too small of a space.

 

[cmaxwell39]

I just recently got a 150 (72x24x20) and plan on doing mostly SPS. I really like shallower tanks. I think the aquascape being open is going to play a big role in stuff not growing out of the tank though. Good luck with yours.