rock height

[S13<3]

i havent really seen anyone ask this so here goes, how high or how far from the top should the rockwork be, i want to keep sps, lps, and zoos in my new tank and cant decide how high to make the aquascape, i dont want it to end up like my 20 where the top 1/3rd isnt being used for anything and bottom 2/3 feels crowded, so i want to get the aquascaping down now the first time, the new tank is a 40breeder peninsula

 

[sneeyatch]

It's up to you, what you want to see.

I keep my rock minimal and low, but I've seen rock walls and even rock coming out of the water.

It's really your call.

 

[crobattt]

only thing, with more docile fish they seem to stay around the rock for protection :/

 

[ludiNano]

It would depend on your lights and height of tank. If your lights are strong enough to keep Sps low then (I) would keep my rocks 1/2 down or so to leave room for a lot of growth. I'm personal not a fan of a whole tank with rocks to the top ( unless its a good rock wall) since it leaves no room for growth.

 

[UnoZeus]

My plan was to bring my rocks as high as possible with safe stacking. I think with a higher tank you need to work higher to make use of that negative space. I think that the higher collumns offer great flexibility with lighting as well.

 

[sporto0]

keep in mind as well most acro's stylo's, pocillo's etc. usually grow upward, so at least leave them so room for growth.

 

[S13<3]

the tank is 16" high on the inside, would 5-6" be enough for growth? not all the rock work is gonna come all the way up, but most will, i pretty much just want a simple triangle shape from front to back(cause its a peninsula tank) with a little space on the sand for new comers and low light corals

 

[mwilliams62]

like the other guys are saying leave room at the top for growth plus when you do water changes you don't want to leave your corals exposed to the air very long if any like I did by mistake yesterday when I was doing a water change and forgot about my Hammer Coral two of the heads are shrivled up now and will not open.

 

[sporto0]

good point about the water changes & exposing the corals to air, especially lps corals, as for your question, i would leave 8-10" for potential growth, altho it is impossible to say exactly what height you should have, corals know when they are close to the surface & grow accordingly.