Best Height for SPS Dominant - 20" vs 24" Tall

Hentz · 05/26/2017, 11:06 AM

Hey guys, so I purchased a 7 year old tank a few weeks ago.
It's built from LeeMar with the dimensions of 46x24x20, starfire front panel, and a coast-to-coast overflow. I absolutely love the dimensions of it as I was originally planning a 120 (48x24x24) or 48x24x20). Only downfall is there are a handful of scratches.

I came across a used and well taken care of 120 Gallon for the same price as a stand for my Leemar. Corner overflow, Eurobraced, stand, canopy, and sump.

Then I got thinking, both tanks are great dimensions. However, would the extra 4" tall allow for more SPS growth?
I keep looking at my Reefer 170 and think, it's nice having the shallow tank but will my acros (as one is already reaching near the surface) be better with the extra 4" of height?

I'd love to get your opinions on this. I've seen GORGEOUS tanks for both sizes. Always dreamt of both of these dimensions but want to be smart in my choices.

DivingTheWorld · 05/26/2017, 11:10 AM

I think its mostly personal preference. That said, the shallower the tank, the more light your sps will get and light is key with sps. But 20-24" isn't a big difference. Mine is 22" with a 20" water height. My next tank I plan to go longer and deeper, but I'll probably shoot for a similar height, 20-22".

Bpb · 05/26/2017, 11:29 AM

I like the 24" height personally. Light shouldn't be an issue if you have an appropriate amount. 8x54 watt t5ho, or 250 watt halides minimum. LEDs eh. Depends on what and how many. Any 3-5 watt per diode fixture will produce more than enough par for 24" deep it's just about having enough of them to cover the shadowing adequately. 24" height just allows for more flow control, more swimming room, more height for stag growth. Only downside is if you have short arms

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Hentz · 05/26/2017, 11:42 AM

I tested my arms, no big deal on both tanks.

I will be running a 6x54 Sunpower though. Would've opted for the 8 bulb but figured it would be too much for my 46x24x20, especially with the overflow being about 3.5" from coast to coast leaving my tank about 20" with really useable real estate.

DivingTheWorld · 05/26/2017, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hentz

I tested my arms, no big deal on both tanks.

I will be running a 6x54 Sunpower though. Would've opted for the 8 bulb but figured it would be too much for my 46x24x20, especially with the overflow being about 3.5" from coast to coast leaving my tank about 20" with really useable real estate.

The recommendation for T5 with SPS is one bulb per 3 inches. So assuming 24" deep, you'd want an 8 bulb. But assuming your overflow removes 3.5" as you say, then 6 bulb should be fine.

Hentz · 05/26/2017, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivingTheWorld

The recommendation for T5 with SPS is one bulb per 3 inches. So assuming 24" deep, you'd want an 8 bulb. But assuming your overflow removes 3.5" as you say, then 6 bulb should be fine.

I've never heard that before, but that makes great sense. Glad I know that now.

Bpb · 05/26/2017, 12:07 PM

I run all 8 bulbs on my 90 gallon 48x18x24

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reefmutt · 05/26/2017, 01:00 PM

I'd definitely go for the extra height.
More swimming room for the fish above the acros and more area of unobstructed water flow.
And I hate when acros hit the surface, they start to grow funny.

jda · 05/26/2017, 01:24 PM

If you can light it, go for the extra height.

Pife · 05/26/2017, 07:06 PM

It would be nice to have the extra water volume.

Stolireef · 05/28/2017, 03:28 PM

I actually prefer the lower height just because I have short arms. To me, front to back depth is way more important than height.

rovster · 05/30/2017, 09:15 PM

The deeper tank can be more impressive IF you can fill it. My tank is 19" tall and now that I've got a few colonies in there I wish I had gone taller. It's easy to be short sighted when you start out and all you have is 1" frags (pun intended). I happen to LOVE stags and I haveca couple that are 7-8" and a few more in the 4-5" range that are really starting to consume the water column.

I still love my tank dimensions but I have my days when I wish it was taller. It wasn't until I saw a couple of grown in tanks with massive colonies that I truly began to appreciate the real beauty of SPS namely acros and that is STRUCTURE. Forget that miniature rainbow nonsense, gimme a huge green slimer or blue tipped stag or a huge table any day. My opinion of course

Wiskey · 05/30/2017, 09:25 PM

Extra height is really nice if you want a mixed reef which needs lower light areas, but for SPS only the shallow wide tanks are really nice because you can get all the light you need for montis at the bottom and grow acros above them.

That being said, I'm not totally sure 6 T5's are enough for the highest light corals. I had 4HO with good reflectors (not overdriven) over a 75 that is 18" wide, and that barely kept them alive. Adding 2 more, or led sups was the ticket for growth. I had good light in the center, but the outer edges were dark. I verified this with a PAR meter and growth rates.

Whiskey

05/26/2017, 11:06 AM	#1
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	Best Height for SPS Dominant - 20" vs 24" Tall Hey guys, so I purchased a 7 year old tank a few weeks ago. It's built from LeeMar with the dimensions of 46x24x20, starfire front panel, and a coast-to-coast overflow. I absolutely love the dimensions of it as I was originally planning a 120 (48x24x24) or 48x24x20). Only downfall is there are a handful of scratches. I came across a used and well taken care of 120 Gallon for the same price as a stand for my Leemar. Corner overflow, Eurobraced, stand, canopy, and sump. Then I got thinking, both tanks are great dimensions. However, would the extra 4" tall allow for more SPS growth? I keep looking at my Reefer 170 and think, it's nice having the shallow tank but will my acros (as one is already reaching near the surface) be better with the extra 4" of height? I'd love to get your opinions on this. I've seen GORGEOUS tanks for both sizes. Always dreamt of both of these dimensions but want to be smart in my choices. __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

05/26/2017, 11:10 AM	#2
DivingTheWorld Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 1,963	I think its mostly personal preference. That said, the shallower the tank, the more light your sps will get and light is key with sps. But 20-24" isn't a big difference. Mine is 22" with a 20" water height. My next tank I plan to go longer and deeper, but I'll probably shoot for a similar height, 20-22". __________________ Current Tank Info: LeeMar Rimless (40x24x22), ATI 8x39 Dimmable w/Reefbrite XHO, 2x Vortech MP40w QD w/ Battery Backup, Apex Gold, Trigger Systems Ruby30S, Reef Octopus POV-DC1 w/Auto Waste Collector

05/26/2017, 11:42 AM	#4
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	I tested my arms, no big deal on both tanks. I will be running a 6x54 Sunpower though. Would've opted for the 8 bulb but figured it would be too much for my 46x24x20, especially with the overflow being about 3.5" from coast to coast leaving my tank about 20" with really useable real estate. __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

05/26/2017, 01:00 PM	#8
reefmutt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mtl. Canada Posts: 7,824	I'd definitely go for the extra height. More swimming room for the fish above the acros and more area of unobstructed water flow. And I hate when acros hit the surface, they start to grow funny. __________________ Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer

05/26/2017, 07:06 PM	#10
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	It would be nice to have the extra water volume. __________________ Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~

05/26/2017, 11:29 AM	#3
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	I like the 24" height personally. Light shouldn't be an issue if you have an appropriate amount. 8x54 watt t5ho, or 250 watt halides minimum. LEDs eh. Depends on what and how many. Any 3-5 watt per diode fixture will produce more than enough par for 24" deep it's just about having enough of them to cover the shadowing adequately. 24" height just allows for more flow control, more swimming room, more height for stag growth. Only downside is if you have short arms Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/26/2017, 12:07 PM	#7
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	I run all 8 bulbs on my 90 gallon 48x18x24 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/26/2017, 01:24 PM	#9
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	If you can light it, go for the extra height.

05/28/2017, 03:28 PM	#11
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	I actually prefer the lower height just because I have short arms. To me, front to back depth is way more important than height. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

05/30/2017, 09:15 PM	#12
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	The deeper tank can be more impressive IF you can fill it. My tank is 19" tall and now that I've got a few colonies in there I wish I had gone taller. It's easy to be short sighted when you start out and all you have is 1" frags (pun intended). I happen to LOVE stags and I haveca couple that are 7-8" and a few more in the 4-5" range that are really starting to consume the water column. I still love my tank dimensions but I have my days when I wish it was taller. It wasn't until I saw a couple of grown in tanks with massive colonies that I truly began to appreciate the real beauty of SPS namely acros and that is STRUCTURE. Forget that miniature rainbow nonsense, gimme a huge green slimer or blue tipped stag or a huge table any day. My opinion of course __________________ "Cause you don't need to be a scientist to see, what we can accomplish with good chemistry..." -Sophia the First Current Tank Info: Tank killed by Hurricane Irma...once dust settles restart to come...

05/30/2017, 09:25 PM	#13
Wiskey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 3,049	Extra height is really nice if you want a mixed reef which needs lower light areas, but for SPS only the shallow wide tanks are really nice because you can get all the light you need for montis at the bottom and grow acros above them. That being said, I'm not totally sure 6 T5's are enough for the highest light corals. I had 4HO with good reflectors (not overdriven) over a 75 that is 18" wide, and that barely kept them alive. Adding 2 more, or led sups was the ticket for growth. I had good light in the center, but the outer edges were dark. I verified this with a PAR meter and growth rates. Whiskey __________________ This video shows 15 months of coral growth in my tank in a 30 second timelapse: https://youtu.be/bF6C57aTDEo