How Much Live Rock in Smaller Cubes

[jonboyb]

I recently started up another cube. I went all out on this one with top notch lighting and all the fixin's . It's a JBJ Nano-Cube 28 with 150w MH and added 64w Actinics. I also used the "recommended" 1.75-2 lb LR per gallon as listed in many forums/manuals/etc. for reefs. However, with my 60 lbs. or so of rock, aquascaping in the cube is dang near impossible. I tried stacking as much as possible against the back wall to maximize substrate exposure, but it still filled half the tank all the way up to the water surface. I was trying to leave a couple inches between rock and glass to allow cleaning, but I just don't see a way to make this work. I even crushed up a few lbs and placed it in the rear sump to try and get my setup to work with no avail. I really want some exposed substrate to place things like a brain, larger shroom, zoa rock, and maybe a small clam......but I just don't see it happening.

For the nano owners out there. How much LR are you using per gallon? Any advice?

 

[todd03blown]

I have a 20G and I only have 15-16lbs of LR in mine.

 

[jonboyb]

Just for visual reference, here's a photo when it only had a little over 30lbs in it.....and I liked the aquascape. I was told on another forum (before I was introduced to this one) that I needed more. I think I might have had more rock even here than I thought (we used a bathroom scale )

alt="" />

 

[michael ruppert]

I have one pound per gallon

 

[jonboyb]

Thanks. I'm going to remove a few of the "ugly" pieces that are bigger and not growing coraline and bust them up. Then place the smaller rubble pieces in voids under my nice pieces. Still not going to use all 60 lbs, but I'm trying to get as much as possible:up: May move some to my mantis tank or QT to hold for the time being.

 

[purplegorilla]

You have to anticipated that corals will be added and growth from the corals.