Anyone use LiveRock with no lights for filtration

[Psyops]

I know there is a name to this filtration system. I can't think of it right now. It involves having a lot of live rock in a sump with low flow with no illumination. Also involves growing a lot of pods and sponges in this system. I have a large sump separate from my system that I can do this.

Let me know if anyone of you have had experience with this type of system as a filtration source. BTW, the literature says you don't need protein skimming with this filtration system.

Alex

 

[reeferman1128]

cryptic

 

[Allmost]

cryptic system works, but not as well as they make it seem, there is a book on it too.

 

[atreis]

The key is size - really large sump.

 

[Psyops]

I have a 80 gallon sump I have on a closed loop system. I can have low water movement and low flow in this sump also. Do you guys know how much live rock I would need and how to set up with the proper microorganisms?

My DT is 180 gallon SPS and another 30 gallon macroalgae tank with seahorses.

Alex

 

[Timber77]

i would fit as much LR as possible into the remote sump.

 

[Agu]

Tyree wrote the book about cryptic zone filtration, Environmantal Gradient His method depended on sea squirts and sponges in the cryptic zone to purify the water. The problem is obtaining sea squirts and sponges in the first place. Because his original test tank was a holding system for imported corals he was constantly adding bio diversity to his system and I suspect that was the reason for some of his success with that technique.

I've been running a cryptic zone in my sump for about a year and don't see any sponge growth at all. Not that it matters I went that route because I didn't want a lot of rock in the main tank.

 

[Smnparish]

Try the zeovit sponge power, heard it actually works really well

 

[JustinBT]

Someone posted this in my local forum recently

"Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive."
-Randy Holmes-farley

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1

Hat's off to Pallobi for the link

 

[Psyops]

Wow. Thanks guys for the links/info. That's great info. I was curious about silica. Since we use RO/DI now, our silica levels would probably be lower than NSW. Now I am experimenting with dosing Fe and Iodine, so I am going to hold off until my live rock fuge increases in amount. I only have 50 lbs of live rock in that large sump. It can probably hold near 200 lbs. Every month I am thinking of adding 25 lbs from difference sources. I am not brave enough to add non-cured rock for greater biodiversity. Again thanks guys for the info/link.

Alex

 

[Aquatron]

Cryptic doesn't mean dark it means hidden My cryptic zone's have both dark and filtered light areas along with strong and disfused flows. These kind of filter areas need both plankton and bacteria to grow.
Heres my set up

Good Luck!