Does lighting affect Live Rock effectiveness ad biofilter?

[tonyespinoza]

I'm planning a 400-500g system and considering putting the majority of my liverock in a separate tank from a main, shallow coral display.

Any reason to believe that the live rook is somehow more effective if it's lit? I would assume not, but would be interested in hearing explanations for why it might be.

(i will also have cyrptic zones (both low and medium flows) but this is a different issue.)

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Always heard that light does not matter. Just that it is present.

 

[tonyespinoza]

but the question is - would the live rock perform just as well if i intentionally left it in the dark...

 

[yrema]

I guess.. There are lots of worms and other critters in my tanks that prefers the dark.

I don't think bacteria would mind also. But then again I'm just guessing.

 

[Monkey888]

I think Live Rock is the best and Why? Just think about what we will see in the sea, where our coral come from.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

It performs the same function with or without the light. I have tons in my sump, unlit, and it has all the essential life. Just not as much coraline.

 

[tonyespinoza]

cool - i was hoping someone who's tried this would chime in... thanks much!

 

[ReefWreak]

Live rock is so useful because of it's de-nitrification of Ammonia into Nitrite, then Nitrite into Nitrate on the outside surface area, then on the inside anereobic areas turn nitrate into nitrogen gas. None of these processes need light to function, just waste, or nutrition in any case.

Light would be useful if you wanted to populate the rock with photosynthetic algae to take some of the pressure off of the liverock and/or GFO in reducing nitrate and phosphate. Plants can only absorb small quantities of nutrients though, so they're more useful for the small quantity of phosphate in our tank water that comes from food.

I do really like the idea of a rockless tank though. I'd be interested to see how it's brought together.

 

[sabbath]

I tanked to a guy (clownut, mostly on tcmas forum) that runs most of his Live rock in sumps. He stated that they are not lit and are filled to the top with it. He also recommended a LOT of flow in the sump, His had 1200 MJ mods in them.

 

[tonyespinoza]

Nice - Yes, I'm thinking bare-bottom for the dark live rock and with an angled bottom so that the detritus ends up in an easy place to siphon out.

Yup i'm planning the SPS display to be a nice long peninsula with angled sides! 80 x 44 x 24 high.

I'll definitely begin posting pics once the tank is in -- it will be a while since I'm having AGE build it and they are slammed.

-tE

 

[tuberider]

My tank is setup with a remote live rock tank stocked with sponges, sea squirts, and tunicates, when I put the tank online there was a noticeable difference in overall coral health. purely anecdotal of course, but the animals are thriving in both the main tank and the remote tank.

 

[tonyespinoza]

cool! how'd you stock the cryptic zone? did you order from tyree or did you find another source?

 

[xJake]

My local zoo's aquarium keeps their sumps full of live rock in the dark. There are all sorts of sponges and feather dusters that are populating the rock and all their tanks look amazing. I think it's safe to say that live rock doesn't need light to do its thing.

 

[JCTewks]

I would think that LR would be MORE effective in an unlit sump....think about it, LR in the DT gets covered in corraline algea...that algeal growth will "cover" some of the desired pores in the LR that harbor the bacteria that we want to do the filtration. PLus, it allows those cryptic critters all sorts of polaces to attach and grow. The majority of life in the cryptic (low-no light) area are not going to encrust in a way that will block the flow of water through the pores of the LR.

 

[tonyespinoza]

yup... makes sense to me. looking forward to giving it a try.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Very interesting thread! Although I have been doing this for years it is always fun to hear opinions as to why it works....

 

[ChuckLawson]

If someone was going to make a "remote live rock tank" out of a rubbermaid tub or something similar, what would be the recommended flow rate?

 

[tuberider]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12836942#post12836942 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonyespinoza
cool! how'd you stock the cryptic zone? did you order from tyree or did you find another source?

Since I service tanks I was able to pluck sponge frags from here and there, I have at least seven varieties. The other animals were purchased.

I agree with JCTewks, when algae is not present the surface area of the rock is more bioavalable for bacteria and animals instead of being chocked with algae or being encrusted by coral. I dose my remote tank with small doses of phyto daily, and the sponges are really taking off.

One cool thing about the sponges is they come in a variety of colors and growths, pinks, blues, yellows, you name it, it's kinda like having a separate system

 

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12839099#post12839099 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChuckLawson
If someone was going to make a "remote live rock tank" out of a rubbermaid tub or something similar, what would be the recommended flow rate?

The flow through it does not have to be that high. But the flow in it should be, IMO.

 

[JCTewks]

^^^^agreed!

If there is not enough water movement within the LR sump detritus will gather quickly...the idea posted above about having a sloped bottom so that detritus is easily siphonable is a good one.

Personally, I have a section of my sump (where tank water comes in) that is loaded with LR...it gathers detritus and I use the handy turkey baster to put it back into suspension at night for the corals to consume (and other filter feeders). THe idea of this comes from the ZEO method (and other ULN methodologies) where "mulm" that accumulates in the eractor is released into the water column as a bacterioplanktonic food source. I do run an ULNS (ultra low nutrient system, for those not familiar with the acronym ) using vodka as a carbon source and dosing various AA's, bac's and vit/min supplements along with heavy feeding. And I've found that stirring the detritus back into the tank water triggers feeding responses in most corals and inverts. I'm not sure if the response would be so great without the carbin dosing and large amounts of bacteria that come with it though.

I've read some older articles as well about Non photosynthetic coral husbandry that mentioned stirring the sand bed as a food source...so the LR zone could be useful in feeding the tanks inhabitants as well as a zone for cryptic life to proliferate