Haitan live rock

[Aquarist007]

Is any one using this live rock?
Its very flat and non porous--but its light. I builds nice reefs with lots of ledges and is easily stackable.

I'm just wondering what its ability is to biologically filter(break down ammonia to nitrogen gas.)
It would appear not to be able to support anoxic bacteria which break down nitrates to nitrogen gas therefor only completing the cycle as far as nitrates.

 

[chimmike]

if it's not porous I'm not sure how effective it would be biologically. Got and pics?

 

[mat167]

I use a few pieces of this in my tank, it makes nice shelves. besides that I'm not very convinced of its denitrifying capabilities.

 

[natereinhold1]

i used it exclusively, on my tanks for a few years, due to more for your buck as it's light and it makes great structures, if you do your water changes and have a good skimmer i wouldn't worry too much about it, just put more in.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14724584#post14724584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by natereinhold1
i used it exclusively, on my tanks for a few years, due to more for your buck as it's light and it makes great structures, if you do your water changes and have a good skimmer i wouldn't worry too much about it, just put more in.

the reason I asked is I have a remote dsb with about 100 lbs of it in there. My nitrates are high and I believe the problem with it is too much ineffective live rock.

 

[Anemonebuff]

Your DSB looks kind of new. A new(er) DSB will start out with an increase in nitrates, then they will go down as the bacteria colonize the bed. Also, there could be detrius caught between the pieces of rock and that could cause the higher nitrates.

 

[natereinhold1]

you also could try a sulfur denitrator, if set right they work well. i use one that i made and it holds about a cup of sulfur and its buffered with about 20 lbs aragonite with about 15-20 gph through it, ive had it running for about a year now with no problems and 0 nitrates

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14726030#post14726030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Anemonebuff
Your DSB looks kind of new. A new(er) DSB will start out with an increase in nitrates, then they will go down as the bacteria colonize the bed. Also, there could be detrius caught between the pieces of rock and that could cause the higher nitrates.

that's an older picture of it