Live Rock in QT Tank..... Biological??????

[DavidG1966]

Can I use Live Rock for biological filtration in a QT Tank? Will copper treatment ruin the biological capacity of Live Rock? If it does how doesnt copper ruin any other biological media... i.e ceramin rings??

 

[old salty]

Live rock will work, but don't put it back in the main display. I don't think copper ruins the biomedia, but it may remain in the water (and the rock) which could leech back into the main display (hence why you shouldn't run it there.)

I don't use LR in the QT, because I sanitize everything after the QT period. I use biomedia in a mesh bag, but throw it away when I'm done. It's not that expensive and I wouldn't risk putting diseases into the main display to save $5 worth of ceramic.

 

[Lager]

Not sure if the Copper will effect the capilibility of the rock..But you do realize that you will never be able to use that rock in your main tank ever again due to the Copper leaching into the rock?

 

[DavidG1966]

The rock would ONLY stay in the QT tank for biological purposes (and provide the QT's fish with some natural rock nooks and crannys to hide in). Bad idea???

 

[h20cooled]

From what I've read you do not want rock or sand in a QT tank that is going to be treated with copper. I think it has to do with the copper's effectiveness. They recommend PVC fittings or pipe something inert like that. Then you can use a hang on the back filter, I just put some filter media in my sump for a while and then put it into the QT tank filter and it worked great.

Rich