Liverock for corals only?

[Cody Ray]

I like trying new things (as many of you probably know ). I was wondering if the only thing you had in an aquarium were corals, sps to be specific, would you really need liverock? I have seen many frag tanks that just use eggcrate but could you run a system with just good flow and lighting? Pretty much nothing but eggcrate support, powerheads, and lighting. Maybe a kalk drip or calcium reactor along with frequent water changes.

 

[TCU Reefer]

The main purpose for LR is for biological filtration.

Are you going to run a sump? You can keep the LR in the sump and the display/frag tank with just corals on eggcrate if that's what you're shooting for.

 

[Cody Ray]

I wasn't really thinking about a sump but that wouldn't be an issue, I was just curious if you really needed biological filtration if the only livestock was corals, no inverts, fish, etc.

 

[PUGroyale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7680451#post7680451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChinChek787
I wasn't really thinking about a sump but that wouldn't be an issue, I was just curious if you really needed biological filtration if the only livestock was corals, no inverts, fish, etc.

If you intend on feeding the corals anything you'll need some level of biofiltration.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7681182#post7681182 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PUGroyale
If you intend on feeding the corals anything you'll need some level of biofiltration.

Just because he has no live rock doesnt mean he has no biofiltration. Bacteria will grow on walls, pipes, etc.


The question is, could you put a TON of flow, a huge skimmer, and tons of flow on the thing, and keep acros with no rock.

I think you could, but thats thinking WAY outside the box, and people frown on that here.

 

[twon8]

I think you could, but I tend to think the corals need nutrients to grow and color correctly, and with such a sterile tank?

but I am all for someone giving it a try

 

[PUGroyale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7683216#post7683216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Just because he has no live rock doesnt mean he has no biofiltration. Bacteria will grow on walls, pipes, etc.

I agree. Whether it would be enough to keep up is the question.

 

[Rendos]

I have never used live rock in my frag tanks. SPS in them grow well...good color...no visible issues. I can't see why you would need bio-filtration on a system like that. The bioload would be minimal...with regular water changes, and good skimming, I can't see why it wouldn't work well.

 

[twon8]

Rendos - do you feed the frag tanks at all?

 

[RichConley]

twon, corals in and of themselves provide a significant level of biofiltration. If you're feeding them, and using the right foods with plenty of flow, you pretty much only need to deal with waste. They act in the same way plants do in freshwater. They'll uptake nutrients when they feed.

We need lots of filtration in most tanks because of the fish, because we dont feed selectively, and because our flow is a joke.

 

[Cody Ray]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7683216#post7683216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I think you could, but thats thinking WAY outside the box, and people frown on that here.

I have noticed that, it kind of hinders things IMO. What would be interesting to see is if you could still keep a couple fish if the skimmer was large enough and there was enough coral growth to uptake anything the skimmer couldn't remove. Maybe it would be better to grow a large amount of xenia in the sump just in case, they are better at absorbing nutrients from the water than sps.

 

[Bigmike]

Isn't that how some Japanese tanks run?

 

[Cody Ray]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7686792#post7686792 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bigmike
Isn't that how some Japanese tanks run?

Not quite, they use liverock but some also use bioballs. From what I have seen they are very good about tank maintance, such as water changes, scrapping coralline, etc. What would be really interesting to see is if you could maintain a large fish load using a skimmer, coral growth, and water changes alone (lots of water changes and running the skimmer 24/7).

 

[kirstenk]

I have a similar idea that I will never do.

You try it!

The tank is an acrylic cube. You take your existing beautiful corals and mount them stragetically on acrylic pillars throughout the cube. They would look suspended. I would include fish and have a big sump to hold the liverock. You would need to keep the tank clean of all coralline growth. I think it would look simply marvelous!!!

Somebody try this.

 

[Cody Ray]

Not too crazy bout suspended corals If you could avoid cycles than that would make the hobby soo much easier!

Edit: above statement not a pun for aunt flo

 

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7685765#post7685765 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
twon, corals in and of themselves provide a significant level of biofiltration. If you're feeding them, and using the right foods with plenty of flow, you pretty much only need to deal with waste. They act in the same way plants do in freshwater. They'll uptake nutrients when they feed.

We need lots of filtration in most tanks because of the fish, because we dont feed selectively, and because our flow is a joke.

I know they do, i was mainly interested in whether sps could thrive in a tank that is not fed anything.

 

[wrassie86]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7691736#post7691736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by twon8
I know they do, i was mainly interested in whether sps could thrive in a tank that is not fed anything.

I would have to say "no"and i base this on problems i have had and among alot of other reefers that went BB.and did not feed there tanks or have enough fish to feed the corals.First comes the lightning of the coral then stn sets in sometime after.

As far as a tank with no live rock or fish ECT.i dont think a skimmer would be usefull on such a system.what would you be trying to take out ? i would think a bag of carbon/purigan and water changes now and then would be a better option.I think as long as the coral were fed it would work,but food would always have to present.JMHO.

 

[Cody Ray]

Maybe some fish and a skimmer would be more productive for the corals?