LR rubble vs. mechanical

[schiavonir]

OK, I'm a little confused. I've seen the advice dozens of times to replace sponges and bio media with LR rubble. My question is this - why does LR support good nitrifying bacteria while any other material (it seems) only create a nitrate factory?

If I dump a bucket of dry LR rubble in my sump and seed it, in a few weeks, it will become a "living filter", right? But if I dump a bucket of ceramic bio rings in my sump and seed it, it's no good. Or even a sponge - what keep the good bacteria from growing here?

Same thing with LR vs. artificial coral. My nano has 10 pounds of LR in it, while another tank in this building has at least 10 pounds of artificial coral. What makes my filtration better that the artificial coral? Doesn't the artificial coral become "live" after while, too?

 

[whiirly]

Sorry I cant help but would like to know the answer to this as well

 

[schiavonir]

Glad to know I'm not the only one.

 

[johj26]

im going to say its because the live rock supports more organisms that feed on the decompsing materials before it breaks down into nitrates just a guess though or could be because sponges cant be sold for 5 bucks a lb at lfs lol

 

[Avogadro]

I think you're right about the marketing aspect of it. A biological filter can be anything with surface area and void space. You could use any media you'd like. If your aim is to utilize the anaerobic bacteria held within the interior of the rock to reduce nitrates, then it may perform a function beyond plastic or ceramic medias. However, I'd wonder if the rock itself would thrive in a dark sump. You might have to do a little experimenting.

 

[schiavonir]

^bump

Where's all the experts??

 

[Rod Buehler]

Re: LR rubble vs. mechanical

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6959183#post6959183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schiavonir
OK, I'm a little confused. I've seen the advice dozens of times to replace sponges and bio media with LR rubble. My question is this - why does LR support good nitrifying bacteria while any other material (it seems) only create a nitrate factory?

Oxygen rich water passing over pourus filter media will colonize with aerobic bacteria . Aerobic bacteria is superior at converting the ammonia to the nitrate stage but goes no further. That aerobic bacteria will somewhat compete with the anaerobic bacteria that colonizes in deep sand beds and in the live rock (anaerobic has the ability to degas the nitrates, unlike aerobic)

Live rock (but not necessarily rubble) will be more dense and will still colonize with anaerobic bacteria... Its not so much the idea of replacing the filter media with live rock as it is the idea of simply removing the media.

If I dump a bucket of dry LR rubble in my sump and seed it, in a few weeks, it will become a "living filter", right? But if I dump a bucket of ceramic bio rings in my sump and seed it, it's no good. Or even a sponge - what keep the good bacteria from growing here?

again the difference between th eareobic bacteria vs the anaerobic bacteria.

Same thing with LR vs. artificial coral. My nano has 10 pounds of LR in it, while another tank in this building has at least 10 pounds of artificial coral. What makes my filtration better that the artificial coral? Doesn't the artificial coral become "live" after while, too?

Depending on the material that they are made of.. If they are made of a material that is very dense to where no bacteria will colonize.....

Hope this helps.. If not, maybe i can help/try to explain a little better when I see you next..