Opinions...How will this affect my filtration..

[Bob125]

Have a 125 that I am going to reaquascapae with just several very large colonies of lps/softies for a more open look. In doing so, I will be eliminating about 1/2 of the live rock. My fish load includes two tangs (6"), clown, 3 chromis, copperband, 2 damsels and anthia.

I guess my main two concerns...1) will the skimmer keep up with filtration, jsut need to empty cup more frequently or will I lose too many valuable organisms from live rock removal 2) Will fish become stressed due to lack of hiding places?

 

[acer]

Does the system have a refugium with live rock in it or live sand in it? How much rock are you starting with?

 

[Python73]

Removing live rock concerns the processing of ammonia and nitrites. This is done by colonies of bacteria that live on essentially every surface in your tank that has some water flow. Including your rock and sand, but also your glass, pipes/tubing, filter surfaces and media, etc. You protein skimmer has little or nothing to do with this process, leaning more towards nothing.

Removing liverock changes the balance of waste to bacteria, but most setups have far more potential than they need. Assuming you don't cripple the bacteria load by removing ALL the rock or sand at one shot, you probably won't even get an ammonia spike.

S !

 

[raynist]

Bob, can you move some of this live rock to your sump?

 

[Bob125]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12129012#post12129012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acer
Does the system have a refugium with live rock in it or live sand in it? How much rock are you starting with?

Hmm, not sure how much is in there... Probably about 150lbs, and my 30 gallon sump has some macroalgae without any rock or sand. Plenty of pods and micro stars

 

[Bob125]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12129291#post12129291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Python73
Removing live rock concerns the processing of ammonia and nitrites. This is done by colonies of bacteria that live on essentially every surface in your tank that has some water flow. Including your rock and sand, but also your glass, pipes/tubing, filter surfaces and media, etc. You protein skimmer has little or nothing to do with this process, leaning more towards nothing.

Removing liverock changes the balance of waste to bacteria, but most setups have far more potential than they need. Assuming you don't cripple the bacteria load by removing ALL the rock or sand at one shot, you probably won't even get an ammonia spike.

S !

Thanks... That was the plan to slowly move it out.