I had a small 30 gallon that was set up with a live rock filtration instead of the standard wet / dry and it worked great! The bio was great...everything in the tank flourished and it was relatively easy to up keep. But I wanted to upgrade and get bigger fish and more of them so I got a 80 G. It had a wet / dry system set up. I set up the 80 G but it hasnt been thriving as well as the live rock fitration set up. Sooooooo My question is from your experience what do you guys think is best?????? I am a beginner so any info will hep...THANKS!! :lolspin:
Wet / Dry vs. Live rock
- Thread starter Trident7
- Start date
JohnnyB in SD
New member
Gradual switch is good approach. The rock has to be fully submerged, not just trickled on like the typical BBall setup.
Adding LRock to display is way I would do it. Research "curing live rock" or you could have serious ammonia spike.
Adding LRock to display is way I would do it. Research "curing live rock" or you could have serious ammonia spike.
alton
Well-known member
Try this
http://www.fhicoralfarm.com/FHI-Farm-Coral-Genetic-Tracker.html
I recently took out all of my liverock in my 29 and replaced it with this stuff from my local fish guy.
http://www.fhicoralfarm.com/FHI-Farm-Coral-Genetic-Tracker.html
I recently took out all of my liverock in my 29 and replaced it with this stuff from my local fish guy.
wdt2000
Member
I don't think that is live rock.
Ivegotcrabs
In Memoriam
it might not be all natural but they culture it in growout tanks so it is technically alive
Toxiq reef
New member
My sumps are all water only
wildman926
Active member
I use LR in my wet/dry, instead of bio balls. Most is submerged, due to 8" water level. I do this on both my 110g and 80g. Everything is very happy.
Matthew91
C₈H₁₀N₄O₂
I am tired of the all the "problems" associated with Wet/dry filters being nitrate factories... If you don't have all the right equipment then yes they will be. I have lots and lots of live rock full of life and bacteria, an amazing protein skimmer, and lots more rock in my sump area. I have no nitrates and my corals are thriving. You just have to keep up with the maintenance and I think that's where people fail to do. They don't understand their tank and they don't tune their protein skimmers
Wow 100 lbs is a ton...well not literally. Damn i need to stat saving my pennies haha. Its going to take sometime for me to build it up to that. I learned the hard way on getting a protien skimmer. I had the cheap one that originally came with my 80 and it did not cut it. I lost 3 fish and said screw it and got a bubble magnus NAC 5e. Its AMAZING! its like night and day. You are totally right though. Im going to post my old 30 gallon that had a live rock fitration set up. I loved it. I didnt have time to maintain both but eventually ill get it back to where it needs to be.
Matthew91
C₈H₁₀N₄O₂
That is a beautiful tank you have there!
Yep 100 pounds. My girlfriend bought if for me when I told her I would like to set up a bigger tank. I guess you can call it a very early birthday gift haha
.OptimusPrime.
Member
Dont want to hijack the thread or anything..but you have 100# of LR in your 54?
or is that with some in the sump? Any chance I can see a picture? I just got 100#s for my 75 and OMG it looks like so much rock and sooo crowded.
I know I will definitely take some out once it is live and place it in the sump.
jimmyj7090
aka John K
vitz
New member
Some food for thought:
Live rock isn't really rock- it's a structure resembling rock
'Seeded' rock (a-la taking rocks and 'seasoning' them in the ocean) is rock
Big difference in internal structure and function
The main reason lr works so well is its external and internal biodiversity-due in large part to its far more porous than igneous rock internal structure-also a big part of the diff between lr and bioballs
1/2 lb/gallon should be more than adequate for biofiltration concerns-most folks severely underestimate how much fish load a fist size piece of rock can 'carry'
hth
Live rock isn't really rock- it's a structure resembling rock
'Seeded' rock (a-la taking rocks and 'seasoning' them in the ocean) is rock
Big difference in internal structure and function
The main reason lr works so well is its external and internal biodiversity-due in large part to its far more porous than igneous rock internal structure-also a big part of the diff between lr and bioballs
1/2 lb/gallon should be more than adequate for biofiltration concerns-most folks severely underestimate how much fish load a fist size piece of rock can 'carry'
hth
Matthew91
C₈H₁₀N₄O₂
Just check out my albums. Most of the pieces are very large. In that photo it doesn't look like much but I rearranged it and you can really tell. I will take some pictures when I get the chance. There is probably only about 5 pounds of rock in my sump
alton
Well-known member
Looks like painted rock. No joke, people do that
I have used it in the past for most of my coral frags with great success. Although priced at $8.99 a lb it is very light and goes along way. FYI it has been around a month since I switched the rock out and I only lost one out of twenty-three corals and my two pearly jawfish are doing fine also.
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