Benefits of adding live rock?

[Nothing But Frags]

When I started my tank, I decided not getting LR but instead I bought 2 different large ceramic sculptures. I feel like my tank is not benefiting since I keep have swings in my parameters, mainly my Alk and Ca levels. The only LR I have is a 3lb rock that is covered in purple algae, I was basically just using it to seed my tank to grow more purple algae on the ceramic structure.

I have a sump, with a fuge. It has sand and chaeto in it. I also run a skimmer, chemi pure elite and purigen. In your opinion, would I be wasting money buying LR and removing the ceramic sculptures or would it be beneficial for my tank to have LR instead of the ceramic structure? I have 4 fish so my bio load isn't heavy and I keep a mix of LPS and SPS. What do you think?

 

[Downbeach]

Live rock, or rock that can become "live", is a good platform for NNR (natural nitrate reduction), providing both surface area for aerobic bacteria zone (converting ammonia to nitrite/nitrate), and with its porous nature, an anaerobic bacteria zone (converting nitrate to nitrogen gas), providing a more complete nitrogen cycle. Along with its NNR properties, it's more natural looking in the aquarium, and also provides a home/refuge for many critters, that you might consider your "micro" clean up crew, i.e. amphipods, copepods, etc.
Calcium carbonate type rock might have some buffering capacity, but I'd look elsewhere if you're having swings in your Ca and Alk. Coraline algae and any "stoney" corals are most likely using it.
I think your ceramic pieces are more decorative, than they are beneficial, so if it were me, I'd replace them with the LR.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'd definately be getting some Live Rock ro Dry Rock. Will definately help the system. But on the ALK and Calcium swinging, oyur Hard Corals and your Coralline are using it up. Gotta start dosing.

 

[jduck]

Are you running the display bare bottom?

 

[Nothing But Frags]

Are you running the display bare bottom?

I have about 2" of live sand

 

[beaslbob]

With a seed live rock and most especially with a refugium with chaeto I would not waste the money on "live" rock. The chasto will provide the benifits of live rock IME.

You could use various local rocks especially porus limestone to decorate the tank. Eventually that rock will become alive.

I think you'll find your decorations will become covered in algae fairly quickly.


my .02

 

[jduck]

What kind of swings in Alk/Ca? It should be slowly going down because it is being used up by the tank.

 

[glb]

I would definitely invest in live rock. It provides a lot of biological filtration and helps keep down nitrates. It also eventually gets covered in pink coralline, which I think is beautiful.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps and two clownfish.