How much live rock is actually need for nitrification

[Luno]

I've always gone with the 1-2lbs of rock per gallon rule, but with the new tank I want a minimalist aquascape.

Obviously the filtration properties of rock is high on the priority and adequate hiding and territories for fish.

But really how much rock is needed? My new display will be around 260g ideally I'd like to do half of that in rock 130-150lbs. Is this headed for disaster? I can also add more rock to my refugium if need be.

 

[Cory]

Live rock doesnt denitrify as much as growing macroalgae or carbon dosing does. It really depends on the porosity.

 

[Luno]

Also will have a sand bed 1-2inch so that's gotta add a bit aswell

 

[Cory]

It helps. The problem is sand and rock collect organics. This contributes to the no3 problem. Growing macroalgae or carbon dosing is much more predictable than relying on sand and rock.

 

[FishOfHex]

I've always gone with the 1-2lbs of rock per gallon rule, but with the new tank I want a minimalist aquascape.

Obviously the filtration properties of rock is high on the priority and adequate hiding and territories for fish.

But really how much rock is needed? My new display will be around 260g ideally I'd like to do half of that in rock 130-150lbs. Is this headed for disaster? I can also add more rock to my refugium if need be.

I have built many systems with very little rock in the main display and have made up with it using marine pure in the sump or rubble rock in the refugium. Going with a rock like pukani would be better compared to reef savor dry rock due to having more surface area for bacteria to grow.

 

[Luno]

Live rock doesnt denitrify as much as growing macroalgae or carbon dosing does. It really depends on the porosity.

I always carbon dose dunno why never have phosphate troubles in my tanks always nitrates. Mind you I strive to keep nitrates at 2ppm and no higher. To me I consider anything near 10 or over too high.

I'll be using a mix of rock from carib sea, between base rock and life rock

 

[Luno]

It helps. The problem is sand and rock collect organics. This contributes to the no3 problem. Growing macroalgae or carbon dosing is much more predictable than relying on sand and rock.

I have built many systems with very little rock in the main display and have made up with it using marine pure in the sump or rubble rock in the refugium. Going with a rock like pukani would be better compared to reef savor dry rock due to having more surface area for bacteria to grow.

I've never used commercial rock before always bought dead/live rock from others nuked it, cured it and lath treated it myself. Bad experience of a friend on my advice recently (copper treated rock most likely) I won't be doing that anymore. As said above I plan on using Carib sea life and base rock thoughts on this?

I'm a little old school, big fuge and dsb finally been talked out of doing a dsb for the new tank. Fuge will have rubble in it. And maybe 5-10lbs of live rock to help seed tanks bacteria once cycled.

So basically it shouldn't be too big of an issue going with say .5lbs of rock per gallon?

 

[Servillius]

My wife’s seahorse tank. This is an old pic and it’s groen up some. It’s about a year old and you’ll note no live rock at all. The tile is travertine so functions as a little bit of rock but less than you would get from one of those nitrifying bricks.

 

[Radman73]

I have a 220 that I'v put about 100lbs of Pukani into and just moved over a piece of my Vida Rock from the 60 cube where it had been. I'm not inclined to put anything else into it. I do have a 75gal fuge that I'll be adding some rock and macro algae into.

That 60 cube only used a couple pieces of Vida Rock, maybe 30lbs total. I supplemented with a marine pure 8x8x4 block in the sump and some matrix.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The marine pure will in essence do the same as a dsb.

And imo , don't be afraid of a dsb , even in the fuge. Dsb gets a bad rap.
More people will use yelp to complain than compliment.

The beninfit is marine pure etc, you add or subtract if needed.
But, I like big rocks

 

[Luno]

The marine pure will in essence do the same as a dsb.

And imo , don't be afraid of a dsb , even in the fuge. Dsb gets a bad rap.
More people will use yelp to complain than compliment.

The beninfit is marine pure etc, you add or subtract if needed.
But, I like big rocks

I had a dsb running with no problems for over 6 years. But a few friends keep telling me I'm out dated in the reefing world ha! But I won't have room in the sump for one now went with a bigger fuge and I'd loose too much fuge to go dsb in it. Only thing would be remote dsb but I'm happy to try without it this time around.

 

[ca1ore]

OP are you asking about the ability for live rock to aid in the removal of nitrate or the ability to act as a biological filter to convert ammonia through to nitrate? Probably the 'answer' is the same, but I do think broadly that the old rules of thumb are imprecise at best, useless at worst. Mainly because no two rocks are the same, and different types vary wildly in terms of their capability to sustain bacterial populations.

I too prefer an open, minimalist aquascape because I assume that my corals will grow and need space. I always end up with about half a pound of rock per real gallon (measured from ID), and have yet to find that insufficient for the bio filter. If you do find yourself a bit short, you can always use some kind of bio media in the sump.

 

[Luno]

OP are you asking about the ability for live rock to aid in the removal of nitrate or the ability to act as a biological filter to convert ammonia through to nitrate?

I'm pretty simple with my reef keeping, only started joining forums and stuff in the last few years. So most of what I do goes by pretty old methods of rule of thumb. So it is I've always done 1-2lb per gallon because that was the normal. But yeah basically asking how accurate that is in modern reef keeping. Given nutrient export in things like skimmers have greatly improved since I the rule of thumb was started.

And given what I've been answered so far I don't see too much of a problem with going less for bio filtration maybe for fish to have hiding spaces but that's a different question all together.

 

[Paul B]

That is a question that can't be answered. It depends on what you are keeping and how much you feed.

 

[Faisal27]

I've always gone with the 1-2lbs of rock per gallon rule, but with the new tank I want a minimalist aquascape.

Obviously the filtration properties of rock is high on the priority and adequate hiding and territories for fish.

But really how much rock is needed? My new display will be around 260g ideally I'd like to do half of that in rock 130-150lbs. Is this headed for disaster? I can also add more rock to my refugium if need be.

I have a 500 gallon display thank and I can assure you I don’t have 1000 pounds of liverock .. I don’t think there is a rule on that but more on experience and testing

 

[Bob Escher]

So I see that people are talking about adding more Marine Pur
But there are other discussions on here about it leeching aluminum
I had three blocks and after a triton test took them out my tank has a Lt of rock in it
I would like to have less but I’m more concerned about good filtration

 

[ca1ore]

I think the best approach is to use as much rock as necessary to achieve your preferred aesthetic, then periodically test for ammonia/nitrite to see if is sufficient. My guess is that in the vast majority of cases it will be sufficient, but if not then add some biomedia to the sump.