Live rock sump?

MoshJosh · Mar 19, 2023

Was thinking about swapping my media and chaeto for live rock with macros already growing on it. . . Thoughts on live rock sump?

Spare time · Mar 20, 2023

I wouldn't. I don't see a good reason.

MoshJosh · Mar 24, 2023

Spare time said:
I wouldn't. I don't see a good reason.

I guess for me I am wanting more biodiversity (system started out dry with cycled media), more variety of Macros for nutrient export, and less crumble biomedia than my current marine pure.

Thinking Gulf Live Rock cause I can get 10 pounds shipped for about $160 (Tampa was my first choice but looking like $200 plus for 8 pounds. . . )

Timfish · Mar 24, 2023

I wouldn't do macros but a cryptic sump wiht sponges that come with live rock would be a big plus in my book.

RedoubtReef · Mar 24, 2023

I don't think it would hurt anything and gives a more diverse space for critters to grow than bio-media. I prefer refugium's with sand and/or rock along with macro.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 24, 2023

My sump has both rock and Bio Spheres with a few mangrove

MoshJosh · Mar 24, 2023

Timfish said:
I wouldn't do macros but a cryptic sump wiht sponges that come with live rock would be a big plus in my book.

Why no macro, think they will die off?

MoshJosh · Mar 24, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
My sump has both rock and Bio Spheres with a few mangrove

Mangroves planted or suspended in the water? I have hear of growing mangroves suspended in FW (the FW type) like when you growing pathos in FW?

Timfish · Mar 24, 2023

MoshJosh said:
Why no macro, think they will die off?

No, macro and turf algae dimp DOCs into the water that can have anegative effecton corals. Cryptic sponges are exsential recyclers and remove DOCs and convert some of it into DIC most of which is HCO3 or bicarbonate.

Here's some links if you're interested:

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title (Paper back is ~$20, Kindle is ~$10), both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC in reef ecosystems. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Microbial view of Coral Decline

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)