Reeflands Forum - View Single Post - Live Rock is too expensive for me, Is there a cheaper alternative?

**leebca** · 04-20-2007, 06:38 PM

Live rock isn't needed at all.

Live rock can perform several functions. They are elaborated upon here: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

Everything live rock can do in the way of the nitrogen cycle, can be accomplished through other means. Biological filtration (nitrification) can be handled by any surface area sufficient enough to hold the bacteria including: decorations, substrate, mechanical filter chambers, etc., so long as you have good enough circulation passing by or through the surface area.

You mention nitrate, denitrification. If you want live rock to handle all denitrification activity in a FO tank, 2 lbs. per gallon is the right target. But there other ways of controlling/exporting nitrates. There is a deep sand bed, nitrate reactors (equipment to for bacteria to consume the nitrate to make nitrogen gas and other compounds), nitrate absorbing media (chemical filtration), water changes, and growing macro algae in a refugium. The least expensive of these include growing macro algae and deep sand beds.

For thirty years, marine aquariums were set up and operated without live rock, quite successfully.

04-20-2007, 06:38 PM	#7
leebca Moderator - LEE Join Date: May 2006 Location: So CA Posts: 2,300	Re: Live Rock is too expensive for me, Is there a cheaper alternative? Live rock isn't needed at all. Live rock can perform several functions. They are elaborated upon here: What is Live Rock, Anyway? Everything live rock can do in the way of the nitrogen cycle, can be accomplished through other means. Biological filtration (nitrification) can be handled by any surface area sufficient enough to hold the bacteria including: decorations, substrate, mechanical filter chambers, etc., so long as you have good enough circulation passing by or through the surface area. You mention nitrate, denitrification. If you want live rock to handle all denitrification activity in a FO tank, 2 lbs. per gallon is the right target. But there other ways of controlling/exporting nitrates. There is a deep sand bed, nitrate reactors (equipment to for bacteria to consume the nitrate to make nitrogen gas and other compounds), nitrate absorbing media (chemical filtration), water changes, and growing macro algae in a refugium. The least expensive of these include growing macro algae and deep sand beds. For thirty years, marine aquariums were set up and operated without live rock, quite successfully. __________________ LEE Post your fish care and health questions on the Reefland MARINE FISH: CARE, HEALTH AND DISEASE TREATMENT Forum.