filter pads or live rock in sump?

[Pomme]

filter pads or live rock in sump?

i was thinking of having filter pads in the first chamber of my sump (where the water comes in from the tank) but i had a thought last night that i could put live rock in there instead.

i thought the benefits of this would be:

that there wouldnt be a build up of nitrates on the filter pads as they wouldnt be there, and the live rock wouldnt get any as it would just get it of it!

it would mean less work for me, i know i shouldnt be saying this but it would, as i could just leave the live rock to it?

and also it would add to the bacterial levels in the tank, and more surfasces for them,

the doenside is it would be more expensive.

what do you guys think of this?

also to get the live rock smaller to fit in the chamber , 30cm by 15c, do you guys know a way of making it smalle, crushiiing it into smaller pieces?

thanks
andrew

[chet-tonja]

You definitely want LR in there over filters. I like to put small pieces of LR and empty snail shells in my sump for all the little critters to breed in.

[Pomme]

yeah ill forget the filter pads and put in the live rock,

will this method get rid off all the large pieces of rubbish like the filter pads?

[Poseidon]

Yup I have NO filter pads at all in my system... only the rock and Macro Algae with a GOOD skimmer and you'll be all set!!!

Mike

[Pomme]

cool thats what i was hoping to hear,
i have just been to my local lfs and got 5kg of live rock with is now in a tub of saltwater.

but the rock is quite large do you know a way of crushing it or making it smaller?

[Poseidon]

Yup HAmmer and Screwdriver!!!!

i just crushed up a rovk myself, it was about the size of 2 year olds head COVERED in Green star polyps!! Now I have 6 fist sized rocks COVERED in GSP!!!

You can also use a Masonry drill bit to create some Fault lines but most of the rock is very porous and breaks up easily!!!

[Pomme]

cool, ill have some fun, do you have any pictures of you sump poseidon?

[Poseidon]

cool, ill have some fun, do you have any pictures of you sump poseidon?

Of course... check out my gallery, but here is another one anyway...

[Pomme]

cool thank for the reply poseidon,

do you think i should have some caulerpa in the sump as well to keep the o2 levels the same throughout the day?

[Poseidon]

Sure thing and if you can do it Light the sump/fuge opposite the main display tank so the fuge is on at night and the tank during the day...

Mike

[Pomme]

wat sort of light do you use a marine actinic or a tropical pant one?

[Poseidon]

I went El Cheapo!!! I bought 2 4 ft plant lights from Home Depot and put them in a shop light and PRESTO... whole thing was less then 20 bux!!

Mike

[Pomme]

yeah i dont think it matters what light is on it, or so ive just been told, so ill just use a small marine actinic for it.

[Reefland]

Pomme,

A full spectrum bulb of some sort will be better than an actinic for the macor algae. Using one of the daylight tubes would be my choice.

Regards,
Scott Z.