Liverock as filteration

[Saltie]

I appreciate all the help you have all given me as I set up my new tank. I have a question about filteration.

I am setting up a 125 gallon tank and want to showcase a few fish and a coupe coral/inverts. The problem is that I dont want to fill the tank with live rock. I plan to put some live rock in the tank but want it mostly open so you can see the fish. I can put some additional live rock & plants under the tank, but I dont think it will be enough to be an extremley effective filter. Do you have any recommendations? Is there any other way to filter besides live rock?

[zhenya]

If you intend on having pretty much open aquascape(read very little rock in display) I would give a deep sand beds a chance.
Check out this article here for information on ways to construct it properly.
Deep Sand Beds

Other choices would be to have large external filter, howeve,r those reqire extensive maintanance.

[Saltie]

Hi, Thanks for the article. Unfortunately, I am a simpelton, and 1/2 of the article was over my head. Where can I get some of the sand (in the correct size) to build a deep and bed. I take it that Live Sand from the LFS wont do the trick?

[zhenya]

I take it that Live Sand from the LFS wont do the trick?

Well, that is not exactly true. It will do the trick but it just so darn expensive.
We all used to use brand of sand called Southdown(play sand from Caribbean). Not sure if it;s available where you live but we used to be able to get it from Home Depot or some other large Garden Centers. The key is to get an aragonite sand and not quartz sand, however some people used that as well with success.
Check your local stores to see what type of sand they sell, look for play sand and let us know what the label says on the bags.

[TheApprentice707]

I would say to use as much live rock as you can. Once you get a top of different algae growing it will look nice to compliment the colors of your fish. good luck.