Is coral covered live rock still a viable filtration media, or a nutrient trap ?

[AquaAddict]

Hi,

I have a lot of exposed rock with lots of nooks and crannies and not so much coral. The tank looks great but I need to use Instant Ocean's Nitrate Reducer to keep the algae in check and it does a very good job.

Just saying. I think your tank is georgious!

AquaAddict

[straightrazorguy]

I find it surprising that nobody mentions the coral's nutrient uptake. Corals (andby that I mean zoas too) use up nitrates and phosphates to grow. So, if anything, they help the nutrient equation. Sure, there's less exposed rock to harbour bacteria, but one can add rock elsewhere in the system: a refugium, cryptic rock in sump, etc. There's also tons of bacteria in the sand. Why would you want exposed rock in your DT?

I vote for coral-encrusted rocks over bare rock any day....

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by straightrazorguy

I find it surprising that nobody mentions the coral's nutrient uptake.

Pretty sure that was one of my first points

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Also, as I think about it, fully mature colonies will utilize nitrogen and phosphorous in there cellular makeup.

[straightrazorguy]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Pretty sure that was one of my first points

Ooops; I guess I should've read the whole thing.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by straightrazorguy

I find it surprising that nobody mentions the coral's nutrient uptake. Corals (andby that I mean zoas too) use up nitrates and phosphates to grow. So, if anything, they help the nutrient equation. Sure, there's less exposed rock to harbour bacteria, but one can add rock elsewhere in the system: a refugium, cryptic rock in sump, etc. There's also tons of bacteria in the sand. Why would you want exposed rock in your DT?

I vote for coral-encrusted rocks over bare rock any day....

so wait now lol you mean i can use corals and no need for rock then?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reefwars

so wait now lol you mean i can use corals and no need for rock then?

I read a journal on RC, guy was pretty much doing that!!

edit: This guy. Forget how much rock, but very little

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I read a journal on RC, guy was pretty much doing that!!

edit: This guy. Forget how much rock, but very little

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

i can believe it i have about 20 lbs in a 300g total system for zoanthids

i know of a supplier who keeps over 2500 fish (haw too so expensive) with about 50lbs of rock

it comes to knowing how your system operates

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reefwars

it comes to knowing how your system operates

Ya, and that's the key right there. Too many people try to push their system to do something, rather than let it run and just pay attention to what it needs.

The biggest driver in the amount of rock I used was the number of corals I had to mount

[reefwars]

Yup , I get asked a lot how much rock do you need 1 lb per gallon , 2 lbs per gallon ......actually really not much , you'd probably need more than the ratio to actually build something and mount corals compared to what you need to just work lol

We QT all our fish all last summer when we tore down the bonsai , 5 maybe 7 lbs of rock swapped out every week kept over a dozen fish incuding tangs alive , no sand no skimmer etc. Just that little bit if rock, an air stone and powerhead and a heater or two....the bare basics and did beautifully