diy rock

swflfisher · 09/16/2011, 09:11 AM

My question is if you make oyster base rock,and cure it properly how muck live rock is needed to seed it? Is it the same with base rock? I'm thinking one piece would technically make 300 pounds into live rock. Now thats not what i want to do but is it just a case of the more actual live rock the faster everything will become live?

MagicReefer · 09/16/2011, 09:39 AM

Yes, the more life you start with the quicker the process. That is assuming all your parameters are ideal.

Fizz71 · 09/16/2011, 01:42 PM

Also understand that a good deal of your live rock life is based on your bio-load. You can have 3,000 pounds of "live rock" but if you only have one fish then most of the nitrobacter and nitrosomona bacteria are eventually going to starve to death. Their population levels will rise and fall to meet the needs of the bio-load provided there is enough rock surface for them to populate.

In other words...you really only need enough seed live rock to support the fish you own from the start. Then you just need be patient after adding new fish for the bacteria to catch back up. ..that's my philosophy anyway.

swflfisher · 09/16/2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizz71

Also understand that a good deal of your live rock life is based on your bio-load. You can have 3,000 pounds of "live rock" but if you only have one fish then most of the nitrobacter and nitrosomona bacteria are eventually going to starve to death. Their population levels will rise and fall to meet the needs of the bio-load provided there is enough rock surface for them to populate.

In other words...you really only need enough seed live rock to support the fish you own from the start. Then you just need be patient after adding new fish for the bacteria to catch back up. ..that's my philosophy anyway.

so in other words if i'm understanding correctly the more live rock I have even if some is in the sump the more bio load it can handle? So having a large sump, water volume and live rock would increase thus "eating" more waste from coral,fish,and feedings. correct?

lordofthereef · 09/16/2011, 04:43 PM

^

Fizz71 · 09/16/2011, 06:13 PM

Yup. Just remember though...nitrosomonas and nitrobacter only convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate....that nitrtate will build up so even though you can hold more bioload, you'll be doing more water changes too because you'll produce more nitrate--unless you have enough macro or a something else that keeps up.

swflfisher · 09/19/2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizz71

Yup. Just remember though...nitrosomonas and nitrobacter only convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate....that nitrtate will build up so even though you can hold more bioload, you'll be doing more water changes too because you'll produce more nitrate--unless you have enough macro or a something else that keeps up.

If Im following all this correct an ATS eats up the nitrates correct

Fizz71 · 09/19/2011, 02:15 PM

I've never used one (I use cheato and an RDSB), but from what I've read on it in the last 5 minutes....Yes....

But again...I've never used one an honestly had to look the term up!...But the concept seems to be the same as a lit fuge with macro. I'll have to read more just out of curiosity.

09/16/2011, 09:11 AM	#1
swflfisher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 70	diy rock My question is if you make oyster base rock,and cure it properly how muck live rock is needed to seed it? Is it the same with base rock? I'm thinking one piece would technically make 300 pounds into live rock. Now thats not what i want to do but is it just a case of the more actual live rock the faster everything will become live?

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09/16/2011, 09:39 AM	#2
MagicReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 133	Yes, the more life you start with the quicker the process. That is assuming all your parameters are ideal.

09/16/2011, 01:42 PM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Also understand that a good deal of your live rock life is based on your bio-load. You can have 3,000 pounds of "live rock" but if you only have one fish then most of the nitrobacter and nitrosomona bacteria are eventually going to starve to death. Their population levels will rise and fall to meet the needs of the bio-load provided there is enough rock surface for them to populate. In other words...you really only need enough seed live rock to support the fish you own from the start. Then you just need be patient after adding new fish for the bacteria to catch back up. ..that's my philosophy anyway.

09/16/2011, 04:43 PM	#5
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	^

09/16/2011, 06:13 PM	#6
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Yup. Just remember though...nitrosomonas and nitrobacter only convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate....that nitrtate will build up so even though you can hold more bioload, you'll be doing more water changes too because you'll produce more nitrate--unless you have enough macro or a something else that keeps up.

09/19/2011, 02:15 PM	#8
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I've never used one (I use cheato and an RDSB), but from what I've read on it in the last 5 minutes....Yes.... But again...I've never used one an honestly had to look the term up!...But the concept seems to be the same as a lit fuge with macro. I'll have to read more just out of curiosity.