Live rock in sump for denitrification?

Nanook · 12/01/2016, 01:06 PM

Any one use it, does it work? I've tried a small amount before but it just filled with detritus.

horwitzs · 12/01/2016, 04:27 PM

I've got 1 piece in my refugium section, about the size of a softball.
Can't pile it up or it fills with detritus. If you've got plenty of live rock in the DT then it's redundant, but if you are pretty minimalist then it might be nice to have that extra surface area in the sump.

tkeracer619 · 12/01/2016, 06:12 PM

Detritus isn't really a big concern of mine. I have a ton of live rock in my sump all stuffed together. Consistently get low nitrate/phosphate.

mikeatjac · 12/02/2016, 05:31 AM

I don't like much live rock in my display so most of the live rock goes into the sump. It worked great for me. I do believe you need a pump in your sump and to keep detritus from settling.

mnchartier · 12/02/2016, 07:48 AM

I keep a good amount in my sump, I did make a platform for it out of eggcrate and pvc to raise it off the bottom so stuff doesn't build up underneath it.

75mixedreef · 12/02/2016, 08:07 AM

Do you need to worry about detritus in a fuge? I'm going to have mangroves and probably some other rooting macro to try and feed off the detritus and become a pod breeding ground.

lespaul339 · 12/02/2016, 08:55 AM

I like a more open display so I have a lot of live rock piled up in my sump. There's detritus down there too. I run carbon and GFO and have no problems with nitrates or phosphates. There's been some debate on detritus actually being beneficial to some degree in a reef tank. Tanks shouldn't be 100% sterile/clean. There's lots of critters both ones we can see and ones we cant that feed on it. I have a ton of pods in my sump. As long as it doesn't cause me issues, I'm not concerned.

12/01/2016, 01:06 PM	#1
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	Live rock in sump for denitrification? Any one use it, does it work? I've tried a small amount before but it just filled with detritus. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

12/01/2016, 04:27 PM	#2
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	I've got 1 piece in my refugium section, about the size of a softball. Can't pile it up or it fills with detritus. If you've got plenty of live rock in the DT then it's redundant, but if you are pretty minimalist then it might be nice to have that extra surface area in the sump. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

12/01/2016, 06:12 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Detritus isn't really a big concern of mine. I have a ton of live rock in my sump all stuffed together. Consistently get low nitrate/phosphate. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/02/2016, 05:31 AM	#4
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	I don't like much live rock in my display so most of the live rock goes into the sump. It worked great for me. I do believe you need a pump in your sump and to keep detritus from settling. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

12/02/2016, 07:48 AM	#5
mnchartier Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oh look a river Posts: 458	I keep a good amount in my sump, I did make a platform for it out of eggcrate and pvc to raise it off the bottom so stuff doesn't build up underneath it. __________________ "I accept your apology." - BrianD "That's only idiotic because I don't think you're joking." - Satori (CT4 Chronicles) Current Tank Info: DD150

12/02/2016, 08:07 AM	#6
75mixedreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 255	Do you need to worry about detritus in a fuge? I'm going to have mangroves and probably some other rooting macro to try and feed off the detritus and become a pod breeding ground.

12/02/2016, 08:55 AM	#7
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	I like a more open display so I have a lot of live rock piled up in my sump. There's detritus down there too. I run carbon and GFO and have no problems with nitrates or phosphates. There's been some debate on detritus actually being beneficial to some degree in a reef tank. Tanks shouldn't be 100% sterile/clean. There's lots of critters both ones we can see and ones we cant that feed on it. I have a ton of pods in my sump. As long as it doesn't cause me issues, I'm not concerned. __________________ Reefer Madness! Current Tank Info: 60x24x24 150 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump.