remove live rock rubble from sump?

t4zalews · 11/13/2012, 08:30 PM

I have some live rock rubble that I have in my sump in a rock wall shape to separate my refugium from my skimmer, I also have a bigger chunk of live rock in the corner of my sump as extra live rock. Should I pull these rocks out? I'm having hair algae problems and I'm trying to eliminate possible nitrate sources. Would removing these pieces of live rock lower my biological filtration? Or do their small size not utilize beneficial bacteria.

lmsmith · 11/13/2012, 09:02 PM

A rockwall type setup in your sump probably will be contributing to nitrate. You're trapping all the crap and letting it rot in there.

Removing it is probably a good idea, or at the very least giving it a good cleanout.

It will reduce your biological filtration but unless you're talking a huge amount of rubble, or if you don't have much rock in your DT, it probably won't be too much of a drama.

Wade1 · 11/13/2012, 10:18 PM

I haven't been at this for long , but my nitrates wouldn't go below about 15, I took all the rock out of my sump and put it in my display and 2 days later 0 nitrates and its stayed that way ever since. Not sure if it was coincidence or not.

t4zalews · 11/14/2012, 08:45 AM

Im thinking I should take the rock out...I have a good amount of rock in my DT. I do grow chaeto in the sump, but purely for food production (pods). Would adding a powerhead to the sump (detritus removal) and taking out the rock inhibit the pods from reproducing?

funkejj · 11/14/2012, 09:06 AM

GHA is a phosphate issue, find the source and eliminate it. Might be the food you are using needs a good rinse, could be that the water source to top off and water changes is not 0 tds or other things. Eliminate the source of phosphates then add GFO in a reactor and it will eliminate the issue. Just removing some rubble is not going to magically make the PO4 disappear and GHA go away. Remember if you test for phosphates with GHA that it will likely show 0 as the GHA is taking it all in. Removal of the GHA will show the true level of PO4.

CenterConsole · 11/14/2012, 09:11 AM

I'd leave the rock in and when you do water changes, syphon out all the waste. Works wonders for me.

11/13/2012, 08:30 PM	#1
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	remove live rock rubble from sump? I have some live rock rubble that I have in my sump in a rock wall shape to separate my refugium from my skimmer, I also have a bigger chunk of live rock in the corner of my sump as extra live rock. Should I pull these rocks out? I'm having hair algae problems and I'm trying to eliminate possible nitrate sources. Would removing these pieces of live rock lower my biological filtration? Or do their small size not utilize beneficial bacteria. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

11/13/2012, 10:18 PM	#3
Wade1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 28	I haven't been at this for long , but my nitrates wouldn't go below about 15, I took all the rock out of my sump and put it in my display and 2 days later 0 nitrates and its stayed that way ever since. Not sure if it was coincidence or not. __________________ 92 gallon corner wanna be reef tank Aqua max am 350 protien skimmer 20 gal sump 110 lbs of live rock, crushed coral/ fine sand mix

11/14/2012, 08:45 AM	#4
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	Im thinking I should take the rock out...I have a good amount of rock in my DT. I do grow chaeto in the sump, but purely for food production (pods). Would adding a powerhead to the sump (detritus removal) and taking out the rock inhibit the pods from reproducing? __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

11/13/2012, 09:02 PM	#2
lmsmith Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 323	A rockwall type setup in your sump probably will be contributing to nitrate. You're trapping all the crap and letting it rot in there. Removing it is probably a good idea, or at the very least giving it a good cleanout. It will reduce your biological filtration but unless you're talking a huge amount of rubble, or if you don't have much rock in your DT, it probably won't be too much of a drama.

11/14/2012, 09:06 AM	#5
funkejj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 747	GHA is a phosphate issue, find the source and eliminate it. Might be the food you are using needs a good rinse, could be that the water source to top off and water changes is not 0 tds or other things. Eliminate the source of phosphates then add GFO in a reactor and it will eliminate the issue. Just removing some rubble is not going to magically make the PO4 disappear and GHA go away. Remember if you test for phosphates with GHA that it will likely show 0 as the GHA is taking it all in. Removal of the GHA will show the true level of PO4.

11/14/2012, 09:11 AM	#6
CenterConsole Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 187	I'd leave the rock in and when you do water changes, syphon out all the waste. Works wonders for me.