Bad to put LR in the sump?

cplev · 12/01/2007, 10:16 AM

I have a bunch of LR that I don't have room for in my main tank. Is there any problems with putting it in the sump? How about the fuge? Should I keep the fuge clear with only macros?

OnoIgotICH · 12/01/2007, 10:21 AM

no

poppin_fresh · 12/01/2007, 10:25 AM

I got about 30lbs in mine. It will filter down there just as well.

OnoIgotICH · 12/01/2007, 10:43 AM

Have light though.

cplev · 12/01/2007, 11:50 AM

I do have some light but not as much as the DT. They are also older bulbs which are better at growing algae than corals. Should I keep fresh bulbs on the sump/fuge for the LR?

NoSchwag · 12/01/2007, 11:59 AM

The LR will do nothing for you in the sump except collect debris, and raise the po4 levels in your tank.

I personally look at my LR as just a pretty place to let my coral attach to. Nothing more, nothing less.

cplev · 12/01/2007, 12:05 PM

So, LR leaches phosphate??? I thought phosphate comes from food and tapwater, no?

HBtank · 12/01/2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSchwag
The LR will do nothing for you in the sump except collect debris, and raise the po4 levels in your tank.

I personally look at my LR as just a pretty place to let my coral attach to. Nothing more, nothing less.

LR is far more than that, it really is the foundation modern reef tanks are built on.

Please show me a successful tank with zero live rock. Even propagation tanks have vats of liverock connected to them. I think it has been shown that some tanks can go with less live rock than many previously thought, but it is far from being just a pretty place to put coral.... Those tanks are usually run with very high end skimmers and the best flow possible. I did not see you ask him about that?

I personally to not buy into all this fear of "debris" that many have. I have large rubble zones in my sump and just look at it as "pod factories" and "detrius reduction zones"

Detrius has no time to collect IME. My tank runs VERY nutirent poor FWIW, and I have to supplement and over-feed to compenstate.

As for PO4 leaching, I do not sere why it would be singled out over N03 etc..? If his levels are fine it should not be an issue. LR and PO4 is only a concern if the tank has been at high levels for a long time, then the rock may have locked up some that will leech over time.

He could also run filter socks if he wanted, and it would make the detrius issue irrelevant.. But I am not a fan of those either. I like letting things balance themselves out naturally.

Anyways, I think it is a good idea for certain tanks that want less LR in the display.

rppvt · 12/01/2007, 12:38 PM

I agree with HB in that the rubble rock I've got in my sump is the last stop for lots of pods who gobble up the detritus then get whisked away through the pump inot the edible afterlife of the main tank. The circle. The circle of life.

HBtank · 12/01/2007, 12:43 PM

Here are some pics of my sump. it would give some here on RC a heart attack.. lol

Thalion_1 · 12/01/2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NoSchwag
The LR will do nothing for you in the sump except collect debris, and raise the po4 levels in your tank.

I personally look at my LR as just a pretty place to let my coral attach to. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you say LR does nothing, then what are you using for filtration?

LockeOak · 12/01/2007, 12:56 PM

If you are worried about detritus, just build a little eggcrate shelf in your sump and pile all of your LR on top of it. It only has to be an inch or two off the bottom, then you can vacuum up the detritus that collects on the bottom of the sump with no problems.

12/01/2007, 10:16 AM	#1
cplev Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gator country Posts: 59	Bad to put LR in the sump? I have a bunch of LR that I don't have room for in my main tank. Is there any problems with putting it in the sump? How about the fuge? Should I keep the fuge clear with only macros?

12/01/2007, 10:25 AM	#3
poppin_fresh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,982	I got about 30lbs in mine. It will filter down there just as well. __________________ PBITAWA! Current Tank Info: None now. Past- 180g w/ 100g basement sump and 20g 'fuge. H & S skimmer, T'5s & Tunze

12/01/2007, 11:59 AM	#6
NoSchwag Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterbury, Ct. Posts: 2,530	The LR will do nothing for you in the sump except collect debris, and raise the po4 levels in your tank. I personally look at my LR as just a pretty place to let my coral attach to. Nothing more, nothing less. __________________ Keeping low levels of po4 without chemicals since 2005. Current Tank Info: Beckett skimmed, penductor flowed, luminarc lighted, UV sterilized, litermeter dosed, Aquacontroller controlled, SPS dominated, 120 BB tank.

12/01/2007, 12:43 PM	#10
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Here are some pics of my sump. it would give some here on RC a heart attack.. lol __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

12/01/2007, 10:21 AM	#2
OnoIgotICH Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	no

12/01/2007, 10:43 AM	#4
OnoIgotICH Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	Have light though.

12/01/2007, 11:50 AM	#5
cplev Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gator country Posts: 59	I do have some light but not as much as the DT. They are also older bulbs which are better at growing algae than corals. Should I keep fresh bulbs on the sump/fuge for the LR?

12/01/2007, 12:05 PM	#7
cplev Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gator country Posts: 59	So, LR leaches phosphate??? I thought phosphate comes from food and tapwater, no?

12/01/2007, 12:38 PM	#9
rppvt rppvt Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 484	I agree with HB in that the rubble rock I've got in my sump is the last stop for lots of pods who gobble up the detritus then get whisked away through the pump inot the edible afterlife of the main tank. The circle. The circle of life.

12/01/2007, 12:56 PM	#12
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	If you are worried about detritus, just build a little eggcrate shelf in your sump and pile all of your LR on top of it. It only has to be an inch or two off the bottom, then you can vacuum up the detritus that collects on the bottom of the sump with no problems.