How much live rock in 125 gal?

mitsurs01 · 12/01/2011, 05:19 PM

I currently have 50 lbs in my 72" 125 gal. I am going for the minimalist look and this gives me two decent islands. I am going for FOWLR with maybe some softies coral eventually. Will 50 be enough for bio filtration purposes or should I consider more than this. I do have a 30 gallon sump with rubble and sand as well as a skimmer and soon Chaeto. I also have about 80 lbs of sand in the display. Thanks in advance for any responses.

Brett

Reefing Newbie · 12/01/2011, 05:26 PM

Is this regular live rock like you would pick up from your lfs? If so I would add 25-50lbs to your current live rock. That should suffice. Buy slowly so you don't have a bunch that you don't know how to aquascape. So buy ~25 lbs then go from there to see how you like your aquascape. BTW, I would suggest doing three islands instead of two. It could give you more depth and you would like having a smaller island for softies if you ever get into lps or sps. JMO.

99taws6 · 12/01/2011, 05:47 PM

I think you are ok but wouldn't hurt with 25ish more. I have my 75 with 70-80lbs in 3 structures I drilled and used fiberglass rod.

That being said what fish are you gonna have that you said FOWLR and maybe corals later? I'm trying to decide myself.

Thanks

Ron Reefman · 12/01/2011, 06:00 PM

You will be OK with one caveat, add new livestock slowly. You won't have a large surface area for bacteria to develop, so add fish one at a time and leave a week or two (at least) before adding another one. JMHO.

Khemul · 12/01/2011, 06:01 PM

It really depends on what fish you want to keep and how many. If you want to keep a lot of fish, add more rock. If you want to keep large fish that enjoy swimming space, you could add a little bit more or keep it as it is. If you want to keep fish that need caves and rockwork to swim in and out of, then add more rock.

Bio-filtration depends entirely on bio-load. If you want the tank to be minimalist without a large bio-load then you don't need more rock. If you like the looks of it and it fits you stocking plans then you are fine keeping it as it is.

mitsurs01 · 12/01/2011, 06:55 PM

My plans for stocking are a pair of clowns, kole tang, niger trigger, and maybe one more like a yellow tang or something. that is it though. Like I said, I really have no desire for SPS coral. Softies like mushrooms, toadstools, leathers, and GSP. Maybe LPS like frogspawn or a torch. I had a reef tank before a couple years ago and dont really want to get into the maintainance of SPS with dosing and what not.

inCHAINS · 12/01/2011, 07:06 PM

can a niger trigger be kept with corals? I've heard it doesn't work out well.

mitsurs01 · 12/01/2011, 08:54 PM

I think it's mainly the Stoneys and inverts that are of issue

12/01/2011, 05:19 PM	#1
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	How much live rock in 125 gal? I currently have 50 lbs in my 72" 125 gal. I am going for the minimalist look and this gives me two decent islands. I am going for FOWLR with maybe some softies coral eventually. Will 50 be enough for bio filtration purposes or should I consider more than this. I do have a 30 gallon sump with rubble and sand as well as a skimmer and soon Chaeto. I also have about 80 lbs of sand in the display. Thanks in advance for any responses. Brett

12/01/2011, 06:00 PM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	You will be OK with one caveat, add new livestock slowly. You won't have a large surface area for bacteria to develop, so add fish one at a time and leave a week or two (at least) before adding another one. JMHO. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

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12/01/2011, 05:26 PM	#2
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	Is this regular live rock like you would pick up from your lfs? If so I would add 25-50lbs to your current live rock. That should suffice. Buy slowly so you don't have a bunch that you don't know how to aquascape. So buy ~25 lbs then go from there to see how you like your aquascape. BTW, I would suggest doing three islands instead of two. It could give you more depth and you would like having a smaller island for softies if you ever get into lps or sps. JMO.

12/01/2011, 05:47 PM	#3
99taws6 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 34	I think you are ok but wouldn't hurt with 25ish more. I have my 75 with 70-80lbs in 3 structures I drilled and used fiberglass rod. That being said what fish are you gonna have that you said FOWLR and maybe corals later? I'm trying to decide myself. Thanks

12/01/2011, 06:01 PM	#5
Khemul Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 988	It really depends on what fish you want to keep and how many. If you want to keep a lot of fish, add more rock. If you want to keep large fish that enjoy swimming space, you could add a little bit more or keep it as it is. If you want to keep fish that need caves and rockwork to swim in and out of, then add more rock. Bio-filtration depends entirely on bio-load. If you want the tank to be minimalist without a large bio-load then you don't need more rock. If you like the looks of it and it fits you stocking plans then you are fine keeping it as it is.

12/01/2011, 06:55 PM	#6
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	My plans for stocking are a pair of clowns, kole tang, niger trigger, and maybe one more like a yellow tang or something. that is it though. Like I said, I really have no desire for SPS coral. Softies like mushrooms, toadstools, leathers, and GSP. Maybe LPS like frogspawn or a torch. I had a reef tank before a couple years ago and dont really want to get into the maintainance of SPS with dosing and what not.

12/01/2011, 07:06 PM	#7
inCHAINS Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 23	can a niger trigger be kept with corals? I've heard it doesn't work out well.

12/01/2011, 08:54 PM	#8
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	I think it's mainly the Stoneys and inverts that are of issue