live rock sump filters

don954 · 06/25/2006, 12:50 PM

Ive been seeing some random postings about using live rock rubble in a sump/bio ball filter in place of the bio balls. I have a Bio ball-sump & skimmer filter that is not in use, and thought i may try it out for my smaller hex 60 gal tank. What are the benefits of live rock rubble instead of bio-balls?

Here is what ive thought of so far:

natural elimination of food and poo via the critters on the live rock
increased surface area from all the micro-pores on the rock

Any more benefits?

gabegmonkey · 06/25/2006, 02:26 PM

Word on the street is that bio balls in the long term will produce Nitrates and just keep on churning 'em out. Thus artificially keeping your Nitrate levels HIGH and making it difficult to keep the more delicate species of fish/corals/anemones...

So use of live rock will "benefit" you in the sense that it will not do any of the above listed things. In addition depending on how you have it set up it may also act as a refugium for pods etc.

don954 · 06/25/2006, 05:15 PM

that was my take on it too. I guess im going to just set it up and see how it goes!

crustin · 06/25/2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Word on the street is that bio balls in the long term will produce Nitrates and just keep on churning 'em out. Thus artificially keeping your Nitrate levels HIGH and making it difficult to keep the more delicate species of fish/corals/anemones...

- may i also suggest some macro algea

06/25/2006, 12:50 PM	#1
don954 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 258	live rock sump filters Ive been seeing some random postings about using live rock rubble in a sump/bio ball filter in place of the bio balls. I have a Bio ball-sump & skimmer filter that is not in use, and thought i may try it out for my smaller hex 60 gal tank. What are the benefits of live rock rubble instead of bio-balls? Here is what ive thought of so far: natural elimination of food and poo via the critters on the live rock increased surface area from all the micro-pores on the rock Any more benefits? Last edited by don954; 06/25/2006 at 01:01 PM.

06/25/2006, 02:26 PM	#2
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Word on the street is that bio balls in the long term will produce Nitrates and just keep on churning 'em out. Thus artificially keeping your Nitrate levels HIGH and making it difficult to keep the more delicate species of fish/corals/anemones... So use of live rock will "benefit" you in the sense that it will not do any of the above listed things. In addition depending on how you have it set up it may also act as a refugium for pods etc.

06/25/2006, 05:15 PM	#3
don954 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 258	that was my take on it too. I guess im going to just set it up and see how it goes!