how much live rock

[cohl120]

Just curious how much live rock you guys are using in your larger systems, what kind of ratio of lbs to gallons do you have?

 

[Jabba954]

I have ~800 lbs in my 1720 gallon system, and it looks like nothing. Just enough space for my groupers/crabs to hide out.

 

[Deano1956]

I have one hundred lbs. in my sump

 

[turbo253]

i got about 500lbs in my 6000gal

 

[cohl120]

alright thanks for information, hopefully picking up some rock next week, inland aquatics is suppose to have some nice big show pieces for the display and then i was gonna pick up a few hundred pounds of base for the sump.

 

[Zoodiver]

A cheaper route to go is some kind of bio media (balls, barrels or a fluidized sand bed). You don't need the rock to be the surface area for aerobic bacteria.

 

[steve1815]

the only thing with bio balls is they hold alot of dirt and wast. you will have to pre-filter it really good.

 

[Zoodiver]

Bioballs should be the last thing the water goes over prior to going back into the tank. That way it's the clean water passing over your media. Also works as a degas agent at that point to help off gas excess CO2 and increase disolved oxygen at the same time.

 

[Deano1956]

A cheaper route to go is some kind of bio media (balls, barrels or a fluidized sand bed). You don't need the rock to be the surface area for aerobic bacteria.

Any pics of the barrel set up and a diy fluidized sand bed?

 

[Zoodiver]

I can take some. All you need is a 5 gallon bucket (or 40 gallon Brute trash can), drill a bunch of holes in the bottom and have it above the tank or sump, so the water flows in the top and out the bottom.