Live rock in Freshwater?

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carsona246

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 12, 2009
553
2
18
Arkansas
Hey everyone, it's been awhile since I've posted. I've been taking care of 2 saltwater tanks for my college for about a year now, and I was wondering if using live rock would work for freshwater. I realize that grabbing actual "live rock" would clearly not work, but if I got Texas holey rock, or some porous rock, would it grow anaerobic bacteria inside and get rid of nitrates like live rock in saltwater tanks do?
I've heard freshwater dsb's work, so if dsb's will still grow anaerobic bacteria in freshwater, why wouldn't it grow in porous material like Texas holey rock?
 
I also wanted to add that I'm well aware that certain rocks will change my ph. Just wondering if it's possible to cultivate anaerobic bacteria on rock in a freshwater tank.
 
I'm wondering if anaerobic bacteria will be cultivated on the rock in freshwater, not if I can move the rock from one type to the other. For instance, if I went out and bought some form of porous rock, and put it in my tank, would anaerobic bacteria start to grow in a freshwater tank like it would grow in a saltwater?
 
Aerobic bacteria will certainly cultivate on rock surfaces. The rougher the surface, the higher the population. Anaerobic bacteria will cultivate in areas depleted of O2 (such as contact points on the bottom of the rock).
 
Thanks Guys! Is there a reason no one in freshwater use them to reduce nitrates? Is it just because it's easier to just do a waterchange for freshwater? I've always heard of using live rock for salt, but I don't think I've ever heard of anyone using it for freshwater
 
Totally understandable, I've definitely read more than one thread asking if you could use saltwater live rock for a freshwater tank, so redear, have you actually used lava rock to cultivate anaerobic bacteria? I checked out you're youtube clip, but I couldn't tell if you were using the rock to lower nitrates or not
 
well yes anaerobic bacteria will cultivate certain areas but the porous nature of the rock is great for aerobic bacteria.

However, unlike saltwater, freshwater does not contain a strain of bacteria which will convert your no3 into n2. So your nitrates do not get converted to nitrogen gas like in a saltwater aquarium. Hence, one of the reasons freshwater aquaria has more water changes involved.

Lava rock does help with ammonia and nitrite conversion though because it is so porous.
 
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